Housing (Homeownership)

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.

SB 725 creates a tax-advantaged savings account program for first-time homebuyers in West Virginia. It allows eligible residents (those who haven't owned a home in 3 years) to contribute to a savings account, with contributions reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. Funds can only be used for down payments and closing costs toward purchasing a qualifying single-family residence (including condos or manufactured homes) in West Virginia. Account holders are limited to one account, and early withdrawals for non-eligible purposes incur penalties. The program applies to West Virginia residents filing state income tax returns.

HJR 28 is a constitutional amendment proposal (not a bill) that would require voter approval to allow West Virginia's legislature to later create a law exempting owner-occupied primary residences from property tax once the mortgage is paid off. It does not create the exemption itself but would permit future legislation to do so for homes with no outstanding mortgage. This would directly affect homeowners who pay off their mortgages and occupy the property as their primary residence. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

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.