Bill > HB4689

This bill allows any town, township, city, municipality, county, or hamlet that is physically next to West Virginia's border to join the state through a specific process. First, the locality must hold a binding referendum, or a vote, on the matter, following either its own state's voting laws or West Virginia's laws if its own state has no such provisions. If the referendum passes, the West Virginia Legislature must then vote on the admission, with a simple majority needed to approve. The Legislature cannot adjourn until this vote is taken during its next regular session. If the Legislature approves, the admission will then be put to a vote of West Virginia's citizens at the next general election. If a majority of West Virginia voters approve, the Legislature will then determine how to adjust its own size to include representation from the newly admitted area. Following this, the Secretary of State will notify Congress and the Postmaster General of the change and provide a grace period for citizens to begin paying state and county taxes, starting July 1 of that year, with a period for businesses to register and professionals to transition their licenses without immediate cost or penalty.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4689&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill