HB 4927 would abolish West Virginia's personal income tax for all individuals, estates, trusts, and pass-through entities, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026. The bill amends §11-21-3 of the West Virginia Code to eliminate the tax imposition described in the section, removing the requirement for taxpayers to pay income tax under current law. This change directly affects all West Virginia residents and nonresidents with taxable income subject to the state's personal income tax. The policy change is a complete repeal of the tax, not a reduction or modification of rates.
HB 4909 prohibits deceptive telephone solicitation in West Virginia by requiring prior written consent for automated calls (like robocalls) and banning caller ID spoofing, blocking, or calls between 8 PM and 8 AM. It directly affects consumers (protecting them from scams), businesses (requiring consent for sales calls), and telecom providers (mandating anti-spoofing technology like STIR/SHAKEN within 12 months). Violators face civil penalties of $100 per spoofed call, full reimbursement for customer damages, and a 5x restitution fee - 75% of which funds local fire and emergency medical services. Exemptions include charities, business-to-business calls, and communications within existing customer relationships.
HB 4980 would allow civil lawsuits against West Virginia judges who knowingly violate laws, hold unlawful hearings, or abuse litigants in their official duties. It requires victims to first report misconduct to a judicial oversight body, which must confirm "willful misconduct" before a lawsuit can proceed. The bill sets a five-year statute of limitations for claims and specifies remedies like financial compensation, punitive damages for severe cases, and attorney fees for successful plaintiffs. It explicitly excludes good-faith judicial decisions from liability and mandates public reporting of oversight findings.
This bill (SB 259) authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement an existing rule (45 CSR 18) that controls air pollution from solid waste combustion facilities. It does not create new pollution standards but formally approves a rule the DEP previously proposed and filed in the State Register on July 23, 2025. The rule directly affects waste combustion facilities regulated under this standard, requiring them to comply with established air pollution controls. The bill is procedural, merely granting legal authority for the DEP to enforce the pre-existing rule without altering its requirements.
SB 264 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement a revised rule for water quality standards under the Division of Water and Waste Management. The bill specifically approves a rule (47 CSR 02) that was modified after addressing objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. This rule governs requirements for water quality standards, directly affecting entities regulated under DEP's water quality programs. The bill does not change the rule's content but formally authorizes the DEP to enforce it as revised.
This bill defines a "critical vacancy" as a teaching position essential for student success, safety, and compliance with certification standards. It requires school districts to have certified staff fill these vacancies immediately - without waiting for permanent hires - by assigning them to the relevant classroom. The bill also establishes a process for recruiting new teachers through posted critical need positions, temporary employment of recent graduates, and optional financial incentives like signing bonuses.
HB 4920, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," declares federal regulations on intrastate firearm sales within West Virginia invalid, directly affecting West Virginia residents buying, selling, or transferring firearms, accessories, or ammunition within the state. It prohibits the ATF and other federal entities from enforcing rules that restrict these in-state transactions, stating such actions violate both the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions. The bill imposes civil penalties of $50,000 per violation for federal enforcement attempts and requires the West Virginia Attorney General to defend citizens prosecuted federally or sue federal agencies for violations. It also mandates state law enforcement to refuse enforcing federal gun regulations that infringe on Second Amendment rights.
HB 4915, the Sudden Death Reporting and Transparency Act, requires medical examiners to collect and document vaccination and emergency countermeasure history (within 90 days prior to death) for all sudden or unexplained deaths in individuals under age 30, including SIDS, SUID, SDY, and SADS cases. This data must be included in official death reports and submitted to the CDC's SUID/SDY Case Registry while maintaining strict confidentiality. The bill prohibits using collected data to mandate vaccinations, alter medical eligibility, or discriminate, and mandates that all information be used solely for forensic investigations, public health research, or annual legislative reporting. It establishes standardized statewide procedures for data collection and protects personally identifiable information through privacy safeguards.
HB 4953 requires all West Virginia high school students to pass a civics examination and the U.S. Naturalization Examination as a prerequisite for graduation. This bill directly affects all public, private, parochial, and denominational high school students in West Virginia who are nearing graduation. Key provisions mandate that schools teach U.S. government history, civics, and the Constitution (as outlined in §18-2-9), provide standardized tests aligned with these standards, and make the two exams mandatory for graduation. The bill does not change existing curriculum requirements but adds the passing of these specific exams as a new graduation requirement.
HB 4910 prohibits West Virginia from using eminent domain to take private property for the primary purpose of economic development that would transfer ownership or control to a private corporation. It amends the state's eminent domain law by removing existing exceptions allowing private projects (like pipelines or commercial developments) and adding a new rule requiring property owners' consent for any taking where the primary purpose benefits a private entity. The bill specifically targets cases where private companies would gain ownership or control through mechanisms like purchase agreements or long-term leases, while still allowing eminent domain for traditional public uses like roads, schools, or utilities. This directly affects property owners and private corporations seeking to acquire land through eminent domain for commercial projects.
HB 4942 requires a second adult to be present on West Virginia county school buses when elementary students (pre-kindergarten through 4th grade) are riding with middle or high school students (5th grade and above). This applies specifically to bus routes where younger children are mixed with older students. The bill mandates this additional adult to maintain order and safety during transportation. It directly affects county school bus systems operating routes with mixed-age groups in the specified grade ranges. The requirement is triggered only when elementary-aged children are present alongside middle/high school-aged students on the same bus route.
SB 660 amends West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) rules to change how spousal health coverage is paid. It removes the requirement for a "spousal surcharge" and instead requires employees to pay for their spouse's coverage based on their own salary and plan tier. This directly affects PEIA-covered state employees who wish to add a spouse to their health plan, particularly when the spouse already has employer-based insurance. The bill specifies that employees must cover the full "actuarial value" of the spouse's coverage (as defined by healthcare actuaries), rather than the previous surcharge model. This change applies to active employees, not retirees or certain other covered groups.
