HB 5326 increases the amount of pension income subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retired municipal police officers, firefighters, and water/sewage system employees from $15,000 to $30,000 per year. Currently, only the first $15,000 of a retiree’s pension was adjusted for inflation each year; this change extends the COLA calculation to the first $30,000. The bill does not alter the 4% annual COLA cap or the two-year waiting period for new retirees. This policy change directly affects eligible retired municipal public safety and utility workers by providing broader inflation protection on their pension benefits.
SB 1013 allows municipal police and firefighters in West Virginia to convert their accrued annual or sick leave into additional retirement service credit. Specifically, they can use unused leave days (at a rate of 1 day for 1 day, with monthly credits calculated at 20 days per month) to increase their retirement pension. However, this converted service cannot count toward the mandatory 20-year service requirement for retirement, and the additional pension benefit is capped at 1% of the member’s average annual salary. The bill applies to participants in municipal pension plans overseen by the Municipal Pensions Oversight Board.
HB 5237 creates a mechanism for the Governor to borrow up to $50 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund into the Unemployment Compensation Fund if the fund's balance falls below $50 million within 30 days, as projected by Workforce West Virginia. The borrowed funds must be used solely to pay unemployment benefits and repaid within 180 days without interest from excess funds in the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill directly affects unemployed workers by preventing benefit payment disruptions during short-term fund shortages. It applies only when the fund balance drops below $50 million, requiring a formal projection and limiting borrowing to $50 million or the amount needed to maintain that minimum balance. The provision expires on September 1, 2027.
HB 5150 establishes the West Virginia Secure Choice Retirement Program, a state-administered retirement savings plan for private-sector workers at eligible employers. It applies to private businesses with five or more employees that do not already offer a retirement plan, excluding government employers and workers covered by other plans. The program automatically enrolls eligible employees in a retirement account (choosing between Roth or traditional IRA options), with payroll deductions starting at a default rate that increases annually until reaching a maximum. Contributions are held in a state trust and must comply with federal IRA rules, giving employees the right to adjust their contribution rates.
HB 5140 amends West Virginia's anti-discrimination law to expand protections for workers. It lowers the minimum employee threshold for employer coverage from 12 to 2 workers, meaning smaller businesses now fall under the law, and explicitly includes independent contractors as "employees" for discrimination claims. The bill also extends the deadline to file a discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission from one year to three years. These changes directly affect more small businesses and independent contractors by broadening legal protections against workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or disability.
HB 5503 would provide a $5,000 annual salary increase to state mine inspectors, including electrical, underground, and surface mine inspectors, as defined in the existing law. The bill directly affects these specific inspectors by increasing their base pay on the effective date of the law. Key provisions require the salary adjustment to apply to all inspector categories covered under the current mine safety chapter. The bill focuses solely on the concrete policy change of raising salaries, with no additional provisions or program requirements.
HB 5047 creates a Mobile Career and Technical Education Classroom Program to address limited access to career training and specialized education in rural and coalfield counties of West Virginia. The program, administered by the state Department of Education, provides funding specifically for converting buses or vehicles into mobile classrooms equipped for career and technical education, workforce training, and fine arts instruction. Funds may cover vehicle conversion, renovation, instructional equipment, and safety modifications, but cannot be used for standard school buses. This initiative prioritizes applications submitted jointly by counties, career centers, or workforce development agencies to expand educational opportunities in underserved communities.
HB 5451 amends West Virginia law to update the payment process for funeral expenses of first responders killed in the line of duty. It ensures the state provides up to $8,000 for funeral costs (covering burial, services, etc.) for eligible law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, correctional staff, and probation officers who die while performing official duties. The bill clarifies that this payment supplements other benefits but guarantees at least $8,000 total if other funds cover less. It makes technical updates to align the statute with current code language and adjusts the effective date.
HB 5422 makes the Municipal Home Rule Program permanent and prohibits participating municipalities from creating local anti-discrimination ordinances that cover protected classes beyond those defined in state law. Municipalities in the program must pay an annual $2,000 fee to fund the Home Rule Board's operations, with unused funds carrying over to future years. This directly affects cities and towns that have joined the home rule program by limiting their ability to expand local protections beyond state requirements. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund for the Home Rule Board, ensuring ongoing program funding without requiring annual legislative appropriations.
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Local Government
HB 5654 would exempt retirement benefits received by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Police Officers from the state's personal income tax. This directly affects current and future DNR Police Officers who receive retirement benefits under state retirement systems. The bill adds a new provision (§11-21-12o) to the tax code, removing the requirement for these officers to pay income tax on their retirement payments. The bill was introduced on February 17, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee for review.
