West Virginia Congressional Bills

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1494: Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act

HR 1494, the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act, requires online marketplaces (like Amazon or eBay) to collect the federal excise tax on sporting goods sold through their platforms, rather than leaving this responsibility to individual sellers. It specifically targets platforms that host third-party seller listings and facilitate transactions for goods imported from outside the U.S. The bill treats these marketplaces as the "importer" for tax purposes, making them liable for the tax on qualifying sporting goods sales. This change applies to sales after a 60-day grace period following the bill's enactment, with no impact on taxes already owed by other parties.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Jimmy Panetta (D) · 24 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

HR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Adrian Smith (R) · 246 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1454: Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act

This bill increases tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings in rural areas. It creates a new "applicable rural project" category: affordable housing projects get a 40% credit on rehabilitation costs (up to $5 million total), while other rural projects get a 30% credit. The credit can now be transferred to other taxpayers, unlike previous rules. It specifically targets buildings in areas outside cities over 50,000 people or adjacent urban zones, and requires affordable housing projects to maintain housing affordability standards. The changes apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1492: To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period between small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program.

HR 1492 amends the Social Security Act to extend the negotiation period for standard drug manufacturers under the federal drug pricing program. Specifically, it changes the timeframe from 7 years to 11 years for small-molecule drugs (like traditional pills) to negotiate prices with the government, aligning it with the existing 12-year period for complex biologic drugs (like insulin or monoclonal antibodies). This adjustment directly affects pharmaceutical companies that produce small-molecule drugs, giving them a longer window to negotiate pricing terms. The bill makes this change effective as if it had been part of the 2022 law that established the program.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1509: Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025

This bill would require states to create a simplified process for out-of-state healthcare providers to join Medicaid and CHIP programs. Qualified providers (those already enrolled in Medicare or another state's program with low fraud risk) could enroll without excessive screening and would be approved for five years. It directly affects children under 21 enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP by expanding access to providers outside their state, particularly in underserved areas. The change applies to all states' Medicaid programs but takes effect three years after enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Lori Trahan (D) · 104 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 674: Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act

The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (S 674) excludes specific federal and state broadband grants from being counted as taxable income for recipients. It applies to grants from programs like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and similar state/local initiatives funded by federal broadband grants. The law prevents double tax benefits by disallowing deductions for expenses covered by the excluded grant and reducing the property’s cost basis by the grant amount. This directly affects broadband providers and local governments receiving these grants, making the funds tax-free without allowing additional tax deductions for the same spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 679: LEOSA Reform Act

S 679 amends federal law to clarify that active and retired law enforcement officers meeting specific criteria can carry concealed firearms in more locations, including national parks and certain federal facilities like public areas of federal buildings. The bill requires retired officers to have completed recent firearms training (within 12-36 months) and provide certification from their former agency, state, or a certified instructor. It also specifies that these provisions do not apply to property used by common carriers (such as airports) or public property. These changes update the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 to expand officers' ability to carry concealed weapons under federal law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 680: Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act of 2025

This bill prohibits U.S. federal funds from supporting two international environmental agreements until specific reclassifications of China occur. It blocks funding for the Montreal Protocol (regarding ozone-depleting substances) until China is removed from the "developing country" category in that agreement, and blocks funding for the UN Climate Change Convention until China is added to Annex I (which lists developed nations). The restrictions remain in place until the President certifies to congressional committees that these reclassifications have been made by the relevant international bodies. The bill directly affects U.S. government funding for these global environmental programs.

Topics ✗ Environment

passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SRES 53: A resolution recognizing the 80th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi.

SRES 53 is a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the February 19-26, 1945, Battle of Iwo Jima and the iconic U.S. flag-raising on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. It honors the service members who fought in the battle - including those who received the Medal of Honor - and recognizes the strategic importance of the victory in ending World War II. The resolution encourages public commemoration through ceremonies and events, while affirming U.S.-Japan reconciliation and honoring veterans' sacrifices. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or direct impact on policy or beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Todd Young (R) · 38 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2025

S 631: Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act

The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act increases tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings in rural areas. It provides a 40% credit for affordable housing projects (where at least half the building meets affordability standards) and a 30% credit for other rural historic projects, with a $5 million cap on eligible costs. Taxpayers can transfer these credits to other taxpayers, requiring certification and reporting to the IRS. The bill also adds recapture rules for projects failing to meet affordable housing requirements and removes a basis adjustment for these credits, effective for projects placed in service after 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 18, 2025

HR 1436: ENABLE Act

HR 1436, the ENABLE Act, makes permanent key tax provisions for ABLE accounts - tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities. It removes the 2026 expiration date for increased contribution limits to ABLE accounts and allows rollovers from 529 college savings plans into ABLE accounts without tax penalties. These changes directly affect individuals with disabilities who use ABLE accounts for qualified expenses like housing, education, and medical costs. The bill ensures these financial tools remain available long-term, streamlining access to savings without requiring new legislative action each year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Lloyd Smucker (R) · 24 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House Feb 14, 2025

HR 1385: Strengthening Cooperation and Security in the Middle East Act

This bill requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to produce a report within 180 days analyzing how expanding the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA) would improve regional security cooperation. The report must cover CSIPA’s benefits for military readiness, economic ties, and technology collaboration, including responses to Houthi attacks and Iranian threats, plus identify barriers to broader membership. It also mandates a follow-up strategy and briefing to engage Middle Eastern nations in joining CSIPA. The bill affects U.S. foreign policy agencies but does not alter existing laws or funding.

West Virginia Congressional Bills

Bill results