Housing

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 4531: Issuing identification documents to homeless individuals residing at homeless shelters

HB 4531 would require West Virginia to provide homeless U.S. citizens residing at shelters with free identification documents, including photo ID cards, replacement driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. To qualify, applicants must live at a shelter, use the shelter’s address on their application, and have shelter staff verify their residency via an affidavit. The state would confirm U.S. citizenship using documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization certificates. Each eligible individual could receive only one document per 30-day period.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides ID documents to homeless individuals, removing a key barrier to accessing housing and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 450: Relating to tax credit for qualified rehabilitated buildings investment

SB 450 establishes a 25% state income tax credit for property owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It directly affects residential and non-residential property owners who work on structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or within designated historic districts, after review by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The credit applies to "qualified rehabilitation expenditures" meeting specific criteria, including a requirement that rehabilitation costs equal at least 20% of the building's assessed value. The bill reorganizes existing historic preservation tax rules into a new centralized article (§11-13NN) with defined terms and procedures for claiming the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides 25% tax credit for historic building rehab, reducing tax burden for property owners, aligning with tax relief support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings, incentivizing housing development and preservation, directly advancing housing stock maintenance and renewal.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives Historic Preservation Property Taxes

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 584: Decreasing service period for notice of tax lien sales

SB 584 shortens the required notice period for tax lien sales in West Virginia from 30 days to 15 days before a deed may be issued (amending §11A-3-55). It also reduces the time homeowners have to challenge a tax deed from two years to one year after the deed is delivered (amending §11A-4-4). The bill requires property owners seeking to contest a sale to deposit funds for redemption before court proceedings can begin. These changes directly affect property owners at risk of losing homes to tax sales and tax lien purchasers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesShortens tax lien notice periods and challenge windows, promoting efficient tax collection and fiscal responsibility in lien sales process.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingShortens notice/challenge periods for tax lien sales, reducing homeowner protections against losing homes through tax foreclosure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Taxes

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HJR 15: Increase Homestead exemption

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases property tax exemption for low-income homeowners ($20k income cap), providing direct tax relief under state tax policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases homestead exemption for low-income homeowners ($20k income cap), reducing property tax burden and enhancing housing affordability for vulnerable residents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Property Taxes

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4707: Modifying compulsory housing for hotels and motels

HB 4707 prohibits counties, cities, towns, and housing authorities from requiring hotels or motels to participate in programs that house homeless individuals or families using housing vouchers. The bill directly affects hotel and motel owners by preventing local governments or housing agencies from mandating their involvement in these programs. Key provisions define "homeless individuals" as those lacking fixed nighttime residence (e.g., living on streets, in shelters, or vehicles) and "hotels/motels" as establishments offering temporary overnight lodging. This bill does not create new housing programs but stops existing or future programs from forcing hotels or motels to join them.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits mandates forcing hotels to house homeless via vouchers, restricting local housing programs for homelessness and weakening tenant/housing access initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 146: Uniform Unlawful Restriction in Land Records Act

SB 146 creates a process to remove discriminatory restrictions from property records in West Virginia. It allows property owners to directly submit amendments to eliminate unlawful restrictions (like those based on race, religion, or disability) affecting their own property. Homeowner associations can also remove such restrictions without member votes, requiring them to act within 90 days of a member request. The bill mandates specific wording in amendments to clarify they only remove unlawful restrictions and specifies how these changes must be recorded in county land records. This applies to existing documents recorded in land records that violate anti-discrimination laws.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves discriminatory property restrictions (race, religion, disability) from records, directly preventing housing discrimination and aligning with tenant protection policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4676: End open fields doctrine

HB 4676 eliminates West Virginia's application of the "open fields doctrine," a legal rule allowing police to search areas like fields or wooded land surrounding a home without a warrant. The bill directly affects property owners whose land extends beyond their immediate dwelling (including fenced areas and woods), requiring police to obtain a warrant for searches there, except for established constitutional exceptions. It defines "open fields" as private property a reasonable person would view as private, not generally open to the public. The bill abolishes the previous common law rule and aligns state law with Fourth Amendment protections. This change applies to searches under both federal and West Virginia constitutional safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for searches in private property areas, strengthening Fourth Amendment protections and civil rights within criminal justice procedures.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens property rights (a core housing topic element) by requiring warrants for police searches on private property, directly protecting owners' land beyond immediate dwellings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 442: Creating homeless education coordinator position in counties designated by State Board as urban county

SB 442 creates a new "homeless education coordinator" position in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the State Board of Education. This position will directly assist homeless children and youth in accessing and staying in school by addressing barriers to attendance and enrollment. The bill amends education law to clarify the coordinator's role in supporting homeless students, ensuring they receive necessary services under federal and state education requirements. The coordinator will work within designated urban counties to implement strategies that prevent school disruption for homeless students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates homeless education coordinator position to directly assist K-12 homeless students in accessing school, addressing barriers and ensuring services under education requirements, advancing educational access.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates homeless education coordinator to address barriers for homeless students, directly supporting housing stability through homelessness intervention per topic indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Homelessness

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