Removing cap for municipalities on their stabilization fund
SB 726 removes a 30% limit on how much money West Virginia municipalities can save in their stabilization funds, which act as emergency rainy-day reserves. Currently, these funds cannot exceed 30% of a municipality's general fund budget, but the bill would eliminate that cap. Municipalities would then have greater flexibility to build larger reserves using surplus funds from their general budget. This change directly affects all West Virginia cities and towns that maintain such stabilization funds. The bill amends West Virginia Code §8-37-3 to reflect this policy adjustment.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 3, 2026
Signed Jun 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced Version
→
Enrolled Version
·
3 edits
·
Apr 1, 2026
MINOR
The bill was converted from an introduced draft to an enrolled final version, adding official signatures, dates, and certification language required for it to become law. The substantive policy content regarding the removal of the 30% cap on municipal stabilization funds remained unchanged.
Scope change
The scope of the bill's effect on municipal funds did not change; only the document format and legal status were updated.
TIMELINE
Added specific passage date (March 12, 2026) and an effective date of 90 days from passage.
TECHNICAL
Added certification signatures for the Senate and House Clerks, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor to validate the bill as law.
Removed the introductory committee referral text and explanatory notes about how to read the bill draft.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 16, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026
How they voted
32–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Feb 16, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Apr 1, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 442)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
To Finance
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 97)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Trenton Barnhart
RRepublican
Co
Jack Woodrum
RRepublican
Co
Vince Deeds
RRepublican
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