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WV HJR40
Joint Resolution
Status
Introduced
2/17/2026
Primary Sponsor
Shawn Fluharty
Click for details
AI Summary
- Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish initiative and referendum powers for West Virginia voters, allowing registered voters to propose statutes and constitutional amendments through petition and enact them by majority vote at general or primary elections
- Requires initiative petitions to contain signatures from at least 10% of votes cast for Governor in the most recent election, with this threshold met in two-thirds of the state's counties for statewide measures
- Referendum petitions must be filed within 90 days of a law's enactment and, if certified within 30 days, suspend the challenged legislation until voters approve or reject it at an election
- Limits initiative power by prohibiting proposals that name individuals for offices, authorize private corporations to perform government functions, or amend the initiative article itself; caps statewide initiative measures at five per election
- If approved, would be designated "Amendment 1" on the 2026 general election ballot as the "Granting the people the powers of initiative and referendum" amendment
Legislative Description
Relating to the legislative powers held by the people of the state and the Legislature.
Last Action
To House Judiciary
2/17/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary2/17/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available