Veterans in West Virginia

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 4547: To remove barriers to voting for persons with disabilities

HB 4547 aims to improve voting access for people with disabilities in West Virginia by amending existing laws regarding identification and polling procedures. The bill allows individuals who cannot sign their names to have a poll clerk mark their ballot in their presence and permits voters to use a provisional ballot with an affidavit if they lack standard identification. It also expands the list of acceptable ID documents to include various student, military, and government-issued cards, while allowing long-time acquaintances to vouch for a voter's identity without requiring physical identification. These changes seek to reduce barriers that might prevent disabled citizens from casting their ballots at the polls.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Tags Elections People with Disabilities

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SR 57: Designating March as American Red Cross month

This Senate resolution designates the month of March as American Red Cross Month to recognize the organization's humanitarian work in West Virginia. The measure formally acknowledges the Red Cross's services, which include disaster relief, blood donation collection, military family support, and lifesaving skills training for residents. By adopting this resolution, the Senate expresses appreciation for the organization's efforts and directs the Clerk to send a copy to the Central Appalachian Regional office of the American Red Cross.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Military Families

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HCR 31: Urging the United States Congress to recognize United States Armed Forces members who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992 by authorizing the issuance of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

This bill asks the U.S. Congress to authorize the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for U.S. military personnel who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992. It is based on the claim that American troops faced hostile conditions during this period, including combat training and exposure to gunfire, resulting in at least 46 deaths. The resolution urges federal lawmakers to recognize these veterans with a medal similar to those awarded for service in other hostile environments. If adopted, the bill would require action by the U.S. Congress to change existing military award policies.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SR 63: Designating March 13, 2026, as Veterans Visibility Day

This Senate Resolution designates March 13, 2026, as Veterans Visibility Day within the West Virginia Legislature. The measure formally recognizes the service and sacrifice of West Virginia veterans and current military personnel, acknowledging the state's high rate of military service and the contributions of those who have served. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy to the Department of Veterans Assistance, serving as an official gesture of gratitude rather than establishing new policies or funding.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HCR 30: Urging the United States Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act

This resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow disabled veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and full VA disability compensation without any dollar-for-dollar offset. The bill directly affects approximately 50,000 medically retired combat-wounded veterans who currently lose over $1,000 per month in benefits due to existing federal offset rules. It seeks to amend federal law to recognize that military retirement and disability benefits compensate for two distinct forms of service and sacrifice. The resolution is a formal request from the West Virginia Legislature to federal lawmakers to address this policy change.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4366: Relating to military interpersonal violence

This bill updates West Virginia laws to recognize military protective orders as valid evidence of domestic violence when seeking emergency protective orders from family courts. It defines a military protective order as one issued by a commanding officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, West Virginia National Guard, or another state's National Guard against someone under their command. The legislation requires law enforcement to notify relevant agencies of potential violations of these military orders and allows them to be used in petitions for temporary personal safety orders. These changes aim to improve how courts handle cases involving service members and their families by streamlining the process for obtaining protection orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Military Families National Guard & Reserve

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SR 56: Honoring Sergeant First Class Bill Brown for his distinguished military service

This Senate resolution honors Sergeant First Class Bill Brown of Beckley, West Virginia, for his distinguished military service during the Vietnam War. The bill formally recognizes his three tours of duty in Southeast Asia, where he served in command roles and was severely wounded in 1971, resulting in a bilateral leg amputation. It acknowledges his receipt of 16 military medals, including the Silver Star and a rare South Vietnamese award, and directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to him.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 5303: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Veterans’ Assistance - Veterans’ Facilities Support Fund from Special Revenue.

HB 5303 adds $1.8 million in supplemental funding to the Department of Veterans’ Assistance' Veterans’ Facilities Support Fund (Fund 6703) for fiscal year 2026. This appropriation uses unspent money from the original budget to support veterans' facilities operations and maintenance. The bill directly affects the Department of Veterans’ Assistance and the facilities it manages, providing additional resources without creating new policies or programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Memorials & Recognition Veteran Housing

passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 704: Prohibiting certain compensation for advising or assisting with veterans benefits

SB 704 prohibits most compensation for assisting veterans with benefits claims, directly affecting advocates, attorneys, and support organizations who help veterans navigate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. Key provisions require written fee agreements filed with the VA, ban guarantees of specific benefit amounts, prohibit charging for services before a VA decision, and forbid contingent fees for medical evidence or testimony. The bill also restricts excessive fees and mandates compliance with federal fee guidelines (38 C.F.R. § 14.636). It does not override federal law but adds state-level safeguards to prevent exploitative practices in veterans' benefits assistance.

Topics ✗ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5595: Eliminating property tax payments for fully disabled veterans.

HB 5595 amends West Virginia law to exempt personal property owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating from state property taxes. It directly affects fully disabled veterans who receive this specific military disability rating. The bill adds these veterans to the existing list of property tax exemptions under §11-3-9 of the West Virginia Code, which already covers items like churches, hospitals, and educational institutions. This change applies only to personal property (e.g., vehicles, equipment), not real estate. The bill was introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates on February 16, 2026, and referred to the Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Property Tax

All veterans bills