HB 5400 increases criminal penalties for child neglect resulting in death in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence from 3 to 10 years for offenders convicted of causing a child's death through neglect when both a fine and imprisonment are imposed. The bill also clarifies that religious healing methods meeting IRS criteria for medical expenses do not count as neglect (but this exception does not apply to professionals like teachers or doctors responsible for a child's health). Additionally, it specifies that interfering with court-ordered medical treatment is considered neglect under this law. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, custodians, and others in positions of trust responsible for a child's well-being.
HB 5404 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office. It directly assists new and early-stage businesses (operating fewer than five years) by providing policy support, technical resources, and acting as a liaison with state agencies. The bill allocates $350,000 for fiscal years 2027-2028 to fund two full-time staff positions and support these services. This office would focus on helping businesses during their critical first three to five years of operation.
HB 5402 creates a refundable tax credit for West Virginia businesses operating qualified distribution centers. It allows these businesses to claim a dollar-for-dollar credit against state taxes for toll payments exceeding $150,000 made via the West Virginia EZ Pass system on ground transportation of finished, packaged retail goods. The credit requires using RFID Tag Readers or comparable systems approved by the West Virginia Parkways Authority to track eligible tolls. The credit applies to toll payments made in 2026 and future tax years, with the program effective July 1, 2026.
HB 5397 would exempt the sale of firearm suppressors from West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax. This bill directly affects individuals purchasing suppressors, which are devices designed to reduce the sound of a firearm discharge. The key provision amends the tax code to specifically exclude suppressor sales from taxable transactions, aligning them with existing exemptions for small arms and ammunition. The bill does not change ownership laws or safety requirements for suppressors, only the tax treatment of their purchase.
HB 5407 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to share medical, dental, and mental health records of children in abuse/neglect cases with their school counselors within 30 days of placement. This directly affects the department, mental health providers, school counselors, and children involved in juvenile court cases. The key mechanism is a mandatory record-sharing process to improve collaboration among professionals supporting the child's well-being. The bill aims to streamline information flow without changing existing court procedures or standards of care. It is a procedural amendment to existing child welfare law, not a new substantive policy.
HB 5418 revises West Virginia's dog racing regulations by removing minimum race date requirements for license applicants and for telecast contracts. It mandates that dog racetracks must hold a racing license to conduct simulcast racing - even if they no longer host live races - and allows continued operation of video lottery and table games in areas previously used for live racing. The bill also eliminates the need for video lottery licensees to hold a racing license to renew their licenses and clarifies the financial contribution share for the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund from racetracks that have ceased dog racing operations.
SB 706 modifies West Virginia's severance tax for oil and natural gas producers by temporarily reducing the tax rate for newly drilled wells. It lowers the tax rate to 3% (from 5%) for 24 months starting from the first sale of natural gas or oil from wells drilled after June 30, 2026. This applies specifically to newly completed wells, while existing wells and other production types maintain their standard rates (2.5% or 5% depending on production volume and drilling method). The bill directly affects oil and gas producers who drill new wells after the effective date, offering a short-term tax incentive to encourage new development. The change is part of the state's severance tax structure under §11-13A-3a of the West Virginia Code.
This bill establishes rules for pharmacy benefit managers operating in West Virginia to protect pharmacies and patients from unfair pricing practices. It requires these managers to provide information about lower-cost drug alternatives without penalizing pharmacies for discussing them, and it prohibits charging pharmacies more than the amount patients pay out of pocket. The legislation also restricts how pharmacy benefit managers can handle 340B drug discounts, ensuring 340B pharmacies are not charged additional fees or subjected to extra administrative burdens compared to other pharmacies. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual study of dispensing fees and requires the implementation of a pharmacy cost containment tool to help control drug spending.
SB 896 establishes clear rules for when sheriffs in West Virginia must suspend the sale of tax liens. Sheriffs must pause sales if property was already deeded, a prior lien wasn't redeemed, the lien amount is incorrect, or the property is owned by a government entity (federal, state, local) or tax-exempt organization. County commissions then decide whether to proceed with the sale, but cannot order sales on government-owned property. The bill also includes a tax exemption for certain purchasers, though the specific exemption details aren't outlined in the provided text. This directly affects sheriffs, county commissions, and property owners, particularly government entities.
This bill updates West Virginia's unclaimed property laws to require nursing homes to report abandoned resident funds to the State Treasurer within 180 days instead of the current 30-day period. The legislation also clarifies reporting timelines for safety deposit boxes and other secure storage facilities, while simplifying the process for residents to claim their property by allowing the State Treasurer to waive certain reciprocal claim forms with other states. Additionally, the bill establishes new rules for finders of unclaimed property, prohibiting them from claiming items within a specific timeframe and making certain agreements between finders and apparent owners unenforceable. These changes aim to streamline how unclaimed property is identified, reported, and returned to rightful owners across various types of institutions.
This bill amends West Virginia election laws to remove barriers that prevent disabled voters from casting ballots. It directly affects voters with physical or cognitive disabilities who may struggle with traditional voting procedures like signing their names or presenting identification. The key provision allows poll clerks to affix a voter's mark when they are unable to sign, and it clarifies that expired identification documents remain valid for voters aged 65 and older. Additionally, the bill ensures that voters accompanied by a trusted adult can vote without providing a valid identifying document if the poll worker knows the voter personally. These changes aim to increase accessibility while maintaining election security standards.
This bill updates West Virginia's workers' compensation laws to modernize outdated provisions and standardize references to government agencies. It directly affects employees, employers, and the workers' compensation commission by clarifying injury reporting requirements and adjusting the number of Board of Review members from five to a range of three to five. Key changes include tightening employer reporting deadlines to five days, allowing employers to waive certain payment objections if they fail to report injuries timely, and correcting obsolete language from previous legislative sessions. The legislation also includes spelling, grammatical, and citation corrections throughout the relevant statutes.
