SB493 • 2026

Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Deeds
Last action: 2026-03-14
Official status: S Communicated to House 03/14/26
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.

Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

What This Bill Does

Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

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.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

sb493 hfa howell, g. 3-13 _1.htm

Filed

Plain English: SB493 HFA Howell, G.

SB493 HFA Howell, G.
3-13 #1 Casto 3264 Delegate Gary Howell moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 5, line 1, immediately before the word “Exhibitors” by inserting the words “Upon request,” Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

sb493 hfat phillips 3-13 revised adopted.htm

Adopted

Plain English: SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state, when requested, to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.

SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state, when requested, to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.
Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

sb493 hfat phillips 3-13 revised.htm

Filed

SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state, when requested, to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.
Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

sb493 hfat phillips 3-13.htm

Filed

Plain English: SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 Wilkinson 3909 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.

SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 Wilkinson 3909 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.
Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-03-14 S
Communicated to House
2026-03-14 S
Senate refused to concur; requested House to recede (Voice vote)
2026-03-14 S
House Message received
2026-03-13 H
Communicated to Senate
2026-03-13 H
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
2026-03-13 H
Passed House (Roll No. 530)
2026-03-13 H
Read 3rd time
2026-03-13 H
Amendment rejected (Voice vote)
2026-03-13 H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
2026-03-13 H
Amended on 3rd reading (Roll No. 529)
2026-03-13 H
Reported by the Clerk
2026-03-13 H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
2026-03-12 H
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
2026-03-12 H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
2026-03-12 H
Read 2nd time
2026-03-12 H
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
2026-03-11 H
Read 1st time
2026-03-11 H
Immediate consideration
2026-03-11 H
With amendment, do pass
2026-02-27 H
To House Government Organization
2026-02-26 H
To Government Organization
2026-02-26 H
Introduced in House
2026-02-26 H
House received Senate message
2026-02-25 S
Ordered to House
2026-02-25 S
Passed Senate (Roll No. 222)
2026-02-25 S
Read 3rd time
2026-02-25 S
On 3rd reading
2026-02-24 S
Read 2nd time
2026-02-24 S
On 2nd reading
2026-02-23 S
Read 1st time
2026-02-23 S
On 1st reading
2026-02-21 S
Com. sub. for com. sub. reported
2026-02-18 S
Referred to Rules on 1st reading
2026-02-18 S
On 1st reading
2026-02-17 S
Reported do pass
2026-01-30 S
To Judiciary
2026-01-30 S
Committee substitute reported, but first to Judiciary
2026-01-19 S
To Government Organization
2026-01-19 S
Introduced in Senate
2026-01-19 S
To Government Organization then Judiciary
2026-01-19 S
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB 493 Text

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sb493 sub2

Senate Bill 493 History

OTHER VERSIONS
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Committee Substitute (1)

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Introduced Version

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

WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 493
By Senator Deeds
[Reported February 21, 2026, from the Committee on Rules]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures; permitting exhibitors of motion pictures who operate eight or more screens in more than one location in this state to provide open captioning during at least two showings per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning; requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description; and providing exceptions to open-caption requirements.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 11D. THE MOTION PICTURE FAIR COMPETITION ACT.

§47-11D-5. Open captioning for motion pictures.

(a) Exhibitors of motion pictures who operate eight or more screens in more than one location in this state may provide open captioning during at least two showings per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning.
(b) Upon request, audio description shall be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.
(c) Notwithstanding any section of this code to the contrary, no exhibitor may be required to purchase new equipment in order to comply with the requirements set forth in this section where doing so would result in an undue burden to the exhibitor or a fundamental alteration of the theater.
(d) The requirements set forth in this section do not apply to the following:
(1) A drive-in movie theater;
(2) A theater with fewer than eight screens;
(3) A theater that is not equipped with a digital projection system or a theater with a digital projection system that does not support open-caption files;
(4) A motion picture that is shown in a theater fewer than eight times from Friday through Thursday in a seven-day period;
(5) Any motion picture shown by a theater after 20 days have passed since the day the movie premiered at that theater.

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