Budget & Taxes

SB 549 would increase the daily payment for jurors in West Virginia from a current range of $15 to $40 per day to a new range of $40 to $100 per day. This change applies to both trial jurors (petit jurors) and grand jurors serving on court cases. The bill replaces the previous minimum of $15 with a new minimum of $40 and raises the maximum from $40 to $100. The reimbursement remains determined by the court and paid from the state treasury, but ensures jurors receive at least $40 per day.

SB 756 allows state spending units (like departments and agencies) to use "best value procurement" when they determine it benefits the state, expanding an existing authority previously limited to the purchasing director. This method requires selecting bids based on total value - including lifetime costs, technical merit, past performance, and quality - not just the lowest price. The bill specifies that awards must go to the highest-scoring qualified bidder whose proposal is deemed most advantageous in writing, while excluding government construction contracts. It does not create new spending but changes how existing procurement decisions are made across state agencies.

This bill provides $25,800 in additional funding from unspent state funds to the Department of Veterans' Assistance for building maintenance and repairs under the Veterans’ Facilities Support Fund (Fund 6703). It directly affects veterans' facilities by supplementing existing resources for facility upkeep, using a balance remaining unappropriated for fiscal year 2026. The funding is drawn from the existing $1,800,000 balance in the fund, not new money. The bill was introduced at the Governor’s request to support veterans' infrastructure needs.

This bill expands the definition of "tourism attraction" under West Virginia's Tourism Development Act to include lodging facilities, allowing hotels and similar accommodations to qualify for state tax credits. The change directly affects businesses operating lodging facilities within the state that wish to participate in the Tourism Development Act credit program. By amending the existing code, the legislation removes lodging facilities from the list of excluded project types while maintaining the current criteria for other tourism attractions like cultural sites, recreation facilities, and entertainment centers. This policy adjustment aims to broaden the range of tourism-related projects eligible for financial incentives without altering the underlying credit structure or eligibility requirements for other attraction types.

This bill modifies how West Virginia distributes funds from its Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to improve flood prevention and safety. It requires that at least 50% of all disbursements go to low-income areas and households, while another 50% must be used for nature-based solutions like floodplain restoration and property acquisition. The legislation also sets specific conditions for funding political subdivisions, requiring them to adopt updated road and bridge standards, flood hazard bylaws, local hazard mitigation plans, emergency operations plans, and meet FEMA community rating system requirements within 24 months. Ultimately, the State Resiliency Officer retains discretion over fund allocation but must follow these new prioritization rules and approval processes.