HB 4665 expands West Virginia's tax deduction for retirement income to include retired law enforcement officers and first responders who worked out-of-state but performed roles equivalent to in-state positions. It modifies the state's tax code to allow these retirees to subtract up to $2,000 annually from their federal adjusted gross income, similar to existing deductions for in-state retirees. The bill requires the Tax Division to verify eligibility and establish a process for storing applicant information. This change directly affects retired police, firefighters, and other first responders who served outside West Virginia but qualify under the bill's defined roles.
HB 4691 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting. It significantly restricts absentee voting eligibility, allowing only active U.S. military members (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities to cast absentee ballots. This eliminates current absentee categories for reasons like travel, college attendance, employment conflicts, or being a first responder. The bill amends election code sections to remove all other absentee voting options, requiring most voters to cast ballots in person or via paper ballot at polling locations. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election.
HB 4532 proposes to allow homeless U.S. citizens residing in shelters or served by homeless services providers in West Virginia to obtain certain identification documents at no cost. Eligible individuals must use the shelter’s address, have a shelter employee verify their residency via affidavit, and provide proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport). The bill requires the state division to issue photo ID cards, replacement driver’s licenses, or replacement birth certificates to qualifying applicants. It defines "homeless U.S. citizen" as someone lacking a fixed residence and residing in a shelter or receiving services from a homeless provider. The bill is currently in committee review and has not yet been enacted.
HB 4608, the School Board Election Date Act, requires all West Virginia school districts to hold board elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November - coinciding with general elections. It also mandates that candidate names be listed alphabetically on ballots for school board races. The bill applies directly to all West Virginia public school districts and their voters, standardizing election timing and ballot formatting without altering voting eligibility or school governance policies. This procedural change aims to streamline elections while aligning them with existing statewide voting schedules.
HB 4529 requires local governments (including counties, cities, and land reuse agencies) that receive grants from West Virginia's Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program to provide a 20% matching contribution. This applies unless the entity can demonstrate financial inability using data from the State Auditor's Office. The bill also mandates that fines related to abandoned properties be used to support either the matching funds or the demolition of condemned properties. The program aims to help local entities remediate blighted structures through state grants, with this new requirement ensuring local financial commitment.
SB 520 prohibits foreign nationals and certain foreign-owned U.S. entities from making contributions or expenditures to influence ballot issues in West Virginia elections. It defines "foreign national" broadly to include non-citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and U.S. entities majority-owned by foreign nationals (unless they meet specific U.S. operations and decision-making conditions). The bill establishes civil penalties, including requiring violators to disgorge funds to the state treasury, and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil actions. This directly affects political committees, candidates, and organizations receiving or soliciting contributions related to ballot issues from prohibited sources.
HB 4562 lowers the required service time from 25 to 20 years for certain retirees to qualify for a minimum $1,000 monthly retirement benefit under West Virginia's Public Employees and State Teachers Retirement Systems. It applies to retirees aged 70+ as of July 1, 2026, with at least 20 years of service (excluding time as elected officials, temporary legislative staff, or capped-salary educators), if their current benefit is below $1,000. Surviving spouses who chose a joint and survivor annuity with similar service would qualify for a $500 minimum benefit. The change only applies to those retired before the bill's effective date, not retroactively.
SB 513 requires West Virginia courts and administrative officers to interpret state statutes, regulations, and rules independently, rather than deferring to agency interpretations. It directly affects state courts, administrative judges, and agencies involved in legal disputes over rules or statutes. The key provision mandates that courts interpret laws "de novo" (from scratch) and resolve ambiguities by favoring interpretations that limit agency power and protect individual liberty. This changes how courts handle cases involving agency rules, ensuring judicial review is not constrained by prior agency positions. The bill does not alter the substance of laws but modifies the legal process for interpreting them.
HB 4548 requires employers on West Virginia public construction projects to hire at least 75% of workers from the local labor market, with flexibility for up to two non-local workers per project. If employers cannot find enough local workers, they must request a waiver from WorkForce West Virginia, which then permits hiring outside the area using the same qualifications and wage rates previously provided. The bill clarifies that the West Virginia Jobs Act applies to all public construction projects, including those managed by the West Virginia Development Authority. It also mandates the Division of Labor to create a public online database (redacting personal information) showing where workers reside on these projects, accessible for transparency. This directly affects construction employers receiving public contracts and public authorities overseeing such projects.
HCR 11 is a West Virginia state resolution urging Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It seeks to propose amendments requiring that U.S. Representatives, Senators, federal judges (Article III), and Cabinet Secretaries be natural-born U.S. citizens with sole U.S. citizenship. The resolution does not change existing law but applies to Congress under Article V of the Constitution to initiate a convention focused solely on this citizenship requirement for those federal positions. This is a procedural step by West Virginia to join other states in seeking a constitutional amendment, not a legislative bill with immediate effect.
HB 4581 requires each county Bureau of Social Services office to hold monthly meetings to review child welfare operations and improve coordination. The bill mandates attendance by county supervisors, law enforcement, school officials, health providers, and other partners to discuss staffing, caseloads, service barriers, and child safety issues. Each meeting must produce a written report documenting attendees, key issues, and action items. This bill directly affects county child welfare offices and their local partners, aiming to enhance timely responses to child abuse and neglect through structured communication.
SB 526 modifies how public employee health insurance premiums are calculated under West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). It requires the finance board to develop annual financial plans with actuarial review, ensuring plans cover all costs including claims. The bill establishes specific reimbursement rates (110% of Medicare for providers), sets employer/employee cost-sharing percentages, and allows different cost levels based on ability to pay for current employees and retirees. It also permits subsidizing retired employees' coverage through employer premiums. This directly affects all West Virginia public employees, retirees, state employers, and healthcare providers participating in PEIA.
