Budget & Taxes

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 1018: Clarifying definition of “farm” or “farmland” for real property tax assessment purposes

SB 1018 clarifies that land used primarily for farming remains eligible for preferential farm property tax classification even if owners or tenants operate minor non-farming business activities (such as agritourism or small retail), provided farming remains the dominant use. This directly affects West Virginia farm owners and tenants who run side ventures without losing their farm tax status. The bill requires the Agriculture Commissioner to establish specific criteria for qualifying land, ensuring farming is the primary purpose and preventing disqualification due to incidental commercial activities. It does not change tax rates but refines the definition to prevent unintended loss of farm classification for properties with limited non-farming operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPreserves preferential farm tax classification by clarifying eligibility, preventing loss of tax status for farms with minor non-farming activities like agritourism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tags Agriculture

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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

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 1080: Requiring amount of reduction of state aid be appropriated in support of certain low-enrollment county school districts

SB 1080 requires West Virginia to redirect any reduction in state education funding from the previous fiscal year to support specific school districts. It targets the 10 lowest-enrollment county school districts with maximum local tax levies (excess levies), plus extremely remote schools within those districts. Funding is distributed proportionally based on kindergarten through fifth-grade student enrollment, with students counted twice in certain cases to ensure adequate support. This policy change ensures that state aid cuts directly benefit the most vulnerable school districts rather than reducing overall funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects state education funding reductions to support low-enrollment school districts, ensuring continued funding for essential public services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects state education funding reductions to support low-enrollment K-12 districts, ensuring continued financial aid for targeted schools through proportional enrollment-based distribution.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 5296: Supplemental Appropriation to the Governor’s Office - Civil Contingent Fund from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance.

HB 5296 transfers $10 million from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance (unused state funds) to the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund (fund 1070). This supplemental appropriation adds a new funding line under the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund specifically for flood resiliency projects during fiscal year 2026. The bill reallocates existing state funds rather than creating new revenue or policy changes. It directly affects state budget allocations for flood prevention and mitigation efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $10M from surplus to flood resiliency fund, reallocating existing budget without new taxes to fund essential infrastructure projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 785: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Health, fund 5163

SB 785 adds $800,000 in supplemental funding to the West Virginia Department of Health's Laboratory Services Fund (Fund 5163) for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $250,000 for staff salaries and benefits, $250,000 for equipment, and $300,000 for operational costs. This bill directly affects the Department of Health's laboratory operations by providing additional budget authority from unspent funds. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies or programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $800k supplemental funding to Health Department lab operations, increasing budget authority for essential services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5190: Increase conservation funding by $300,000, with the increase only to be allocated based on the head count of cattle and/or large livestock

HB 5190 increases West Virginia's annual conservation funding by $300,000, with the additional funds allocated exclusively based on the head count of cattle and/or large livestock. This change directly affects land conservation grant programs, requiring that new funding distribution be tied to livestock numbers rather than other conservation criteria. The bill amends existing law to mandate this livestock-based allocation starting July 1, 2026. It does not alter the existing conservation criteria (like wildlife habitat or watershed protection) but specifies how the new $300,000 will be distributed. The change applies only to the incremental funding, not the existing conservation budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases conservation funding by $300,000, directly allocating additional state budget resources to a public service program (land conservation grants).90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill redirects conservation funding exclusively to livestock-based allocation, prioritizing agriculture over broader environmental protection criteria, weakening general conservation efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality Wildlife Tags Agriculture

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 846: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Tourism, fund 0293

SB 846 is a supplemental appropriation bill that adds $10,000,000 to the Department of Tourism’s fund 0293 (fiscal year 2026) for capital improvements. It specifically allocates funds under "Capital Outlay, Repairs and Equipment" for the Division of Culture and History (W.V. Code Chapter 29). The bill uses an unappropriated surplus balance identified in the Governor’s 2026 budget document. This funding directly supports tourism infrastructure projects managed by the Department of Tourism, without changing existing policy or creating new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $10M to tourism budget for capital improvements using surplus, directly increasing public service funding allocation per budget topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5126: To make it explicit that both the lottery fund and the excess lottery fund can be utilized for early childhood education throughout West Virginia

HB 5126 clarifies that West Virginia's Lottery Education Fund and Excess Lottery Fund can be directly used to support early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds across the state. The bill requires county school boards to provide these programs, mandating at least 48,000 minutes of instruction annually (or 1,500 minutes weekly) for eligible children. It explicitly authorizes the use of lottery funds for this purpose, removing ambiguity in current funding rules. This policy change directly affects county education programs and ensures dedicated state funding for early childhood education initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly redirects existing lottery revenue (state budget) to fund early childhood education, strengthening public service allocation under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly authorizes lottery funds for early childhood education programs, mandates 48,000 annual instruction minutes, and removes funding ambiguity to strengthen K-12 access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 832: Supplemental Appropriation to Bureau of Senior Services, fund 0420

This bill adds $266,879 in supplemental funding to the Bureau of Senior Services (fund 0420) for fiscal year 2026, specifically for "current expenses." It directly affects the Bureau of Senior Services, which provides support services for West Virginia seniors. The funding comes from unappropriated balances in the General Revenue Fund, as identified in the Governor's 2026 budget document. The bill does not change program eligibility or create new services, but allocates existing unspent funds for current operational needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $266,879 from unspent funds to senior services, advancing budget allocation for essential public programs without tax changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue

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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

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Tags Economic Development

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