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HB4494 • 2026

Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

Children Land
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Butler, Cooper , Masters , Ward , Pinson , Brooks , Dean , Dillon , Ridenour , Jennings , Dittman
Last action
2026-01-20
Official status
H To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism 01/20/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

What This Bill Does

  • Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-20 H

    To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism

  2. 2026-01-19 H

    To House Government Organization

  3. 2026-01-19 H

    Introduced in House

  4. 2026-01-19 H

    To Government Organization

  5. 2026-01-19 H

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their land in this state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 4494 Text

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Introduced Version

House Bill 4494 History

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Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session

FISCAL NOTE

Introduced
House Bill 4494
By Delegates Butler, Cooper, Masters, B. Ward, Pinson, Brooks, Dean, Dillon, Ridenour, Jennings, and Dittman
[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 section, designated §20-2-42aa, relating to providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting license while hunting on their land in this state.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. wildlife resources.

§20-2-42aa. Exemption for a non-resident landowner from purchasing a non-resident hunting license while hunting on their land in this state

A non
-
resident landowner and the spouse and children living with the non-resident landowner may hunt on the property he or she owns in this state without a license:
Provided
, That the home state of the non
-
resident landowner permits West Virginia residents the same exemption on property that West Virginia residents own. Grandchildren of non
-
resident landowners shall not qualify for this exemption.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting license while hunting on their land in this state.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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