The bill introduced on February 13, 2026, aims to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities in West Virginia's theatres by adding a new section to the Code of West Virginia. It mandates that exhibitors operating multiple theatres in the state provide open captioning for at least two showings per week of each digital motion picture that is available with open captioning. Additionally, upon request, theatres must provide audio descriptions for any digital motion picture that offers this feature, and each theatre is required to have at least two audio description devices.

The bill also includes provisions to prevent undue burden on exhibitors, stating that they are not required to purchase new equipment if it would impose significant hardship or fundamentally alter the theatre. Furthermore, certain exceptions are outlined, including drive-in theatres, those with fewer than six screens, theatres lacking digital projection systems that support open caption files, and specific conditions related to the frequency and timing of motion picture showings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 47-11D-5