Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 830: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 0488

SB 830 adds $7.77 million to the Department of Human Services' Adoption program (fund 0488), $19.69 million to Foster Care (fund 0489), and $1 million to Adult Services (fund 0492) for fiscal year 2026. It uses unappropriated surplus funds from the State General Revenue Fund, as identified in the Governor's 2026 budget document. The bill directly affects these three DHS bureaus by providing additional funding for their existing programs without changing eligibility or service requirements. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $28.46M in surplus funds to DHS programs without tax changes, directly funding essential human services per budget appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 817: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Homeland Security, fund 0570

SB 817 adds $1,000,000 in supplemental funding to West Virginia’s Northern Regional Juvenile Center (part of the Bureau of Juvenile Services under the Department of Homeland Security) for fiscal year 2026. The funds come from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, as identified in the Governor’s 2026 budget submission. This allocation specifically supports the existing operations of the Northern Regional Juvenile Center without creating new programs or altering service requirements. The bill does not change eligibility, funding formulas, or policy standards - it simply reallocates unused state funds to a designated facility.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M from surplus to fund juvenile center operations, supporting public service budget allocation without new taxes or cuts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 819: Supplemental appropriation to Department Health Facilities, fund 0413

SB 819 redirects $4,906,630 from an unappropriated surplus balance in West Virginia's General Revenue Fund to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital (fund 0413) for fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements the hospital's existing appropriation by adding a new line item for "Current Expenses - Surplus" to cover operational costs. This procedural budget adjustment directly affects the hospital's funding for the 2026 fiscal year without changing health care policies or creating new obligations. The funds were identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document as available surplus.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $4.9M surplus to hospital operations, increasing public service funding via budget reallocation without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects $4.9M surplus to fund William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital operations, increasing direct healthcare funding without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 749: Relating to county economic opportunity development districts

SB 749 authorizes four West Virginia counties - Ohio, Harrison, Monongalia, and Jefferson - to levy a special sales tax on businesses within designated economic development districts. The bill specifically approves taxes for the Fort Henry District (500 acres in Ohio County), Charles Pointe District (437 acres in Harrison County), University Town Centre District (1,450 acres in Monongalia County), and a Jefferson County district (unspecified acreage). Each district’s tax authority expires in 2053 or 2054, unless terminated earlier under existing law. The bill ensures these taxes won’t reduce state general revenue by requiring individual legislative approval for each district’s tax authorization. This directly affects businesses operating within these defined areas, with tax revenue funding local economic development initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes new county-level sales tax for economic development districts, increasing tax authority to fund local economic initiatives and fiscal management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 1053: Authorizing Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund to modernize and enhance WorkForce West Virginia

SB 1053 creates a new "Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund" to modernize West Virginia's unemployment system. It requires employers to pay 7% of their quarterly unemployment tax contributions into this fund, with limits: deposits stop if the fund reaches $18 million in a year or if the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund falls below $300 million. The fund will cover costs for upgrading the unemployment claims system, improving the job search platform, administrative expenses, and workforce development initiatives. This directly affects employers who pay unemployment taxes in West Virginia, redirecting a portion of their payments toward system improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 7% of unemployment tax to fund system modernization, creating dedicated tax revenue for essential program upgrades.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates fund to modernize unemployment system, improving claims processing and job search tools, directly supporting unemployed workers' access to benefits.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates fund specifically for modernizing unemployment system tech, including upgrading claims platform and job search tools, directly advancing technology infrastructure for government services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 29: Providing pay increases to members of judiciary

This bill increases salaries for West Virginia judges and certain judicial staff starting July 1, 2026. It raises the annual salary for Supreme Court justices to $154,600 (from $149,600), circuit court judges to $143,600 (from $138,600), and family court judges to $113,950 (from $103,950). It also adjusts pay for family court secretary-clerks and case coordinators, with secretary-clerks receiving $44,876 annually and case coordinators capped at $56,876. The bill suspends employer contributions to the judicial retirement system until specific conditions are met.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state spending on judicial salaries, a direct budget allocation for public services (courts) as part of fiscal management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 502: Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act

SB 502 establishes permanent endowments to protect women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs at West Virginia’s public NCAA Division I universities. It requires that only endowment earnings - not principal - fund scholarships, coaching, equipment, and facilities for these programs. The bill creates tax credits (50% of donations) for private contributions and matching funds for institutions that document verified operational savings (e.g., energy efficiency, shared services), while prohibiting cuts to academic programs or Title IX compliance. All endowments must undergo annual audits, and institutions must report on cost savings, donations, and Title IX adherence to the state education commission.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates 50% tax credits for donations to fund women's sports programs, directly providing tax relief to incentivize private contributions toward program funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates permanent endowments and tax credits to fund/protect women's collegiate sports programs at public universities, directly strengthening higher education athletic funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 104: Providing certain state mine inspectors with raise

This bill provides a $5,000 salary increase to state mine inspectors, including electrical, underground, and surface mine inspectors, effective upon enactment. It directly affects these specific inspectors by adding a fixed monetary amount to their base salaries without altering their duties or qualifications. The provision applies uniformly to all inspectors covered under the relevant chapter of the state code.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state spending on mine inspectors' salaries, directly funding state personnel costs within government spending framework.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill directly increases wages for state mine inspectors, advancing employment compensation within Labor & Employment framework.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 622: Extending mine safety technology tax credit

Senate Bill 622 extends the West Virginia Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit, allowing mining businesses to continue claiming a tax credit for investments in safety technology, from expiring at the end of 2025 to December 31, 2028. This credit directly affects mining companies in West Virginia that purchase or develop safety equipment, such as ventilation systems or monitoring devices, for their operations. The bill amends the existing tax credit law by changing the termination date to provide three additional years of financial incentives. Eligible businesses can now reduce their state tax liability for qualifying safety technology expenses made through 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax credit for mining safety tech, providing tax relief to businesses and directly affecting state tax revenue through policy change.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends tax credit for mine safety tech investments, directly improving workplace safety standards for miners through required safety equipment like ventilation systems.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 592: WV Short Line Railroad Modernization Act

SB 592 creates a tax credit program for West Virginia short line railroads and related infrastructure. It provides a 50% tax credit on qualified maintenance costs (capped at $5,000 per mile of track) and new infrastructure investments (capped at $2 million per project, with a $5 million annual limit). Eligible taxpayers include Class II/III railroads operating in West Virginia and owners/lessees of rail sidings or industrial spurs. Credits can be carried forward for up to five years or transferred to other taxpayers via written agreement. The bill directly supports rail infrastructure modernization by reducing costs for qualifying rail operators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credits for railroads, reducing tax liability for eligible entities through targeted fiscal incentives.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates tax credits for rail infrastructure maintenance and new projects, directly funding transportation modernization within the topic's scope.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes