Veterans in West Virginia

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5377: Burial Equity Act

HB 5377, the Burial Equity Act, expands eligibility for burial in West Virginia's state veterans' cemetery to include former National Guard and military reserve members (such as IMA, AGR, ART, and TR) who served at least four years, were West Virginia residents for two years before death, or served in the West Virginia National Guard, with retroactive application to deaths after March 15, 2022. It creates a Burial Equity Grant Program administered by Veterans Affairs, providing up to $1,000 per family to cover burial costs on a first-come, first-served basis. The bill also establishes a dedicated Burial Equity Fund in the state treasury, initially funded with $50,000 from the legislature, plus federal funds and private donations, to sustain the grant program without annual budget reversion.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5588: Establish a regulated framework for the medical use of psilocybin to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

HB 5588, the "Therapeutic Psilocybin Act," establishes a regulated framework for using psilocybin to treat PTSD in veterans and first responders. The bill creates licensing requirements for psilocybin production facilities, mandates background checks for staff, and requires providers to register with the state department. Key provisions include requiring insurance coverage for treatment, creating safety protocols for production and testing, and establishing a verification system for medical use. This bill directly affects veterans and first responders with PTSD, medical providers, and psilocybin production facilities, pending legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 715: Requiring state agencies give first consideration to veterans and disabled law-enforcement officers when hiring

SB 715 requires West Virginia state agencies and appointing authorities to give first consideration to U.S. military veterans and retired or disabled law enforcement officers during the hiring process for state positions. The bill amends the state's civil service law (§29-6-7) to mandate that these candidates be prioritized in the initial review of job applicants. This policy change applies to all state agency hiring decisions, meaning these groups will be evaluated before others in the selection process. The bill does not guarantee employment but ensures these applicants receive preferential treatment during the early stages of hiring.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5579: To waive the one-time $10 fee for a Veterans license plate to any first-time applicants who have an Honorable Discharge from any branch of the United States Military

HB 5579 waives the one-time $10 application fee for West Virginia Veterans license plates for first-time applicants who have received an Honorable Discharge from any branch of the U.S. military. This change directly affects eligible veterans applying for their first military license plate, removing a $10 cost that would otherwise apply. The bill amends state code to specify that the fee is waived for these applicants when they provide required discharge documentation. It does not affect existing plate holders or other plate types, focusing solely on reducing barriers for new veteran license plate applications.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5275: Providing the circumstances that a qualified voter is authorized to vote an absentee ballot by mail

HB 5275 clarifies and expands the circumstances under which West Virginia voters can request absentee ballots by mail. It specifically authorizes absentee voting by mail for voters who: (1) have a medical reason, disability, or are confined due to advanced age; (2) are absent due to work, school, or military service; (3) are overseas or uniformed service voters; (4) participate in the Address Confidentiality Program; or (5) are first responders on emergency duty. The bill also establishes emergency absentee ballots for voters hospitalized on election day or confined due to illness after the 7th day before an election, requiring physician verification in some cases. This bill directly affects all registered West Virginia voters who meet these specific eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Tags Elections

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 766: Creating Caregiver Tax Credit Act

SB 766 creates a nonrefundable tax credit for West Virginia family caregivers of eligible elderly relatives. It allows caregivers to claim a 50% credit on qualifying out-of-pocket expenses (up to $2,000 annually, or $3,000 for veteran caregivers), including home modifications, medical equipment, hiring care aides, respite care, and adult day care. The credit applies to expenses directly related to assisting an eligible family member (62+ years old, living at home, requiring help with daily activities like bathing or dressing, and certified by a healthcare provider). The credit begins for tax years starting January 1, 2028, with a $5 million annual cap on total credits, adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5616: Modifying years of service experience to include service personnel.

HB 5616 modifies how "years of experience" are calculated for teachers and county-employed registered nurses in West Virginia. The bill explicitly adds military service time to the count of experience years if the individual was under a teaching contract at the time of military induction. This change directly affects teachers and nurses whose salary increments under the state minimum pay schedule will now include qualifying military service, aligning with existing provisions for other experience types. The amendment updates the statutory definition in §18A-4-1 of the West Virginia Code without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Teachers Veteran Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5389: Veterans Housing Redevelopment Tax Credit Act

HB 5389 creates a 30% transferable tax credit for nonprofit organizations that convert existing hotels, motels, or commercial buildings into housing for homeless veterans. The credit covers 30% of qualified redevelopment costs (like renovation and infrastructure) but excludes land acquisition, and can be applied against corporate income, personal income, or business franchise taxes. Nonprofits can sell or transfer the unused credit to other taxpayers to generate funding, with credits carrying forward up to 10 years. This aims to incentivize supportive housing without creating new state spending or entitlements, targeting veterans facing homelessness through adaptive reuse of underutilized properties.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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 & Taxes ✓ Veterans

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

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5227: Relating to Secretary of State annual reports, fees, and veteran-owned business logotypes

HB 5227 modifies West Virginia's business reporting fees and adds a new logotype for veteran-owned businesses. It sets an annual report fee at $25 (or $50 biennially) for corporations, limited partnerships, and LLCs required to file reports with the Secretary of State. The bill also grants the Secretary authority to waive late fees for these filings. Additionally, it establishes a new official logotype (a special mark or symbol) that qualified veteran-owned businesses - defined as those at least 51% owned by veterans or their spouses - may use on their materials. This bill directly affects businesses required to file annual/biennial reports and veteran-owned entities seeking the new logotype.

Topics ✓ Veterans

All veterans bills