This bill (SB 814) allocates $70,357,538 in unappropriated surplus funds from the State General Revenue Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program under the State Board of Education. It directly affects the Hope Scholarship Program by providing supplemental funding for fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change program rules or eligibility - it simply reallocates existing surplus funds to cover program costs. This is a routine budget adjustment, not a new policy.
This bill (SB 570) allocates $199,476,099 in unspent federal funds to the West Virginia Department of Health's "Rural Health Transformation Program" for fiscal year 2026. It adds a new funding line (Fund 8802, Org 0506) under the Department's Central Office to support this specific program. The funds are designated for rural health initiatives and directly affect the Department of Health's ability to implement these programs. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, using existing federal funds without new tax implications.
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.
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.
SB 389 creates a 25% state income tax credit for property owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in West Virginia. The credit applies to both residential and non-residential buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places or located in designated historic districts, as certified by the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Park Service. To qualify, rehabilitation work must meet "Secretary of the Interior's Standards" and cost at least 20% of the property's assessed value. Property owners can claim this credit against income taxes imposed under specific sections of the state tax code.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
