Plain English Breakdown
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SB513 • 2026
Requiring courts to interpret statutes and regulations
Requiring courts to interpret statutes and regulations
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-20
S
To Government Organization
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2026-01-20
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Introduced in Senate
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2026-01-20
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To Government Organization then Judiciary
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2026-01-20
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Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Requiring courts to interpret statutes and regulations
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB 513 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 Senate Bill 513 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 513 By Senator Chapman [Introduced January 20, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §2-2-10a, relating to interpretation of statutes, regulations, and rules by courts and administrative judges and other administrative officers. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: article 2. Legal Holidays; special memorial days; construction of statutes; interpretation of statutes; definitions. §2-2-10a. Statutory interpretation. (a) In interpreting a state statute, regulation, or other sub-regulatory document, a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action may not defer to a state agency's interpretation of it, and must instead interpret its meaning and effect de novo. (b) In actions brought by or against state agencies, after applying all customary tools of interpretation, the court or hearing officer must exercise any remaining doubt in favor of a reasonable interpretation which limits agency power and maximizes individual liberty. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require courts and administrative officers to interpret statutes, regulations, and regulatory documents anew and not defer to the agency's interpretation of the rule or statute. 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: