Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 791: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Homeland Security, fund 0443

SB 791 increases the existing fiscal year 2026 appropriation for the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management (fund 0443) by $13,000, raising the total to $243,000. This supplemental funding directly affects the Division of Emergency Management's operational budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The bill uses an unappropriated balance remaining in the State Fund, General Revenue, as identified in the Governor's budget document. It does not create new policies or programs but adjusts an existing funding allocation for emergency management operations. The change is limited to the Division of Emergency Management's current expenses account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases operational budget for Emergency Management via supplemental appropriation, supporting essential program funding within state budget framework85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 785: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Health, fund 5163

SB 785 adds $800,000 in supplemental funding to the West Virginia Department of Health's Laboratory Services Fund (Fund 5163) for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $250,000 for staff salaries and benefits, $250,000 for equipment, and $300,000 for operational costs. This bill directly affects the Department of Health's laboratory operations by providing additional budget authority from unspent funds. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies or programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $800k supplemental funding to Health Department lab operations, increasing budget authority for essential services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

vetoed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 5074: Relating to changing the allocation of proceeds in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund.

HB 5074 changes how revenue from West Virginia's medical cannabis program is allocated. For fiscal year 2026, it directs $3 million to the Supreme Court for a child protection pilot, $10 million each to West Virginia University and Marshall University for ibogaine research, and $5 million to homelessness services, with remaining funds reverting to general revenue. Starting July 1, 2026, annual allocations will be: 15% to the Medical Cannabis Bureau for administration, 15% to the Department of Agriculture for cannabis testing, and 45% split among the Fight Substance Abuse Fund (20%), university research (10% each to Marshall and WVU), a Child Protection Commission (10%), and law enforcement training programs (40%). These changes apply to ongoing revenue from medical cannabis taxes, not new taxes or fees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates cannabis program revenue to child protection, university research, and homelessness services, advancing funding for public programs and fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $10M to universities for ibogaine research (addiction treatment), directly funding mental health services within healthcare.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates $5 million to homelessness services, directly addressing housing needs through funding for housing-related support programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 5412: Future Ready Education Act

The Future Ready Education Act allows West Virginia school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational technology with a technology licensing component, provided they document fiscal savings and include a 30-day cancellation clause. It extends the Mountain State Digital Project to cover grades 9-12 and adds tutoring in reading, math, science, and career-technical education. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers must complete training in the science of reading, with public charter school educators permitted to voluntarily participate. The bill directly affects school districts, K-5 teachers, and students in public schools across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires fiscal savings documentation for tech contracts, promoting responsible budget management within education funding allocation85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends digital project to grades 9-12, adds subject tutoring, mandates teacher training - directly enhances educational access, student programs, and educator support.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables school tech contracts, extends digital project to grades 9-12, and mandates tech-related teacher training, advancing educational technology access and integration.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 873: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Commerce, fund 0256

This bill (SB 873) adds $388,463 to an existing budget line for the Department of Commerce's Division of Economic Development (fund 0256) to cover personal services and employee benefits during fiscal year 2026. It directly affects the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Division by providing supplemental funding for staff costs. The bill increases an existing appropriation using an unappropriated balance identified in the Governor's budget document. As a procedural funding measure, it does not change program requirements or create new policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $388k to Commerce Department's budget for staff costs, increasing funding allocation for economic development operations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 832: Supplemental Appropriation to Bureau of Senior Services, fund 0420

This bill adds $266,879 in supplemental funding to the Bureau of Senior Services (fund 0420) for fiscal year 2026, specifically for "current expenses." It directly affects the Bureau of Senior Services, which provides support services for West Virginia seniors. The funding comes from unappropriated balances in the General Revenue Fund, as identified in the Governor's 2026 budget document. The bill does not change program eligibility or create new services, but allocates existing unspent funds for current operational needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $266,879 from unspent funds to senior services, advancing budget allocation for essential public programs without tax changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 877: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Commerce, fund 0256

SB 877 is a procedural bill that allocates $40 million from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Department of Commerce's Division of Economic Development. It creates a new $40 million appropriation (item 70099) for "Directed Transfer - Surplus" under fund 0256, which will be transferred to the Economic Development Promotion and Closing Fund (fund 3171). This funding supports economic development activities during fiscal year 2026 but does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups beyond the designated state fund. The bill simply redirects existing surplus funds to a specific economic development account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $40M surplus to economic development fund, directly funding a state program per budget reallocation without new taxes or cuts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 144: Providing phased-in increase in homestead exemption

SB 144 would gradually increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners aged 65+ or permanently disabled residents. The bill phases in a higher exemption amount (beyond the current $20,000) over time, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment. It also repeals a provision limiting how much property tax rates can rise when property appraisals increase. This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their property tax burden, contingent on constitutional approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases homestead exemption for seniors/disabled residents, reducing property tax burden - direct tax relief for qualifying homeowners.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1077: Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students

SB 1077 (West Virginia Senate Bill 1077) prevents county school boards from reducing funding for vocational agriculture programs during the 2027 fiscal year below what they spent in the current fiscal year. It directly affects county boards of education across West Virginia by requiring them to maintain existing funding levels for these programs. The bill’s key provision, added as §18-5-55 to the state code, aims to protect these programs from budget cuts during fiscal year 2027. It does not create new programs or require universal student enrollment, but rather safeguards existing vocational agriculture funding. This is a procedural funding protection measure, not a new educational mandate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents defunding of vocational agriculture programs by mandating maintenance of current fiscal year funding levels, protecting budget allocation for this specific educational program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents funding cuts to vocational agriculture programs in K-12 schools, protecting existing educational offerings per §18-5-55.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 935: Eliminating business and occupation tax exemption for certain coal-fired merchant power plants

SB 935 repeals a tax exemption for certain coal-fired power plants in West Virginia, directly affecting owners/operators of coal plants operational before January 1, 1995. The bill reduces the taxable generating capacity for these plants to 45% of their official capability (instead of 100%) for tax years starting July 1, 2021, but requires plants to remain operational until at least July 1, 2025, to qualify. If such plants close before July 1, 2025, owners must repay tax savings through a recapture tax, though federal mandates exempting closures avoid this requirement. The law applies specifically to "merchant power plants" (independent generators) and modifies existing tax calculation rules under West Virginia Code §11-13-2o.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, increasing state revenue by closing a tax loophole, aligning with fiscal responsibility and tax fairness.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, reducing financial incentive to operate, advancing fossil fuel phaseout and aligning with renewable energy transition goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, increasing operational costs to discourage continued use of high-emission energy sources, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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