Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
HB5366 • 2026
Relating to rules governing the practice of law
Relating to rules governing the practice of law
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: HB5366 HFA Akers 3-2 #1 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 4a, line 30, by striking the entirety of subsection (d) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: (d) Records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- HB5366 HFA Akers 3-2 #1 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 4a, line 30, by striking the entirety of subsection (d) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: (d) Records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- of this code, to the extent those rules designate them as confidential.
- Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Plain English: HB5366 HFA Akers 3-2 #1 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 4a, line 30, by striking the entirety of subsection (d) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: (d) Records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- HB5366 HFA Akers 3-2 #1 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 4a, line 30, by striking the entirety of subsection (d) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: (d) Records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- of this code, to the extent those rules designate them as confidential.
- Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Plain English: HB5366 HFAT Akers 3-3 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
- HB5366 HFAT Akers 3-3 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
- B.
- 5366 -- “A BILL to amend and reenact §51-1-4a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to establishing that all records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- of this code, to the extent those rules designate them as confidential.”; Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Plain English: HB5366 HFAT Akers 3-3 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
- HB5366 HFAT Akers 3-3 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
- B.
- 5366 -- “A BILL to amend and reenact §51-1-4a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to establishing that all records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq .
- of this code, to the extent those rules designate them as confidential.”; Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Bill History
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2026-04-01
H
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
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2026-03-25
H
To Governor 3/25/26
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2026-03-14
H
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
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2026-03-14
S
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
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2026-03-14
S
To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal
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2026-03-14
S
House Message received
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2026-03-14
H
Completed legislative action
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2026-03-14
H
Communicated to Senate
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2026-03-14
H
House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 684)
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2026-03-14
H
House received Senate message
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2026-03-13
S
Senate requests House to concur
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2026-03-13
S
Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 565)
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2026-03-13
S
Read 3rd time
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2026-03-13
S
On 3rd reading
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2026-03-12
S
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
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2026-03-12
S
Read 2nd time
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2026-03-12
S
On 2nd reading
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2026-03-11
S
Read 1st time
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2026-03-11
S
Immediate consideration
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2026-03-11
S
Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment
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2026-03-05
S
To Judiciary
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2026-03-05
S
To Judiciary
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2026-03-05
S
Introduced in Senate
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2026-03-04
H
Communicated to Senate
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2026-03-04
H
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
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2026-03-04
H
Passed House (Roll No. 310)
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2026-03-04
H
Read 3rd time
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2026-03-04
H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
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2026-03-03
H
Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
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2026-03-03
H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
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2026-03-03
H
Read 2nd time
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2026-03-03
H
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
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2026-03-02
H
Read 1st time
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2026-03-02
H
Immediate consideration
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2026-03-02
H
Do pass
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2026-02-26
H
Markup Discussion
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2026-02-09
H
To House Judiciary
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2026-02-09
H
Introduced in House
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2026-02-09
H
To Judiciary
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2026-02-09
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Relating to rules governing the practice of law
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 5366 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 5366 History OTHER VERSIONS - Introduced Version | Engrossed Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 5366 By Delegates Funkhouser and Akers [Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)] AN ACT to amend and reenact §51-1-4a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to establishing that all records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 1. SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS. §51-1-4a. Rules governing practice of law; creation of West Virginia State Bar; providing its powers, and fees for administration. (a) The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia shall, from time to time, prescribe, adopt, promulgate, and amend rules: (1) Defining the practice of law. (2) Prescribing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of attorneys at law and the practice of law, and prescribing a code of judicial ethics. (3) Prescribing procedure for disciplining, suspending, and disbarring attorneys at law. (4) Organizing and governing by and through all of the attorneys at law practicing in this state, an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, which shall be known as "The West Virginia State Bar." The West Virginia State Bar shall be a part of the judicial department of the state government and is hereby continued for the purpose of enforcing such rules prescribed, adopted and promulgated by the court from time to time under this section. It may perform the functions and purposes expressed in a Constitution, bylaws and amendments thereto that are approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals from time to time. All persons practicing law in this state shall be members of the West Virginia State Bar in good standing. (5) Fixing a schedule of fees to be paid by attorneys at law practicing in the State of West Virginia for the purpose of administering this section, and providing for the collection and disbursement of the fees. (b) The inherent rule-making power of the Supreme Court of Appeals is hereby declared. (c) When and as the rules of the court authorized in this section are prescribed, adopted, and promulgated, all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the rules shall be and become of no further force or effect to the extent of such conflict. (d) Records, files, or other documents gathered or provided pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals relating to the procedures, referrals, and services of the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public records and are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided in §29B-1-1 et seq. of this code, to the extent those rules designate them as confidential. 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........................................... Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026. ............................................................. Governor 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: