Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
HB4493 • 2026
The West Virginia Real Estate Wholesaling Accountability Act
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism
To House Government Organization
Introduced in House
To Government Organization
Filed for introduction
The West Virginia Real Estate Wholesaling Accountability Act
HB 4493 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 Introduced Version House Bill 4493 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 4493 By Delegates Lucas, Clark, Crouse, Worrell, Kyle, and Shamblin [Introduced January 19, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §30-40A-1, §30-40A-2, and §30-40A-3,relating to creating the West Virginia Abolishment of Wholesaling Act; providing definitions; abolishing and prohibiting wholesaling in West Virginia; providing exception; and providing remedies and civil penalty for unlawful wholesaling. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: Article 40A. The West Virginia Abolishment of Wholesaling Act. §30-40A-1. Definitions. (a) As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: "Commission" means the West Virginia Real Estate Commission as established in §30-40-6 of this code; "Residential real property" means real property used for residential purposes with fewer than four dwelling units. "Wholesaling" means the practice of entering into a contract for the purchase of real property with the intent to assign, sell, or otherwise transfer the contractual rights to a third party for a fee or other consideration, without the wholesaler taking legal title to the property. "Wholesaler" means a person who engages in wholesaling. §30-40A-2. Practice and regulation of wholesaling abolished. The practice and regulation of wholesaling is hereby abolished and wholesaling shall from this point onward be illegal in West Virginia. This practice does not include transactions where the purchaser takes legal title before transferring the property to another party. §30-40A-3. Remedies and civil penalty for unlawful wholesaling. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in a contract for sale of residential real property, if any person engages in wholesaling, the seller may cancel the contract for sale at any time before the close of escrow without penalty and may retain any earnest money paid by the wholesaler. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in the contract for sale, if any person engages in wholesaling, the buyer may cancel the contract for sale at any time before the close of escrow without penalty and must be refunded all earnest money paid. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in the contract for sale, if any person engages in wholesaling, the buyer may bring a civil action against such person and may recover, in addition to actual damages, a civil penalty of 20 percent of the difference between (1) the sales price in the contract for sale and (2) the total consideration received by the wholesaler for assigning, selling, or otherwise transferring such contractual rights to a third-party. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Abolishment of Wholesaling Act, providing definitions; abolishing and prohibiting wholesaling; providing exceptions; and providing remedies and civil penalty. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: