This bill adds $17.6 million in funding to West Virginia's Public Defender Services (fund 0226) for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $2.6 million for "Public Defender Corporations" and $15 million for "Appointed Counsel Fees" using existing unappropriated surplus funds from the State Fund. The funding directly supports public defenders who represent indigent defendants in criminal cases, ensuring legal services for individuals who cannot afford private attorneys. The bill makes no new policy changes but redirects existing surplus state funds to this specific program.
SB 875 supplements the 2026 budget for the West Virginia Department of Commerce's Division of Forestry (fund 8703) by adding $250,000 for personal services and $500,000 for current expenses. The funds come from unappropriated federal money remaining for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects the Division of Forestry's budget allocation, increasing its available funding for staff costs and operational needs during the 2026 fiscal year.
SB 843 is a supplemental budget measure that adds $330,000 to the existing appropriation for the Department of Health's Vital Statistics Account (fund 5144) for fiscal year 2026. It specifically increases funding for "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" within this account, using unspent funds identified by the Governor. The bill directly affects the Department of Health's Vital Statistics program, which handles birth, death, and other vital records. This is a procedural budget adjustment to reallocate existing unappropriated funds, not a new policy or program.
SB 868 increases funding for payments to claimants who have filed claims against the State of West Virginia. It amends the existing budget allocation by raising the total amount from $864,750 to $2,314,750 (split as $1.1 million general revenue, $250,000 special revenue, and $964,750 state road funds) to cover a higher volume of claims. This adjustment directly affects individuals and entities seeking compensation for claims against the state, which have risen due to expedited payment processes established by prior legislation. The bill does not create new policies but adjusts existing fiscal provisions to address increased claim volumes.
SB 1043 is a supplemental appropriation bill that adds $3 million to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Fees Fund (Fund 1401) for fiscal year 2026. The funds will cover operational expenses ($2.8 million), personal services and employee benefits ($200,000), and up to $1 million for software and program-related costs as specified in SB985. This bill directly affects the Department of Agriculture by providing authorized spending authority for existing unappropriated funds. It does not create new policies but allocates previously available money to support department operations and technology needs.
SB 841 adds $30,498 to the State Board of Education's fund 3951 for the Hope Scholarship Program, using an unappropriated surplus from lottery net profits. This supplemental appropriation allocates existing lottery revenue - specifically from the surplus balance not included in the initial budget - to fund the Hope Scholarship Program during fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change the program's eligibility or structure but provides additional funding for student scholarships. The funds are designated for expenditure before June 30, 2026, as part of the state's budget process.
SB 871 allocates $12.66 million from West Virginia's Excess Lottery Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program for fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation adds a new funding line (Fund 3517) to the State Board of Education's budget, directing unappropriated lottery surplus funds toward scholarship payments. The bill does not change program eligibility, rules, or structure - it only provides additional funding for existing scholarship disbursements. It is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.
SB 1053 creates a new "Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund" to modernize West Virginia's unemployment system. It requires employers to pay 7% of their quarterly unemployment tax contributions into this fund, with limits: deposits stop if the fund reaches $18 million in a year or if the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund falls below $300 million. The fund will cover costs for upgrading the unemployment claims system, improving the job search platform, administrative expenses, and workforce development initiatives. This directly affects employers who pay unemployment taxes in West Virginia, redirecting a portion of their payments toward system improvements.
SB 392 reduces West Virginia's personal income tax rates for taxpayers starting January 1, 2026, with automatic future reductions tied to state revenue growth. The bill requires the Secretary of Revenue to calculate annual tax rate cuts when state revenue exceeds inflation-adjusted 2019 levels (base year: $4.29 billion), applying the reduction equally across all tax brackets. These reductions cannot exceed a 10% cut in existing rates and will be certified annually after August 15 each year. The bill also lowers withholding rates on nonresident real estate sales, lottery winnings, and certain composite returns. This legislation directly affects all West Virginia income tax filers and nonresidents earning income within the state.
This bill increases salaries for West Virginia judges and certain judicial staff starting July 1, 2026. It raises the annual salary for Supreme Court justices to $154,600 (from $149,600), circuit court judges to $143,600 (from $138,600), and family court judges to $113,950 (from $103,950). It also adjusts pay for family court secretary-clerks and case coordinators, with secretary-clerks receiving $44,876 annually and case coordinators capped at $56,876. The bill suspends employer contributions to the judicial retirement system until specific conditions are met.
