The bill amends and reenacts section 59-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to increase service of process fees and shipping and handling expenses for executing service of process by certified mail on defendants. Specifically, it introduces a new fee of $15 for shipping and handling expenses for service of process by certified mail within the United States and a fee of $20 for service of process outside the United States by registered mail. Additionally, the bill provides exemptions from certain fees for foreign veteran-owned businesses, specifically those defined as veteran-owned businesses that commenced on or after July 1, 2015, and active-duty member businesses that commenced on or after July 1, 2021.

The legislation also outlines various fees charged by the Secretary of State for services related to business entity formation, registration, and other administrative functions. It emphasizes that the fees collected will be deposited into a special revenue account for the operation of the Secretary of State's office. The bill is set to take effect 90 days after passage, which is on June 10, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 59-1-2
Committee Substitute: 59-1-2
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 59-1-2