House 4850

WEST virginia legislature

2026 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4850

By Delegates Funkhouser, Anders, Hott, Mallow, Rohrbach, and Ridenour

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on February 18, 2026]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §44-1-1a, relating to requiring the West Virginia State Bar to provide publicly accessible educational materials on the administration of wills and estates; requiring free public access on the State Bar’s website; requiring conspicuous placement; providing for accessibility to individuals with sight-impairment; and establishing an effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES.

§44-1-1a. Online educational training for Executors.

Beginning January 1, 2028, the West Virginia State Bar shall make available on its official website educational materials concerning the administration of wills and estates, covering the duties and responsibilities of executors and administrators, including acting as a fiduciary. The materials shall be available to the public without charge, displayed in a conspicuous and easily accessible location on the State Bar’s website, and be accessible to individuals with sight-impairment.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide educational training regarding the fiduciary and other duties of executors and administrators of estates and requiring the West Virginia State Bar to provide this online training.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.