HB 4827 increases payments by 25% for therapists and other professionals contracted through West Virginia's Birth-to-Three program who are *not* state employees. This change applies to services provided starting July 1, 2026, and is funded through the existing West Virginia Birth-to-Three Fund. The bill specifically targets contracted providers, not state agency employees, and modifies §16-5K-6 of the code to implement this payment adjustment. The fund sources include legislative appropriations, transfers from health divisions, private donations, and client fees. This is a direct payment increase for contracted service providers under the program.
HB 4813 exempts all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) used as farm equipment from West Virginia's sales tax. This applies specifically to farmers who use these vehicles for agricultural operations, not for recreational purposes. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-15-3c to add ATVs and UTVs to the list of farm equipment eligible for sales tax exemption. This change directly affects farmers purchasing or using these vehicles for farm work, reducing their costs for necessary agricultural equipment.
HB 4814, the Equipment Right to Repair Act, requires manufacturers of farm equipment sold or leased in West Virginia to provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with necessary tools, manuals, parts, and technical updates after the new equipment warranty expires. It specifically covers farm equipment like tractors, combines, and sprayers (excluding road vehicles) and applies to all owners and independent repair shops operating in the state. The law mandates that manufacturers make these resources available without restrictions, such as requiring repair shops to become authorized providers or register tools. The Commissioner of Agriculture will enforce the law, which prohibits manufacturers from disclosing trade secrets but requires access to repair information. This directly affects farmers, independent repair businesses, and manufacturers of agricultural equipment sold in West Virginia.
HB 4831 prohibits advertising "lewd public content" anywhere in West Virginia, directly affecting businesses and advertisers promoting adult entertainment venues, images of undress, or sexually explicit language. The bill amends existing outdoor advertising laws (§17-22-4(15)) to ban such content from all outdoor signs, displays, and devices adjacent to roads. It defines "lewd public content" as including adult entertainment advertising, images of people in states of undress, or explicit terms like "nudity." The law does not change other existing restrictions on sign size, placement, or lighting.
HB 4802 provides a state tax credit for businesses rehabilitating certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It offers a 10% credit on rehabilitation costs for certified historic structures, increasing to 25% for projects completed after December 2017 with specific certification. The bill allows phased rehabilitation projects (e.g., multi-stage renovations) where credits can be claimed for each completed phase, subject to final project certification. To qualify, property owners must be current on all taxes (state, local, and property taxes) and meet federal historic preservation standards. This credit directly affects property owners and developers of certified historic buildings seeking to offset state business tax liability.
HB 4806 would increase West Virginia sheriffs' salaries by 10% more than the salaries paid to County Clerks and Circuit Clerks. This bill directly affects sheriffs in all West Virginia counties, requiring counties to first prove their fiscal health through an auditor's certification before the raise takes effect. Sheriffs must also submit a written request for the increase to their county clerk's office by the effective date. The changes would apply to salaries paid starting July 1, 2026, following the bill's introduction in January 2026.
HB 4837 extends the waiting period for former state legislators and other public officials to become lobbyists, changing the current one-year ban to five years. This bill directly affects former state legislators, county officials, and public employees who leave their government roles. The key mechanism requires these individuals to wait five years before lobbying state agencies or officials, aiming to reduce potential conflicts of interest from recent government service. The change applies to all public officials covered under West Virginia’s ethics code, including those in county and municipal positions.
This bill allows West Virginia airport authorities to use federally approved project delivery methods - such as design-build or construction manager-at-risk - for airport capital improvement projects funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It specifically authorizes these methods when they meet FAA safety and design standards, streamlining procurement for projects like terminal upgrades or runway construction. The bill affects airport authorities managing FAA-funded projects, ensuring compliance with federal requirements satisfies state procurement rules. It does not change funding levels but adjusts how projects can be delivered.
HB 4824 requires utilities (both public and private) in West Virginia that receive rate increases from the West Virginia Public Service Commission to set aside 5% of the new rate increase (from customer bills) into a dedicated infrastructure fund. This fund must be used exclusively for physical infrastructure repairs and improvements, such as water lines, electrical transmission lines, and treatment facilities, but cannot cover routine maintenance. Utilities are prohibited from passing the cost of this fund to consumers through future rate hikes or fees. The bill ensures that a portion of rate increases directly supports infrastructure upgrades without increasing customer bills.
HB 4828 allows public service districts (PSDs) to publish a single notice for both federal and state violations when a federal violation also triggers a state violation, instead of requiring two separate notices. This change directly affects PSDs that receive notices of violations with overlapping federal and state implications. The bill modifies existing law to permit combining these notices in one publication, eliminating the current requirement for separate notices. It applies specifically to situations where a federal violation notice also indicates or triggers a state violation. The bill does not alter the content of the notices or the violations themselves.
HB 4832 creates a program to support data center development in West Virginia by requiring "high impact" data centers (those meeting specific water and energy use thresholds) to report their water needs and obtain environmental certification that their operations won't harm state water resources. The environmental agency can limit or stop water withdrawals if adverse impacts are likely, and must hold public hearings for these facilities. The bill mandates transparency through standardized reporting while exempting certain business information from public disclosure requests. This aims to balance economic growth from data centers with protection of local water resources.
HB 4803 amends West Virginia's Deputy Sheriff Retirement System to allow the Consolidated Public Retirement Board to set county commission contribution rates (capped at 13% of payroll) based on actuarial calculations. It adds a new provision for an annual 1% cost-of-living adjustment to retirement benefits for eligible deputy sheriff retirees aged 60+ and surviving spouses. The bill modifies contribution rules, requiring counties to pay rates determined by the board rather than fixed percentages. This directly affects current and future deputy sheriff retirees, their families, and county governments funding the retirement system.
