SB 712 allows the West Virginia Division of Highways to authorize cattle guards on specific public roads used by agricultural operations. It permits installation only on local access, farm-to-market, or dead-end roads (not major highways) in active farming areas, subject to strict conditions. Applicants must cover all costs, prove a genuine agricultural need, sign liability waivers, and comply with Division design and maintenance rules. The Division retains full authority to deny, condition, or revoke approvals if safety, maintenance, or infrastructure concerns arise. This directly affects farmers and landowners needing to prevent livestock from crossing roads on eligible public rights-of-way.
Senate Bill 781 adds $15 million to the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund (Fund 0105) for fiscal year 2026, using an unappropriated surplus balance from the State General Revenue Fund. This supplemental appropriation directly affects the Governor’s Office, providing funds for unforeseen expenses or emergencies. The bill’s key mechanism is reallocating existing unspent surplus funds - identified in the Governor’s budget documents - into the contingency fund without creating new taxes or spending. It does not change existing laws or create new policy, only modifying the budget allocation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
SB 786 is a routine budget adjustment that reallocates $1,810,238 within the Department of Human Services' Child Support Enforcement Fund (Fund 5094, Fiscal Year 2026). It shifts existing funds by decreasing one budget line item while increasing the "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" allocation to support the department's ongoing operations. The bill does not create new programs or change eligibility rules - it simply uses an unappropriated balance to maintain current staffing levels for child support enforcement services. This procedural bill affects the Department of Human Services' internal budgeting but has no direct impact on citizens or new policy implementation.
SB 785 adds $800,000 in supplemental funding to the West Virginia Department of Health's Laboratory Services Fund (Fund 5163) for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $250,000 for staff salaries and benefits, $250,000 for equipment, and $300,000 for operational costs. This bill directly affects the Department of Health's laboratory operations by providing additional budget authority from unspent funds. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies or programs.
This bill (SB 784) is a technical budget adjustment that reallocates $150,000 in existing federal funds within the West Virginia Department of Human Services' Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment program (fund 8793, organization 0511). It decreases funding for "Federal Coronavirus Pandemic" (account 430-89101) and increases funding for "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" (account 430-00100) by the same amount. The bill does not create new programs or change service eligibility; it simply shifts existing federal funds from one budget line to another to cover staffing costs. This adjustment affects only the Department of Human Services' internal budget management for fiscal year 2026.
SB 816 adds $132,000 to the Department of Homeland Security's Fusion Center budget (fund 0430, fiscal year 2026) using an unappropriated surplus balance from the State Fund, General Revenue. The bill directly affects the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Secretary by providing supplemental funding for the Fusion Center. This is a procedural budget amendment that reallocates existing unspent state funds, not a new policy or tax change. The funding is designated specifically for the Fusion Center's operations under the "8a Fusion Center - Surplus" line item.
This bill (SB 814) allocates $70,357,538 in unappropriated surplus funds from the State General Revenue Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program under the State Board of Education. It directly affects the Hope Scholarship Program by providing supplemental funding for fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change program rules or eligibility - it simply reallocates existing surplus funds to cover program costs. This is a routine budget adjustment, not a new policy.
West Virginia's SB 985 regulates kratom products by requiring businesses that grow, process, or sell them to obtain permits and verify online customers are at least 21 years old using approved age-check systems. The bill defines "kratom" as the natural leaf of the mitragyna speciosa plant (excluding food products or synthetically altered forms) and prohibits selling contaminated products or unapproved items. Selling without a permit is a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine or 1 year in jail) for first offenses and a felony (up to $5,000 or 5 years in prison) for repeat violations. The Department of Agriculture must enforce these rules, use a software tracking system, and notify the Tax Department of certain violations.
SB 1008 modifies the time limits for filing lawsuits related to asbestos and silica exposure in West Virginia. It sets that a claim for health issues (like disease) cannot be filed before a medical diagnosis is received, facts leading to a diagnosis are discovered, or the date of death (if the person had the condition). The bill also separates non-cancer and cancer claims, prohibiting damages for fear of future illness. Additionally, it establishes a 10- or 12-year deadline for lawsuits against equipment manufacturers (in coal mining) who used asbestos/silica as required by federal rules, unless a longer warranty was promised.
SB 1033 clarifies the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to manage state-owned land, including leasing it for farming or recreation (with restrictions on toxic use) and developing it for agriculture, forestry, or mining (requiring environmental restoration). It specifies that the Commissioner must sell institutional farm products to state institutions at market rates, allows inmate labor for farm operations under Corrections Department oversight, and mandates that all funds from land sales, leases, or mineral rights go into a special revenue account - excess over $1 million annually transfers to a capital improvements fund. This bill directly affects the Commissioner of Agriculture, state institutions (like prisons and health facilities), the Corrections Department, and public land management. The changes aim to streamline land use while ensuring taxpayer savings and environmental compliance.
SB 250 is West Virginia's 2027 state budget bill, appropriating funds from the state treasury for all government agencies and departments (called "spending units") to cover their operations during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It classifies funding into categories like personal services (salaries), employee benefits (pensions, insurance), and special funds, requiring agencies to collect specified amounts to avoid budget cuts. The bill also establishes that uncollected "from collections" funds automatically reduce agency budgets, while excess collections may be saved for future use. This procedural budget bill affects all state agencies but does not create new policies or programs.
This bill (SB 570) allocates $199,476,099 in unspent federal funds to the West Virginia Department of Health's "Rural Health Transformation Program" for fiscal year 2026. It adds a new funding line (Fund 8802, Org 0506) under the Department's Central Office to support this specific program. The funds are designated for rural health initiatives and directly affect the Department of Health's ability to implement these programs. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, using existing federal funds without new tax implications.
