This bill proposes amendments to West Virginia Code §59-1-2, which governs the fees charged by the Secretary of State for various services. The bill seeks to increase the service of process fees from $15 to $20 and the shipping and handling expenses for executing service of process by certified mail from $5 to $15 for defendants within the United States. Additionally, it raises the fee for shipping and handling expenses for service of process outside the United States from $15 to $20. These changes aim to adjust the fees to better reflect the costs associated with these services.

Furthermore, the bill introduces exemptions for certain businesses, specifically foreign veteran-owned businesses and active-duty member businesses, from paying specific fees related to the formation and registration of business entities. The exempted fees include those for filing articles of incorporation, organization, and other related documents. This provision is intended to support veteran-owned businesses by reducing their financial burden when establishing or maintaining their operations in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 59-1-2