Plain English Breakdown
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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
HB4176 • 2026
To allow youth and handicapped hunters to harvest a buck deer or doe during youth/handicapped special hunts
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
To Governor 3/18/2026
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate Journal
Completed legislative action
Communicated to House
Passed Senate (Roll No. 531)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading
Read 1st time
Immediate consideration
Reported do pass
To Natural Resources
To Natural Resources
Introduced in Senate
Communicated to Senate
Passed House (Roll No. 283)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
Read 1st time
Immediate consideration
By substitute, do pass
To House Government Organization
To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism
To House Government Organization
Introduced in House
To Government Organization
Filed for introduction
To allow youth and handicapped hunters to harvest a buck deer or doe during youth/handicapped special hunts
HB 4176 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version House Bill 4176 History OTHER VERSIONS - Committee Substitute (1) | Engrossed Version | Introduced Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature 2026 regular session ENROLLED Committee Substitute for House Bill 4176 By Delegates Horst, Brooks, Burkhammer, Clark, Dean, Kimble, Martin, Masters, Phillips, Ridenour, and B. Ward [Passed March 13, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 11, 2026)] AN ACT to amend §20-2-42x of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, removing Class XS licensees from participation in youth deer season privileges; relating to clarifying what licensees are authorized to hunt deer during any Special Youth Deer Season. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: CHAPTER 20. NATURAL RESOURCES. Article 2. Wildlife Resources. §20-2-42x . Class XS resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license. (a) A Class XS license is a resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap for all legal species of wild animals and wild birds, to fish for all legal species of fish and to take frogs in all counties of the state, except as prohibited by the rules of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and when additional licenses, stamps or permits are required. No additional fees shall be required of Class XS licensees for a Class CS stamp or a Class O stamp. (b) A Class XS license is required for residents or aliens lawfully residing in the United States who have been domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of 30 consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license and who reach 65 years of age on or after January 1, 2012. (c) A Class XS license may be voluntarily purchased by residents or aliens lawfully residing in the United States and who have been domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of 30 consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license and who reach 65 years of age on or before December 31, 2011, entitling those persons to the same privileges and subjecting them to the same restrictions as any Class XS licensee. (d) The fee for the Class XS license is $25. (e) A Class XS license is valid for the lifetime of the purchaser without payment of additional fees for the privileges associated with the Class X license, Class CS stamp and the Class O stamp. This is a base license and does not require the purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities specified in this section, except as noted. (f) The Division of Natural Resources shall coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt and implement a program whereby the senior hunting license provided for in this section shall be identified by an appropriate decal, sticker or other marking to be affixed to the drivers' or chauffeurs' license of such person. (g) On or before July 1 annually, the Division of Natural Resources shall file an annual report with the joint committee on government and finance describing its implementation of the senior license program as set forth in this section. The report shall include the number of licenses issued, any increase in state funds as a result of the senior license created by this section, any federal funds received as a result of the implementation of the senior license created by this section and the intended use of those funds. The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled. ............................................................... Clerk of the House of Delegates ............................................................... Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates. In effect 90 days from passage. ............................................................... Speaker of the House of Delegates ............................................................... President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................ this the........................................... 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