West Virginia · 2026 Regular Session
The purpose of this bill is to relates to disaffiliation from religious denominations and generally relates to property of religious organizations; requires a two-thirds vote of the membership for disaffiliation; establishes classes of property for purposes of disaffiliation; treats each separately deeded parcel of real property as a distinct unit for Class A purposes; provides that a local religious organization that disaffiliates from a parent religious denomination or conference may retain ownership of each parcel of real property (Class A) if more than 50 percent of the costs for acquiring and improving that specific parcel were raised locally by or from the organization, subject to reimbursement of investments made by the parent religious denomination or conference; provides for ownership of chattel and personal property (Class B) based on the purchaser; provides for pro rata ownership of intangible property (Class C) based on sources of funds over a two-year lookback period; provides a catch-all provision for classification of property by a court, mediator, or arbitrator; establishes a burden of proof on the parent religious denomination or conference; requires the parent…
To Judiciary (2026-01-20)