Sean Hornbuckle is a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from District 25, where he has served since 2015, and is the Democratic candidate for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]Hornbuckle has served as House minority leader since 2023 and works as a financial representative.[1]
Sean Hornbuckle was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and graduated from Huntington High School.[1]He earned a bachelor's degree in sports management and marketing and an M.B.A., both from Marshall University.[1]His career experience includes working as a financial representative at MassMutual.[1]
Hornbuckle's committee assignments in the 2023-2024 session were Economic Development, Education (minority chair), Pensions and Insurance (minority chair) and Workforce Development (minority vice-chair).[1]He advanced from the Democratic primary on May 12, 2026.[1][2]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living158 with · 3 against161 votes
As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.
On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Exempts new hires and promoted employees in the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services and Health from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures starting July 1, 2026. Secretaries may restore coverage where federal law requires; bars nepotism and favoritism in decisions.
As passed by the House, creates a five-year Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program for Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties, with a council to coordinate existing state, local and university resources for economic development, annual reports, and outreach to businesses on existing tax credits.
On the version voted Mar 11, 2026: Lengthens prison terms for second-degree murder to 15 to 60 years and voluntary manslaughter to 5 to 25 years, sets minimum time served before parole for each, and raises minimum time before parole for life sentences.
As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.
As amended by the Senate, amends the state public records law to exempt private personal information and more internal and security records, extend the response deadline from 5 to 14 business days, allow search fees, and remove the presumption of access.
As first passed by the House, before Senate and later House amendments, repeals education code sections on teacher professional development, a behavior interventionist pilot program, use of school buildings as child care facilities, and the High School Graduation Improvement Act.
On the version voted Apr 12, 2025: Expands West Virginia University's Board of Governors to 15 governor-appointed members, including WVU Tech and Potomac State graduates, specifies that elected faculty, student and staff board members serve as nonvoting advisers, and requires an agriculture or forestry member on the WVU and West Virginia State University boards.
As passed by the Senate, adds religious and philosophical exemptions to school and child care vaccine requirements, lets a doctor's, physician assistant's or nurse practitioner's note grant medical exemptions without state review, bars excluding exempt children from extracurriculars or school events, and allows lawsuits.
Charges interest on overpayments owed back to state Medicaid programs, at the state's court judgment interest rate, starting 31 days after an overpayment is finalized, with the interest kept by the fund that made the payment.
As introduced, makes the Agriculture Commissioner the sole regulator of beekeeping and apiaries, overriding local rules, and requires clear and convincing evidence of damage for lawsuits against nearby farm operations.
On the version voted Apr 10, 2025: Allows a person operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped to ride standing astride the vehicle with both feet on the footpegs or pedals, facing forward, instead of only sitting on the seat.
Changes which insurance pays first for vehicles supplied by dealers, repair shops and rental or leasing companies. A driver's own coverage is primary for a permitted replacement vehicle with no separate charge; an employee's coverage is secondary when driving for work.
Replaces agencies' self-assessment reports with an annual cybersecurity program review with the Office of Technology by November 30, and lets the state Chief Information Security Officer set minimum training requirements for users of state systems.
Providing for a program allowing election official trainees to be appointed as election officials
What it does: Lets election-appointing bodies set up a program to appoint junior or senior students as election officials, with grade-average, approval and training requirements and only one participant per political party per prec…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 79–8
Relating to the meaning of residence for the purpose of bail
What it does: Requires judicial officers to consider a defendant's West Virginia or U.S. residency, community ties and flight risk in misdemeanor release decisions and residency in setting bail, and bars magistrates from releasing…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 81–3
What it does: Requires the Bureau for Medical Services to set standard billing codes for substance use disorder services, collect provider data, and develop recovery outcome measures, with value-based Medicaid payments required by…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–7, Republicans 84–0
What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Directs the Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner to seek reciprocal agreements with Ireland and Japan so their lawfully present citizens may drive in West Virginia on valid home l…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 85–1
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 5694 · WV HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.
YesVOTED
Motion: Constitutional Rule Suspended
Amends the 2026 budget's State Department of Education appropriations, funded from the unappropriated General Revenue surplus; the amended list includes $8,000,000 for a Hancock County Board of Education financial stability loan program.
Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.
YesVOTED
Motion: Effective from passage
Amends the 2026 budget's State Department of Education appropriations, funded from the unappropriated General Revenue surplus; the amended list includes $8,000,000 for a Hancock County Board of Education financial stability loan program.
Relating to reducing the regulatory burden on utility companies when constructing and maintaining electric power generation and transmission facilities within this state
Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds
NoVOTED
Motion: House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment
Lets people aged 18 to 20 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and not prohibited from possessing firearms carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license; repeals the offense of carrying without a license for those under 21.
Permitting certain teachers to be certified to work as school principals
YesVOTED
Motion: Passed House
Allows teachers with at least 15 years' experience at the elementary, middle or high school level to be certified as principals at that level after completing a year-long Department of Education program in school administration, beginning July 1, 2026.
Permitting lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations
YesVOTED
Motion: Passed House
Makes it lawful to prescribe, distribute and market a drug containing psilocybin, including crystalline polymorph psilocybin compositions, if the FDA approves it and the DEA reschedules it, despite its Schedule I listing.
Clarifying Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to regulate bees
NoVOTED
Motion: Passed House
As introduced, makes the Agriculture Commissioner the sole regulator of beekeeping and apiaries, overriding local rules, and requires clear and convincing evidence of damage for lawsuits against nearby farm operations.