Budget & Taxes

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 877: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Commerce, fund 0256

SB 877 is a procedural bill that allocates $40 million from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Department of Commerce's Division of Economic Development. It creates a new $40 million appropriation (item 70099) for "Directed Transfer - Surplus" under fund 0256, which will be transferred to the Economic Development Promotion and Closing Fund (fund 3171). This funding supports economic development activities during fiscal year 2026 but does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups beyond the designated state fund. The bill simply redirects existing surplus funds to a specific economic development account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $40M surplus to economic development fund, directly funding a state program per budget reallocation without new taxes or cuts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 144: Providing phased-in increase in homestead exemption

SB 144 would gradually increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners aged 65+ or permanently disabled residents. The bill phases in a higher exemption amount (beyond the current $20,000) over time, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment. It also repeals a provision limiting how much property tax rates can rise when property appraisals increase. This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their property tax burden, contingent on constitutional approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases homestead exemption for seniors/disabled residents, reducing property tax burden - direct tax relief for qualifying homeowners.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1077: Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students

SB 1077 (West Virginia Senate Bill 1077) prevents county school boards from reducing funding for vocational agriculture programs during the 2027 fiscal year below what they spent in the current fiscal year. It directly affects county boards of education across West Virginia by requiring them to maintain existing funding levels for these programs. The bill’s key provision, added as §18-5-55 to the state code, aims to protect these programs from budget cuts during fiscal year 2027. It does not create new programs or require universal student enrollment, but rather safeguards existing vocational agriculture funding. This is a procedural funding protection measure, not a new educational mandate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents defunding of vocational agriculture programs by mandating maintenance of current fiscal year funding levels, protecting budget allocation for this specific educational program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents funding cuts to vocational agriculture programs in K-12 schools, protecting existing educational offerings per §18-5-55.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 935: Eliminating business and occupation tax exemption for certain coal-fired merchant power plants

SB 935 repeals a tax exemption for certain coal-fired power plants in West Virginia, directly affecting owners/operators of coal plants operational before January 1, 1995. The bill reduces the taxable generating capacity for these plants to 45% of their official capability (instead of 100%) for tax years starting July 1, 2021, but requires plants to remain operational until at least July 1, 2025, to qualify. If such plants close before July 1, 2025, owners must repay tax savings through a recapture tax, though federal mandates exempting closures avoid this requirement. The law applies specifically to "merchant power plants" (independent generators) and modifies existing tax calculation rules under West Virginia Code §11-13-2o.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, increasing state revenue by closing a tax loophole, aligning with fiscal responsibility and tax fairness.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, reducing financial incentive to operate, advancing fossil fuel phaseout and aligning with renewable energy transition goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRepeals tax exemption for coal plants, increasing operational costs to discourage continued use of high-emission energy sources, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 549: Phasing in increase in daily rate of juror pay

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state budget allocation for juror compensation, ensuring minimum $40/day from state treasury, directly funding a public service.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 756: Extending authority to state spending units

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes fiscal responsibility by requiring best value procurement (not lowest price), reducing long-term costs for state spending units under Finance/Administration.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 824: Supplementary appropriation to Department of Veterans' Assistance, fund 6703

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates existing unspent funds to veterans' facility maintenance, supporting essential program funding under budget management.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds veterans' facility maintenance using unspent balances, directly supporting infrastructure upkeep for veterans' services per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 403: Relating to expanding definition of "tourism attraction"

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax credits for lodging facilities under tourism development act, promoting economic development and state revenue through tourism.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 390: Altering conditions for flood resiliency disbursements

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates flood resiliency funds to low-income areas and nature-based solutions, strengthening government spending on essential public safety programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates 50% of flood resiliency funds to nature-based solutions like floodplain restoration and property acquisition, directly supporting environmental conservation and natural resource protection.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs 50% of flood resiliency funds to low-income areas and households, protecting vulnerable housing and improving housing safety in flood-prone regions75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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