SB 82 imposes a $3 tax per megawatt-hour on electricity produced from wind and solar sources for sale or trade in West Virginia, starting January 1, 2027. It applies to commercial producers at the point of interconnection with transmission lines, with exemptions for government facilities, personal consumption under 500 kWh daily, and new installations for the first three years of operation. Producers must report annual output by February 1 and pay taxes by the same date, facing penalties of up to 25% for late payment plus 12-18% annual interest. Revenue collected will be distributed to West Virginia counties based on the number of compliant volunteer fire departments, with counties then allocating funds directly to those departments.
This bill modifies West Virginia's State Teachers Retirement System rules to address members serving as officers in statewide teaching associations. It allows these members to be considered "absent from service" while holding such roles, meaning their teaching service time won't count toward retirement credit during that period. However, they must make double the usual retirement contributions for the absence duration (e.g., if they normally pay 10% of salary, they pay 20% during this service). The provision applies only to those serving as officers before January 1, 2025, and service credit for this absence is capped at 10 years.
Senate Bill 53 requires West Virginia county school boards to publish an annual list of unused public buildings (such as closed or unoccupied school facilities) on a public website. This allows public charter schools to request and lease these buildings for classroom use, provided the buildings are not currently used for instruction. The bill ensures county boards cannot sell or block a building once a charter school requests it, and gives schools up to two years to secure approval and complete necessary renovations. Charter schools must pay market-rate rent and cover all operating costs (including utilities, maintenance, and repairs) during the lease. If a charter school's application is denied, the county board is not obligated to hold the building for future requests.
SB 202 would exempt certain military veterans and their families from tuition and fees at West Virginia’s public colleges and universities. It specifically covers: (1) spouses and children of veterans killed in action, missing in action, or who died while serving; (2) disabled veterans with 90%+ service-connected disabilities (since 9/11); and (3) spouses and children of active-duty veterans who died or went missing in service. To qualify, applicants must be West Virginia residents, apply for FAFSA, exhaust other tuition aid, and maintain academic standards. The exemption applies only to undergraduate programs and does not cover special fees like lab costs or parking. The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.
SB 5 exempts retirement income for retired West Virginia campus police officers from state personal income tax, effective July 1, 2026. This applies specifically to retirement benefits received under any qualified retirement system (including those sponsored by colleges/universities) that would otherwise be taxable under federal rules. The exemption covers all retirement income received after the effective date, including survivorship annuities. It directly affects retired campus police officers employed by West Virginia institutions of higher education. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-21-12 to add this specific exemption to the state's tax code.
This bill redirects a portion of West Virginia's coal severance tax to the specific counties where coal is mined. Starting in 2012, it gradually increases the share sent to coal-producing counties (from 1% to 5% of the tax), with an annual cap of $20 million. Counties must use these funds exclusively for economic development or infrastructure projects like roads, broadband, mine reclamation, or water systems - barring personal services or bond costs. It ensures local communities directly benefit from coal extracted within their borders.
This bill requires electric utility generators in West Virginia to operate at a 69% capacity level until 2040 and maintain a 45-day supply of coal fuel on site to ensure reliable power generation. It mandates that power-generating utilities submit detailed plans within 90 days outlining how they will keep existing coal plants operational through 2040, including maintenance schedules and cost estimates, while prohibiting the use of securitized funds to close or decommission plants without Public Service Commission approval. The West Virginia Public Service Commission will evaluate these plans, coordinate participation in regional capacity auctions, and may require additional upgrades to maintain plant operations. The legislation aims to protect ratepayers from rate increases, preserve local jobs, and extend the operational life of the state's coal-fired power plants.
This bill creates the "West Virginia Country Roads Mapping and Marketing Act," allowing counties to request the state Department of Highways (WVDOH) to map scenic and back roads for tourism promotion. Counties must apply for mapping, and the WVDOH will classify roads by surface type (paved, gravel, dirt) and identify 4x4 vehicle requirements. The WVDOH will develop an interactive public map and mobile app featuring user-submitted updates, points of interest, and road conditions, with funding sourced from the department's tourism and infrastructure budget. The program requires annual reporting to the Legislature on participation and tourism impact.
SB 898 creates a two-year pilot program allowing West Virginia's Division of Highways to contract with private vendors for snow removal on secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston counties. The bill requires the Division to issue requests for proposals, select vendors, and establish that vendors have no legal immunity and must cover damages from their work. Vendors can be terminated with 30 days' notice if unsatisfactory. This directly affects residents of those counties who rely on secondary roads and potential contractors bidding on the snow removal services.
SB 882 requires electric utilities in West Virginia to delay rate or fee increases not approved by November 20 of any year until April 1 of the following year. This applies to all electric utilities regulated under the Public Service Commission's jurisdiction, directly affecting utility companies and their customers. The bill modifies existing law to establish this specific timeline, preventing utilities from implementing changes before April 1 if they miss the November 20 deadline. This provides customers with more predictable timing for potential rate adjustments.
Senate Bill 830 removes outdated language from West Virginia law that referenced "short-term loans to released inmates for costs related to reentry." The bill specifically deletes a provision in §15A-4-21 (which described a program for providing such loans) because these loans have never been provided or secured. This is a procedural update to correct obsolete language in the corrections code, with no new policy or funding changes.
This bill would exempt private passenger automobiles that are 25 years old or older from West Virginia's personal property tax. It amends state tax code §11-3-9 to add these older vehicles to the list of property types already excluded from taxation. The change would directly affect owners of vintage and classic cars who currently pay this tax on their vehicles. The policy removes a specific tax burden for this category of personal property without altering other tax provisions.
