Budget & Taxes

passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 403: Relating to expanding definition of "tourism attraction"

This bill expands the definition of "tourism attraction" under West Virginia's Tourism Development Act to include lodging facilities, allowing hotels and similar accommodations to qualify for state tax credits. The change directly affects businesses operating lodging facilities within the state that wish to participate in the Tourism Development Act credit program. By amending the existing code, the legislation removes lodging facilities from the list of excluded project types while maintaining the current criteria for other tourism attractions like cultural sites, recreation facilities, and entertainment centers. This policy adjustment aims to broaden the range of tourism-related projects eligible for financial incentives without altering the underlying credit structure or eligibility requirements for other attraction types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax credits for lodging facilities under tourism development act, promoting economic development and state revenue through tourism.75% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HCR 32: Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to direct an early childhood care and education cost estimation study to enable the state to model actual costs of early childhood care and education

This bill requests that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study to estimate the actual costs of providing early childhood care and education in West Virginia. The study aims to determine whether current subsidy reimbursement rates accurately reflect the true cost of quality care across different program types, age groups, and geographic regions. If completed, the findings will be reported to government, health, and education committees by December 31, 2026, to help inform future budget decisions and subsidy policies. The bill directly affects state officials responsible for child care funding and policy, as well as early childhood care providers who receive state subsidies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill seeks cost estimation to inform funding decisions for early childhood care, promoting fiscal responsibility and ensuring subsidy rates reflect actual costs.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requests cost study to improve early childhood education funding accuracy and quality care reimbursement rates75% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 390: Altering conditions for flood resiliency disbursements

This bill modifies how West Virginia distributes funds from its Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to improve flood prevention and safety. It requires that at least 50% of all disbursements go to low-income areas and households, while another 50% must be used for nature-based solutions like floodplain restoration and property acquisition. The legislation also sets specific conditions for funding political subdivisions, requiring them to adopt updated road and bridge standards, flood hazard bylaws, local hazard mitigation plans, emergency operations plans, and meet FEMA community rating system requirements within 24 months. Ultimately, the State Resiliency Officer retains discretion over fund allocation but must follow these new prioritization rules and approval processes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates flood resiliency funds to low-income areas and nature-based solutions, strengthening government spending on essential public safety programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates 50% of flood resiliency funds to nature-based solutions like floodplain restoration and property acquisition, directly supporting environmental conservation and natural resource protection.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs 50% of flood resiliency funds to low-income areas and households, protecting vulnerable housing and improving housing safety in flood-prone regions75% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HCR 25: Requesting a Study on Reducing Non Revenue Water Through Leak Detection, Infrastructure Improvements, and Performance Based Incentives to Stabilize Water Rates

This legislative resolution asks the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study ways to reduce water loss in public water systems across West Virginia. The study will examine strategies like leak detection, infrastructure upgrades, and performance-based incentives to help water systems save money and stabilize rates for customers. It specifically focuses on identifying systems with the highest water loss and exploring financing options such as special bonds and grant programs to fund improvements. The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by reducing water loss through infrastructure improvements and performance incentives, helping stabilize rates and improve government spending efficiency.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes water conservation through leak detection and infrastructure improvements, reducing water waste and supporting environmental sustainability.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 5691: Supplemental appropriation, Department of Health

This bill moves approximately $2.98 million from the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Recovery Fund to the Department of Health's general revenue account for fiscal year 2026. The transfer is intended to support the Department of Health's Tobacco Education Program, which is designated under fund 0407 and organization 0506. The legislation expires the surplus funds in the original account and creates a new appropriation line item to allocate the money to the health department. This action is part of the state's regular budget process for managing unappropriated surplus balances within the State Fund, General Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill transfers funds to support Department of Health's Tobacco Education Program, increasing funding for public health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.

