SB 601 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to fees and charges for municipality-provided fire services

SB 601 requires county commissions to approve fire service fees imposed by municipalities on individuals or businesses located outside the municipality. It directly affects non-resident property owners and businesses that receive fire services from a neighboring municipality. The bill establishes two key mechanisms: (1) county commission approval before such fees can be imposed, and (2) a process where affected non-residents can challenge fees through a petition and countywide vote. If 30% of qualified voters petition against a fee, the county commission must hold a referendum for residents to approve or reject the fee. This changes the current system by adding county oversight and voter input for fees impacting non-residents.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version Committee Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends fire service fee laws to require county commission approval before municipalities can charge fees to residents or businesses outside their boundaries. It also adds a protest mechanism allowing county residents to challenge such fees through petition and referendum. The changes strengthen local control over cross-boundary fire service charges and provide a clearer process for residents to contest them.
Scope change
Expanded to cover municipality-provided fire services affecting non-residents, requiring county commission approval before fees can be imposed on individuals or businesses located outside the municipality.
REQUIREMENT

Requires county commission approval before municipalities can impose fire service fees on individuals or businesses located outside the municipality boundaries.

ELIGIBILITY

Adds a protest mechanism allowing county residents to challenge municipality-imposed fire fees through petition and countywide referendum.

TIMELINE

Extends the protest period to 45 days after notice expiration and requires publication of anticipated fee allocation before referendum.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandates that ordinances imposing fees on non-residents cannot become effective until ratified by a majority of legal votes at a countywide election if protested by 30% of qualified voters.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2025

How they voted

321
Passed
Total votes 33
Mar 21, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
To Finance
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 147)
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Vince Deeds
Vince Deeds
RRepublican
WV
10