HB 4042 would exempt farm real property (including land and structures) used for agricultural purposes from property taxes in West Virginia, provided the owner-farmer resides on the property and earns at least 40% of their income from farming. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-3-9 to add this specific tax exemption to the state's existing list of property tax exemptions. This policy change directly affects qualifying farmers who meet both the income threshold (40% from farming) and residency requirement (living on the farm property). The exemption applies only to property actively used for farming operations, not to other personal or investment properties.
HB 4895 would create a $2,000 state income tax exemption for each unborn child carried by a West Virginia resident individual, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2027. The exemption applies to any pregnancy at any stage of development that is not aborted, as defined in the bill. This policy reduces taxable income for qualifying residents rather than providing direct cash payments. The bill directly affects West Virginia taxpayers who are pregnant and filing state income taxes.
HJR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow West Virginia to increase the homestead property tax exemption for qualifying homeowners. Currently, the exemption covers the first $20,000 of assessed value for owners aged 65+ or permanently disabled. This amendment would let the legislature set a higher exemption amount (without specifying a new dollar figure) for homeowners with annual income under $20,000. It requires voter approval in the 2028 general election to take effect. If approved, it would enable future legislative action to expand property tax relief for low-income seniors and disabled residents.
HB 4734 exempts specific infant and hygiene products from West Virginia's sales tax. It directly affects consumers who purchase these items, including parents buying diapers, baby bottles, and formula, as well as individuals needing feminine hygiene products. The bill defines "diapers" as disposable absorbent products for infants or incontinent individuals, "feminine hygiene products" as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups for biological women, and "infant products" as bottles, nipples, formula, and car seats. These items will no longer be subject to the state's sales tax when purchased. The policy change removes an existing tax burden on these essential daily-use products.
HB 4016 creates a 25% state tax credit for property owners who make significant renovations to certified historic buildings in West Virginia. The credit applies to both residential and non-residential structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as contributing properties in a historic district, following federal standards for historic preservation. To qualify, renovations must meet "material rehabilitation" standards (costing at least 20% of the property’s assessed value) and be certified by the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Park Service. This bill replaces older, fragmented provisions with a centralized system to streamline claiming the credit and administering the program.
HB 4813 exempts all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) used as farm equipment from West Virginia's sales tax. This applies specifically to farmers who use these vehicles for agricultural operations, not for recreational purposes. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-15-3c to add ATVs and UTVs to the list of farm equipment eligible for sales tax exemption. This change directly affects farmers purchasing or using these vehicles for farm work, reducing their costs for necessary agricultural equipment.
SB 652 changes how property tax revenues from high-impact data centers are distributed in West Virginia. It requires 80% of the tax increment (additional revenue from data center property value growth) to go directly to the county where the data center is located, starting July 1, 2025. The remaining 20% is allocated as follows: 50% to the Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund, 10% to all counties based on population, 5% to an Economic Enhancement Grant Fund, and 5% to an Electric Grid Security Fund. This bill directly affects counties hosting certified high-impact data centers by increasing their local revenue from these facilities.
HB 4454 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older or those certified as permanently and totally disabled who have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill allows the exemption to apply to the first $40,000 of a home's assessed value, reducing property taxes for eligible primary residences. The change requires applicants to confirm they aren't receiving a similar exemption in another state.
This bill creates a tax break for West Virginia taxpayers who earn tips or overtime income. For 2026-2028, it allows taxpayers to subtract federal deductions for qualified tips and overtime from their state taxable income. Starting in 2029, it caps the tip deduction at $25,000 annually and overtime at $12,500 annually, phasing out the break for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000. Nonresidents only qualify for the break if their tips or overtime were earned while working in West Virginia.
HB 4858 establishes a 25% state income tax credit for property owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It directly affects residential and commercial property owners who restore structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as "certified historic structures" by the National Park Service and West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The bill defines "qualified rehabilitation expenditures" using federal standards (26 U.S.C. §47), requires projects to meet Secretary of the Interior rehabilitation standards, and creates a centralized process for claiming the credit. It replaces older, fragmented provisions with a unified system and includes procedures for credit recapture if requirements aren't met.
