House Bill 2053 would add the United States Space Force to statutory lists that define the branches of the armed forces and make several technical corrections to related code sections.

The bill, introduced to the West Virginia Senate Military Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, was explained by committee counsel as a set of definition updates affecting 11 sections across nine chapters of state code. Counsel said the change simply “amends those defined terms to include the Space Force” and otherwise makes technical corrections.

The change drew no substantive debate. The junior senator from the fifth moved that the in-committee substitute for H.B. 2053 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and, under the bill’s original double-reference, be sent first to the Finance Committee. The motion passed on voice vote; the committee chair said he will ask the finance chair to consider waiving the second reference because counsel said there is no fiscal impact.

The committee’s action forwards the measure to the full Senate with a recommendation to pass. No fiscal estimate or implementation plan was introduced during the committee discussion.