The bill amends the eviction proceedings under the Code of West Virginia by establishing new requirements for the scheduling of hearings and tenant responses. Specifically, it mandates that upon the filing of an eviction petition, the court must schedule a hearing within five to ten judicial days. Additionally, tenants are granted the right to file and serve a written defense to the eviction petition within five days of receiving notice of the petition.

These changes aim to streamline the eviction process and ensure that tenants have a fair opportunity to respond to eviction actions. The bill emphasizes timely hearings and clear communication of rights to tenants, thereby enhancing procedural fairness in residential eviction cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 55-3A-1
Engrossed Version: 55-3A-1
Enrolled Version: 55-3A-1