This bill provides additional funding to the West Virginia Department of Education for fiscal year 2026 by allocating money from the state's unappropriated surplus revenue. The legislation directly affects the State Board of Education and State Department of Education by supplementing their existing budget appropriations. Key provisions include specific funding allocations for various programs such as teacher retirement, child nutrition, technology modernization, scholarship programs, and special education services. The bill amends the state budget act to formalize these financial transfers from the general revenue fund to the education department's designated fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides additional funding to Department of Education for fiscal year 2026, directly advancing budget appropriations and strengthening public education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides additional funding to Department of Education for teacher retirement, child nutrition, technology modernization, and scholarship programs.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates funding for technology modernization programs within the Department of Education, indicating support for advancing technology infrastructure.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Special Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 909: Modernizing educational programs and technologies

This bill, titled the Future-Ready Education Act, aims to modernize educational programs and technologies in West Virginia to better prepare students for future workforce needs. It allows local school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational materials that include technology licensing, provided these contracts offer significant fiscal savings and include a cancellation clause. The legislation extends the Mountain State Digital Literacy Project to include grades 9-12 and adds support for reading, mathematics, science, and career-technical education. Additionally, it authorizes the state to retain $7.1 million from the 2026-2027 school year budget to fund high-quality professional training in the science of reading for kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers, with voluntary participation allowed for public charter school educators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal savings through multi-year contracts and extends digital literacy program, indicating support for efficient budget management and funding educational technology.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modernizes educational programs and technology, expands digital literacy to grades 9-12, and allows multi-year contracts for educational materials to improve student preparation for workforce needs.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill modernizes educational technology programs, expands digital literacy to grades 9-12, and enables technology licensing contracts to prepare students for future workforce needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5028: To create the Small-Town Main Street Recovery Act.

HB 5028 creates the Small-Town Main Street Recovery Act, providing grants to West Virginia municipalities with fewer than 25,000 residents. The bill directs the Department of Economic Development to fund storefront upgrades, small business support, and broadband improvements in these communities. Municipalities must coordinate applications with county commissions or regional development authorities to receive priority consideration. The program aims to support economic revitalization in smaller towns through direct financial assistance for key infrastructure and business needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirectly allocates state budget funds via grants for economic development programs, advancing fiscal management of public spending.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds broadband improvements for small-town internet access, directly advancing internet access as a core technology policy area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Tags Economic Development Small Business

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5359: To provide a funding stream from property taxes collected as a result of new high voltage electric transmission projects being constructed to lower electric rates to benefit West Virginians

HB 5359 creates a new tax method for high voltage electric transmission line property in West Virginia, directing property tax revenue from newly constructed transmission projects into the existing Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund. This fund will use the collected revenue to support grid stabilization, security, and efficiency upgrades for regulated utilities, including maintenance of coal and natural gas generation facilities serving West Virginia ratepayers. The bill specifies that these funds must be used to lower electricity rates for West Virginia consumers, directly benefiting all ratepayers by reducing costs through improved grid infrastructure. Key provisions include defining "high voltage transmission line property," requiring tax returns to the Board of Public Works, and ensuring unspent fund balances carry forward annually. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects property tax revenue from new transmission projects into grid stabilization fund, funding essential infrastructure upgrades and utility maintenance.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill directs funds to maintain coal/natural gas facilities, explicitly favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy infrastructure advancement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Coal Electric Grid Transmission

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5628: Relating to mitigating the abrupt loss of child care assistance resulting from modest increases in family income

HB 5628 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to develop policies that prevent the sudden loss of child care assistance when families experience modest income increases. It directly affects low-income families who would otherwise lose subsidies abruptly as their earnings rise slightly, creating instability in child care arrangements. Key provisions include implementing graduated phase-outs (so assistance decreases gradually), expanding sliding fee scales based on income, raising income thresholds for continued eligibility, and establishing transitional support periods. The department must adopt these policies by January 1, 2027, and submit annual reports on implementation to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents abrupt loss of child care subsidies through graduated phase-outs, maintaining essential program funding within state budget framework without defunding.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prevents abrupt loss of child care assistance for low-income families, enabling stable employment and reducing barriers to workforce participation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Tags Children

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