Authorizing county commissions to increase compensation of elected county officials

SB 728 authorizes West Virginia county commissions to increase pay for elected county officials, including county commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, assessors, and prosecuting attorneys. The bill allows counties to adjust compensation based on new duties imposed since 2015 (such as additional responsibilities from state laws or federal acts) and changes in local property valuations. It modifies existing compensation rules to align with constitutional limits while giving counties flexibility to set pay levels that reflect their specific economic conditions. The bill does not set new pay rates but enables local officials to make these decisions through their commissions. The bill was introduced in the Senate on February 3, 2026, and referred to committees.