Budget & Taxes (Local Government)

HB 5532 prohibits West Virginia counties and municipalities from imposing additional property taxes on residential rental properties beyond the rate applied to owner-occupied homes. It directly affects rental property owners and tenants by preventing local governments from charging higher taxes on rentals due to zoning classifications. The bill requires all county/municipal property taxes on rental properties to match those for owner-occupied homes and bans extra taxes based on zoning. This aims to reduce costs for tenants by preventing "double-taxing" that could raise rents, without altering sales or service taxes for businesses. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after introduction on February 16, 2026.

HB 5620 would limit local government authority over "certified high impact data center" projects by blocking counties and municipalities from enforcing zoning, building permits, licensing, or other local regulations for these facilities. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to designate a "Data Economy Liaison" to coordinate with data center developers and mandates that certified projects pay standard municipal business taxes. It applies only to data centers certified by the Commerce Secretary under this law, not all data centers. The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee as introduced on February 16, 2026.

SB 488 creates the West Virginia Council on Competitive Government, composed of state leaders including the Governor, legislative leaders, and agency directors. The Council will identify state agency services that could be provided more efficiently through competition with private companies or other state agencies, requiring agencies to use competitive processes like bidding when appropriate. It must consider all costs - including indirect agency expenses and comparable employee benefits - when evaluating service options, and state agencies must follow its directives. Local governments may voluntarily participate in the Council's contracts, which would satisfy their own competitive purchasing requirements.

HB 4679 prohibits West Virginia counties, towns, and municipalities from using taxpayer funds to hire lobbyists who represent them at the state level. The bill adds new sections to state law (§7-28-1, §7A-9-1, and §8-40-1) explicitly banning local governments from paying for lobbying services using tax revenue. It directly affects all county commissions, consolidated local governments, and municipal corporations across the state. The key provision prevents local entities from using public money to influence state legislation through lobbying efforts. This is a direct policy change limiting how local governments may engage with state lawmakers.