This bill proposes significant changes to the election and appointment process for the commissioners of the Public Service Commission in West Virginia. It mandates that beginning in 2026, three commissioners will be elected to the Public Service Commission for a term of four years, as indicated by the new insertion in §3-1-16. The bill also requires that the commissioners be included on the ballot during elections, and it establishes a procedure for filling any vacancies that may occur in the office of commissioner, which will be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing legal language regarding the composition and election of the Public Service Commission. It removes the requirement for commissioners to be appointed by the Governor and instead stipulates that they must be elected, as noted in the amendments to §24-1-3. The bill also eliminates the previous stipulation that at least one commissioner must be a licensed attorney with ten years of experience, thereby broadening the eligibility criteria for potential candidates. Overall, the bill aims to enhance democratic participation in the selection of Public Service Commission commissioners and streamline the process for addressing vacancies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-16, 3-5-13a, 3-10-3, 24-1-3