This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance protections for landowners who permit access to cemeteries located on their private property. It establishes that authorized individuals seeking to visit these cemeteries must provide reasonable notice to the property owner, which is defined as written notice at least ten days prior to the visit. The bill outlines the permissible activities for which access can be granted, including visiting graves, maintaining grave sites, burying deceased individuals, and conducting genealogy research. Additionally, it clarifies that property owners are not required to improve access routes unless they have made traditional routes unusable.

A significant addition to the law is the provision that protects landowners from liability for any personal injury or property damage that occurs during access to the cemetery. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new clause stating that landowners are not liable for damages caused to their property by individuals visiting the cemetery, placing the responsibility for repairs solely on the visitors. This aims to ensure that landowners can allow access to their property without fear of incurring costs or legal repercussions due to damages caused by cemetery visitors.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 37-13A-1