HB 4952 establishes two new financing programs within the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to support public charter schools. The Charter School Direct Loan Program provides loans for charter school facility acquisition or improvements, while the Charter School Credit Enhancement Program helps schools secure bonds by reducing financing risks. Both programs create dedicated state treasury funds (the Direct Loan Fund and Credit Enhancement Fund) managed by the Authority, with all funding sourced from charter school repayments - not state general funds. The bill explicitly states these programs do not create state debt, moral obligations, or liabilities for counties or school districts. This directly affects qualifying public charter schools seeking financing for facilities or equipment.
HJR 28 is a constitutional amendment proposal (not a bill) that would require voter approval to allow West Virginia's legislature to later create a law exempting owner-occupied primary residences from property tax once the mortgage is paid off. It does not create the exemption itself but would permit future legislation to do so for homes with no outstanding mortgage. This would directly affect homeowners who pay off their mortgages and occupy the property as their primary residence. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.
HB 4810 requires dental insurance companies in West Virginia to publicly report how they spend premiums collected from enrollees, similar to federal health insurance rules. It mandates annual reports detailing patient care spending versus administrative costs, prohibits insurers from restricting payment methods to dentists, and requires rebates to customers if less than 80% of premiums are spent on dental care. The bill directly affects dental insurers, licensed dentists, and patients enrolled in private dental plans (excluding Medicaid). Key provisions include transparency requirements for premium expenditures, rules against unfair payment restrictions, and automatic premium reductions when patient care spending falls below the 80% threshold.
This bill establishes specific class size limits for West Virginia public schools: kindergarten classes must have no more than 20 students per teacher with an aide (for classes over 10 students), and grades 1-3 must have no more than 25 students per teacher with an aide, phased in from the 2023-2024 school year through 2025-2026. It requires counties to maintain these ratios in K-6 classrooms, allowing interventionists as an alternative staffing option for grades 4-6. The law directly affects K-6 teachers and students by mandating smaller class sizes to maximize teacher-student interaction time and support staff utilization.
HJR 30 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate all property taxes on primary residences (homestead real property) in West Virginia starting July 1, 2027. It directly affects homeowners who currently pay these taxes and counties that rely on homestead tax revenue for funding. The amendment requires the state legislature to create a new funding mechanism to replace the lost revenue for counties before the tax repeal takes effect. This resolution must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to become part of the state constitution. The bill is currently in committee referral after its January 29, 2026, introduction.
HB 4427 amends West Virginia law to require state agencies to transfer 25% of funds from "unencumbered" special revenue accounts - those with no activity (receiving or disbursing) for a period - to the General Revenue Fund. It directly affects state agencies managing special accounts (e.g., for education, infrastructure, or specific programs) that hold dormant funds. The key provision mandates this transfer after accounts remain inactive, ensuring unused funds support broader state spending rather than sitting idle. This policy change focuses on reallocating unspent resources without specifying new program requirements or impacts on beneficiaries.
HB 4117 prohibits surprise billing for ground emergency ambulance services by nonparticipating providers in West Virginia. It requires health insurers to pay ambulance providers directly (at the lesser of 400% of Medicare's rate or the provider's billed charges) within 30 days of receiving a clean claim, and bans providers from billing patients for amounts beyond what the insurer requires (like copays or deductibles). This directly affects patients receiving ambulance services, nonparticipating ambulance agencies, and health insurers. The bill ensures patients won’t face unexpected bills for emergency ground ambulance care, with clear payment rules and written denial notices for denied claims.
HB 4917 terminates West Virginia's Health Care Authority's certificate of need program, which previously required health facilities to obtain state approval before expanding services or building new facilities. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers that would have needed these approvals, eliminating that regulatory requirement. Key provisions include repealing related statutes, transferring the Authority's remaining powers and assets to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and directing funds to the general revenue fund. The bill also clarifies exemptions and establishes a summary review process for specific behavioral health services under the Secretary's authority.
HB 4925, the West Virginia PRIME Act, allows West Virginia producers and retailers to sell custom-slaughtered meat (beef, pork, lamb, goat) within the state without requiring USDA or state inspection. It applies to producers (farmers, ranchers) selling directly to consumers or retailers (restaurants, grocery stores), with meat labeled "Processed in a custom-exempt facility. Not for interstate commerce." The bill prohibits local governments from restricting such sales and limits the West Virginia Department of Agriculture from imposing additional regulations beyond minimal facility registration. All transactions must stay strictly within West Virginia borders, and the law explicitly exempts these sales from federal inspection requirements.
HB 4967 would amend West Virginia law to authorize the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to revoke the coaching credentials of any high school coach found guilty of illegal recruiting. This directly affects high school coaches in West Virginia who engage in prohibited recruiting practices, such as improper contact with student-athletes. The key provision requires WVSSAC to remove a coach's certification upon a determination of illegal recruiting violations, adding a specific enforcement mechanism to existing athletic regulations. The bill focuses on enforcing ethical recruiting standards within high school athletics.
This bill changes West Virginia law for domestic violence protective orders by requiring a court hearing with the respondent present and represented by counsel before restricting firearms. It mandates that courts must find "clear and convincing evidence" of an immediate danger (via documented threats or sworn testimony), not just general allegations, and prohibits using firearm confiscation as punishment. Respondents would automatically receive a 10-day appeal of any firearm restriction in the protective order. The bill directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders who might face firearm restrictions.
HB 4913 exempts the first 100 acres of qualifying working farms from all state, county, and municipal property taxes. A "working farm" is defined as land primarily used for agricultural production (crops, livestock, etc.), actively managed, and producing goods for sale. The exemption applies per parcel - not per owner - to prevent landowners from splitting parcels to gain more tax breaks, and a clawback provision reinstates taxes if the land stops farming or is subdivided. The bill also prohibits reassessments based on nearby development or "highest and best use" theories unrelated to agriculture.
