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 No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 1: Small Business Growth Act

SB 1, the Small Business Growth Act, creates a new tax credit program administered by the West Virginia Department of Commerce to incentivize investment in small businesses. It provides insurance companies with a credit against their state premium tax equal to 15% of qualifying capital investments made by certified "growth funds" into eligible West Virginia businesses. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and principal operations in the state, and investments are limited to 20% of a growth fund's capital authority or $7.5 million per business. The credit is claimed annually based on certified investments, with the program requiring annual reporting and prohibiting certain investment types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit reducing insurance companies' premium tax liability (15% of qualifying investments) to incentivize small business growth, directly advancing tax policy for economic development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 194: Updating definition of "disabled veteran taxpayer"

SB 194 updates the definition of "disabled veteran taxpayer" in West Virginia's property tax law to clarify eligibility for the disabled veteran real property tax credit. The bill specifies that a qualifying veteran must have a 90% or greater service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or meet VA eligibility for individual unemployability due to service-related injuries since September 11, 2001. This change directly affects veterans seeking the property tax credit, ensuring only those with the required VA determinations qualify. The bill does not alter the tax credit amount or eligibility for other benefits, focusing solely on refining the definition for administrative clarity.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies eligibility for disabled veteran property tax credit, providing tax relief to qualifying veterans under state tax law.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill clarifies eligibility for disabled veteran property tax credit by expanding qualifying criteria to include 90%+ VA disability rating or VA unemployability, directly strengthening veterans' tax benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 402: Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act

SB 402 expands West Virginia's apprenticeship tax credit to $2 per hour (capped at $2,000 annually per apprentice) for wages paid to registered apprentices in construction trades, directly benefiting employers and apprentices. It creates a new West Virginia Micro-Credential Program under the Higher Education Policy Commission to support workforce training. The bill also modifies tax rules to allow deductions for contributions to and receipts from voluntary portable benefits plans, and removes proficiency exam requirements for military-trained applicants seeking professional licenses. These changes aim to increase workforce participation and simplify licensing for veterans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands apprenticeship tax credit ($2/hr, $2k cap) and allows tax deductions for portable benefits, providing business tax relief under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Micro-Credential Program under Higher Education Policy Commission for workforce training, advancing educational access and opportunity in higher education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands apprenticeship tax credits ($2/hr capped), creates workforce training program, and allows deductions for portable benefits plans - directly advancing worker opportunity and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 650: Designating psychiatric hospital that treats exclusively civil and forensic patients

SB 650 amends West Virginia law to define a psychiatric hospital treating exclusively civil and forensic patients (with over 95% of its inpatient census being court-ordered forensic or civil involuntary commitments from state custody) as a "state-designated facility" for tax purposes. This change excludes such hospitals from the category of "eligible acute care hospitals" subject to a 0.75% tax on gross receipts, exempting them from this tax. The bill directly affects psychiatric hospitals in West Virginia meeting this specific patient mix requirement by altering their tax classification under the Medicaid funding structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts psychiatric hospitals from 0.75% tax on gross receipts, providing tax relief for designated facilities.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts forensic psychiatric facilities from tax, supporting infrastructure for court-ordered patients in criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts psychiatric hospitals from 0.75% tax, reducing operational costs to support mental health services for civil/forensic patients.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 643: Discontinuing WV Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Program

SB 643 repeals all sections of West Virginia law (§3-12-1 through §3-12-16) that established the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Program. The bill directly discontinues a program that provided public funding to candidates running for the state Supreme Court. Key provisions include removing all legal references to this financing mechanism, effectively ending the program's operation. This is a procedural repeal with no new funding or requirements added.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill discontinues public campaign financing program for Supreme Court, eliminating state funding (defunding a specific government spending item) without replacement, directly reducing government expenditure on this program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes