Budget & Taxes (Emergency Management)

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.

HB 5432 creates a tax credit for West Virginia taxpayers subject to the severance and business privilege tax who spend money on disaster repair and recovery efforts, such as debris removal, public infrastructure repairs, and emergency services after events like hurricanes or floods. The credit covers qualified costs for labor, materials, and services directly tied to disaster recovery, excluding purchases above fair market value. Taxpayers must apply for the credit through a specific process, with unused credits allowed to be carried forward or transferred to successors. This policy aims to incentivize private sector participation in disaster recovery by reducing tax liabilities for eligible expenses.