Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4418: Creating “The Tax Efficiency Act of 2026”

HB 4418, titled "The Tax Efficiency Act of 2026," would allow West Virginia municipalities to pay and manage their business and occupation or privilege taxes through a statewide electronic data processing system. This change directly affects all cities and towns in West Virginia that impose such taxes on local businesses. The bill amends existing tax code to establish this electronic system as an official method for tax collection and administration, replacing manual or paper-based processes. The key provision enables streamlined, centralized processing to reduce administrative costs and improve accuracy for both local governments and businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modernizes tax collection via electronic system, promoting fiscal efficiency and administrative responsibility in tax administration per Taxation subject.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4416: Classifying forestry equipment for levy purposes

HB 4416 reclassifies forestry equipment (such as skidders, feller-bunchers, and forestry trailers) as Class I property - same as agricultural equipment - for tax purposes. This exempts the sale of such equipment from West Virginia's consumer sales tax starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects forestry businesses and equipment manufacturers by reducing their tax burden. It also formally defines forestry as part of agriculture, encompassing forest product harvesting and processing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts forestry equipment sales from state sales tax, reducing tax burden for businesses - direct tax relief for industry.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4028: Relating to sales tax on construction materials

HB 4028 exempts construction contractors from West Virginia's sales and use taxes on building materials and services used for constructing, repairing, or improving public elementary, secondary, or vocational school facilities. This applies to materials permanently installed in school buildings (like framing, wiring, or plumbing), but excludes tools, equipment, gasoline, or motor vehicle purchases. The bill directly affects contractors working on public school projects by reducing their costs for qualifying materials. It clarifies that this exemption applies to both state-level and municipal sales taxes on eligible school construction work. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, with no new revenue impact on the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts contractors from sales tax on school construction materials, reducing costs for public school infrastructure projects, aligning with tax relief for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school construction materials from sales tax, reducing costs for facility improvements which directly supports school infrastructure funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4625: Relating to quit claim deeds

HB 4625 amends West Virginia's definitions for property transfer excise taxes, clarifying which transactions qualify for tax exemptions. It removes an existing exemption for certain property transfers while adding new exemptions for transfers between family members (spouse, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, siblings) and between charitable organizations. The bill also refines definitions of key terms like "document," "value," and "person" to better determine tax applicability. These changes directly affect individuals and entities involved in property sales or gifts, particularly in family or charitable contexts, by altering which transfers are exempt from the excise tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adds tax exemptions for family transfers and charities (providing relief) and refines definitions to clarify tax applicability, indicating support for fiscal responsibility.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 26, 2026

HB 5277: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Health Facilities-Welch Community Hospital, William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5277 is a funding bill that allocates $1 million to Welch Community Hospital, $3.4 million to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and $4.3 million to Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance. These funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, repairs, and equipment at each hospital during fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements existing appropriations by adding these new funding lines to the hospitals' respective budgets. It directly affects the three named hospitals by providing additional resources for facility maintenance and infrastructure. The bill does not create new policies or programs but reallocates existing surplus funds for capital purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $8.7M from unappropriated surplus for hospital capital improvements, directly increasing public service funding without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $8.7M for hospital capital improvements and repairs, directly funding healthcare infrastructure to maintain services at three public hospitals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 26, 2026

HB 4575: Making Supplemental Appropriation to State Board of Education

HB 4575 transfers $8 million from the State Fund's unappropriated surplus balance to the State Board of Education's Temporary Shortfall Supplement Fund for County Boards of Education. This supplemental appropriation directly affects county school districts in West Virginia by providing funds to address budget shortfalls, as authorized under W. Va. Code §18-2E-5b. The bill amends the fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the State Board of Education (Fund 0313) by adding a new line item for this specific purpose. It does not create new policy but reallocates existing state funds to support local school district budgets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $8M from surplus to address school budget shortfalls, funding essential public education services through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers $8M to address county school district budget shortfalls, directly funding K-12 operations per W. Va. Code §18-2E-5b.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 826: Supplementary appropriation to Division of Natural Resources, fund 3211

SB 826 is a supplementary appropriation bill that increases funding for the State Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund (fund 3211) within the Division of Natural Resources for fiscal year 2026. It raises current expenses from $13,000 to $25,000 and other assets from $69,000 to $6,500,000. This directly provides additional resources for managing West Virginia's state parks, including operations and facility maintenance during the 2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases funding for state parks operations/maintenance via supplementary appropriation, directly advancing public service funding within budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases funding for State Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund to enhance park operations and maintenance, directly supporting environmental conservation and natural resource management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 825: Supplementary appropriation to Department of Administration, fund 0226

This bill adds $17.6 million in funding to West Virginia's Public Defender Services (fund 0226) for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $2.6 million for "Public Defender Corporations" and $15 million for "Appointed Counsel Fees" using existing unappropriated surplus funds from the State Fund. The funding directly supports public defenders who represent indigent defendants in criminal cases, ensuring legal services for individuals who cannot afford private attorneys. The bill makes no new policy changes but redirects existing surplus state funds to this specific program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds public defenders using surplus funds, supporting essential legal services without new taxes or policy changes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates $17.6M to public defenders for indigent criminal defendants, directly funding legal representation and supporting access to justice, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 875: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Commerce, fund 8703

SB 875 supplements the 2026 budget for the West Virginia Department of Commerce's Division of Forestry (fund 8703) by adding $250,000 for personal services and $500,000 for current expenses. The funds come from unappropriated federal money remaining for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects the Division of Forestry's budget allocation, increasing its available funding for staff costs and operational needs during the 2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases budget for Forestry Division's staff and operations using unappropriated federal funds, directly funding public service needs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 843: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Health, fund 5144

SB 843 is a supplemental budget measure that adds $330,000 to the existing appropriation for the Department of Health's Vital Statistics Account (fund 5144) for fiscal year 2026. It specifically increases funding for "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" within this account, using unspent funds identified by the Governor. The bill directly affects the Department of Health's Vital Statistics program, which handles birth, death, and other vital records. This is a procedural budget adjustment to reallocate existing unappropriated funds, not a new policy or program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $330k to Department of Health's Vital Statistics budget for employee services, directly increasing funding for a public health program using unspent funds.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes