In 2021, House Bill 2758 (HB 2758) was passed by the Legislature and required the Insurance Commissioner to regulate professional bondsmen; providing definitions; requiring the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate and propose rules to carry out the intent, administration, and enforcement of the article; authorizing the promulgation of emergency rules; requiring the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate and propose rules regarding qualifications of bondsman; setting forth requirements for bondsman applicants; setting forth filing requirements for bondsmen with the Insurance Commissioner; setting forth renewal requirements for bondsman license; providing criminal penalty for false affidavit; requiring Insurance Commissioner to keep a list of licensed bondsmen and furnish to a jail upon request; and, after July 1, 2022, requiring all bondsmen to be licensed by the Insurance Commissioner.

Applications for a two (2) year license will be taken electronically on an application that will be linked from the OIC’s website at www.wvinsurance.gov/Bail_Bondsmen.  Temporary licenses will also be granted in accordance with the guidance set forth below.  There is no electronic application for a temporary license.  To request a temporary license, a bail bondsman must contact the agency at OICBailBondsmen@wv.gov and submit proof or supporting documentation that he or she is currently approved to operate as a bail bondsman in this state.   A bail bondsmen must also include his or her full legal name, resident address, business address, mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number when providing proof of current approval to operate as a bail bondsmen and requesting a temporary license.