The proposed bill aims to establish the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act in West Virginia, which would require certain businesses to notify the Attorney General prior to merging. The bill includes definitions of key terms, such as "Hart-Scott-Rodino Act" and "pre-merger notification," and outlines the filing requirements for businesses, including the submission of a complete electronic copy of the Hart-Scott-Rodino form and any additional documentary material. The Attorney General is tasked with maintaining the confidentiality of these documents, with specific exceptions for administrative proceedings or judicial actions, and is authorized to impose civil penalties for noncompliance.

Additionally, the bill promotes reciprocity between the West Virginia Attorney General and other state attorneys general regarding the sharing of confidential documents related to mergers. It emphasizes the importance of uniformity in the application and construction of the act across jurisdictions and specifies that the provisions apply only to pre-merger notifications filed after the act's effective date. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the state's ability to participate in antitrust reviews while ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 47-18A-1, 47-18A-2, 47-18A-3, 47-18A-4, 47-18A-5, 47-18A-6, 47-18A-7, 47-18A-8