HB 5459 imposes an annual tax on certified health maintenance organizations (HMOs) operating in West Virginia that provide Medicaid services. It establishes tiered tax rates based on Medicaid member months (with higher rates for larger volumes) and non-Medicaid member months, adjusting annually using West Virginia's Medicaid capitation rate changes. Starting July 1, 2027, the tax shifts to a flat 2.5% of each HMO's gross premiums in the state, applying uniformly regardless of membership type. The bill exempts Medicare Advantage plans and certain government health plans as specified in federal law.
HB 5462 clarifies limits on mine subsidence insurance coverage for property owners in West Virginia. It requires most property insurance policies to include mine subsidence coverage (with a waiver option in 15 specific counties) at a separately priced premium. Key provisions set a $250-$500 deductible, cap total coverage at $200,000 (not exceeding the fire insurance value), and mandate that payments first cover property damage. The bill also specifies that other payment sources reduce the mine subsidence fund’s liability for uncovered loss portions.
HB 5653 amends West Virginia's tax code to explicitly require confidentiality for internal tax administration materials, including manuals, training materials, guidelines, thresholds, and procedures used by the Tax Commissioner's office. This extends existing protections for tax returns to cover these additional internal documents, prohibiting disclosure to the public without authorization. The law applies to all state and local tax authorities handling tax matters, ensuring internal processes for tax enforcement and compliance remain shielded. It aligns with current rules that protect sensitive tax information while adding clarity to previously unspecified materials.
HB 5382 extends the expiration date of West Virginia's Neighborhood Investment Program from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031. This program provides tax credits to taxpayers who contribute to certified neighborhood development projects. Contributions made before July 1, 2031, will still qualify for the credit, but no new credits will be available for contributions after that date. The bill ensures continued support for community investment projects through 2031 while clarifying the program's termination timeline.
HB 5364 eliminates numerous outdated or unnecessary state boards and commissions, such as the Public Land Corporation and various Medicaid enhancement boards, and transfers their duties, responsibilities, and funds to existing agencies like the Division of Natural Resources and the Tourism Advisory Council. Key provisions include vesting the Public Land Corporation’s property in the Division of Natural Resources and shifting the West Virginia Motorsport Committee’s duties to the Tourism Advisory Council. The bill also repeals entities like the West Virginia Council on Aging and the Interagency Council on Osteoporosis, consolidating their functions without creating new structures. This legislation streamlines state government by removing redundant bodies and aligning administrative tasks with current departments.
This bill directs West Virginia's Office of Energy to develop a comprehensive energy policy and plan covering coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewable, hydrogen, and geothermal sources. It transfers the Office of Coalfield Community Development into the Office of Energy, eliminates outdated duties like the annual coalfield report, and grants the Office new authority to hold stakeholder meetings, set energy-ready community criteria, and designate project sites. The legislation also repeals the 2023 Coal Fired Grid Stabilization Act, merging its provisions into a new "Comprehensive Grid Stabilization and Energy Security Act." The Office must submit annual reports on its findings and develop strategies for multiple energy sectors, including state energy security planning. This restructures state energy policy to embrace diverse energy sources while focusing on stability, cost, and security.
HB 5437, the Vape Safety Act, requires vape or smoke retailers (businesses selling vapor products, tobacco, or nicotine products) to obtain a license from West Virginia’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner. The bill restricts vape shop locations (prohibiting them near schools, parks, or residences), mandates compliance with advertising standards, and creates a product directory listing only approved "authorized vapor products." It also establishes fees, civil/criminal penalties for violations (up to $10,000 fines or 1-year jail time), and sets operating standards for retailers and manufacturers. The law directly affects vape shop owners, manufacturers, and wholesalers by imposing new licensing, location, and product approval requirements.
HB 5065 amends West Virginia's hotel occupancy tax law to clarify collection requirements for online booking platforms (marketplace facilitators) like Airbnb or Booking.com. It requires these platforms to: (1) separately state the tax on all bills, (2) use geofencing for accurate tax calculation, (3) provide a nine-digit postal code to ensure taxes reach the correct local government (county or municipality), and (4) maintain detailed records of each transaction. The bill directly affects marketplace facilitators that meet sales thresholds ($100,000 revenue or 200+ transactions annually) and hotels using these platforms. It also prohibits businesses from claiming they will absorb the tax, ensuring the tax remains visible to consumers.
HB 4245 authorizes the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner to implement an existing legislative rule (114 CSR 25) related to insurance adjusters. This procedural bill formally approves a rule filed on April 16, 2025, which the Commissioner had authority to promulgate under §33-12B-12 of the West Virginia Code. The rule directly affects insurance adjusters by establishing regulatory standards for their practice. The bill does not create new policy but confirms the Commissioner’s authority to enforce the existing rule.
HB 4025 exempts new hires and promoted employees in West Virginia's Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures starting July 1, 2026. Current employees in these departments retain their existing civil service protections and grievance access. The bill grants department secretaries more flexibility in hiring, promotions, and compensation while maintaining prohibitions against nepotism, discrimination, and unethical practices. This change applies only to employees entering or moving within these departments after the effective date, not to current staff or governor-appointed positions.
HB 4483 changes the renewal period for funeral director licenses in West Virginia from every two years to every five years. This directly affects licensed funeral directors, who will now renew their licenses less frequently. The bill also updates apprenticeship requirements, including limiting the duration of apprenticeships to one year for funeral service licensees and one year for funeral directors, and clarifies the board's rule-making authority. The primary policy change extends the license renewal cycle to five years while maintaining existing educational and experiential standards for licensure.
HB 4425 would repeal a West Virginia law (§18-2-25e of the Code) that currently allows student-athletes to maintain athletic eligibility when transferring to a new school. This change would directly affect students transferring between schools in the state, as they would no longer retain immediate eligibility to participate in sports upon moving. The bill targets the specific provision permitting this exception, removing it from state law. If enacted, transfer students would lose eligibility to compete in school athletics right after transferring, ending the current exception.
