The Finance Committee met this morning for budget hearings and to consider House Bill 4007.

House Bill 4007 adds approved industrial development sites to the Industrial Access Road Fund. The bill also increases the amount of matched and unmatched funds. The bill advanced from committee.

The Secretary of State provides its budget presentation. The office stated that FTEs have decreased over the past 10 years, but services have increased, and quality has been maintained. The One Stop Business Center portal continues to have success with online filings and increased partnerships. Newer partnerships include providing services through the WV Grants Resource Center and Small Business Development Centers. Business One Stop has locations in Charleston, Martinsburg, and Clarksburg.

For FY27, the goals of the WV Secretary of State are to continue to build resources for small businesses and entrepreneur support. The Office plans to continue modernizing campaign finance and voter registration systems. The office is working to update the Administrative Law Database for rule filing and the Investigations Division case system. Additionally, the office plans to expand statewide the “Cyber Navigator” election security program in partnership with Marshall University’s Institute for Cyber Security.

In the budget as introduced, there is a 2% decrease in the Secretary of State’s budget allocation. The office is requesting supplemental funding for employee compensation increases and benefits. The FY27 budget request for the Secretary of State is $8,716,936.

The Department of Transportation also provided its FY27 budget presentation to the House Finance Committee. The estimated revenue for the WV DOT is just around $1 million from registrations, sales (privilege tax), and motor fuel taxes. The federal reimbursement to the state is estimated at $929,175,000 in 2027, while the federal expenses are expected to be $975,000,000.

The Division of Motor Vehicles is requesting $77,531,606 from the State Road Fund for 2027. The Division of Highways is requesting $2,039,710,962 from the State Road Fund for 2027. The primary uses for the State Road Fund are debt services and obligated fixed costs, federal matching, maintenance and preservation, resurfacing and bridge programs, and equipment purchases and maintenance. The Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities is requesting $7,838,972 from the General Revenue Fund; $400,000 will be used for railroad maintenance.

The DOT has experienced cost increases due to inflation for steel, stone and aggregate, fuel, equipment, contractors and construction, buildings and grounds, and PEIA costs.

The House Committee on Education met this afternoon to discuss three bills.

HB4081 – Higher Education Health Aid Grant

House Bill 4081 would create the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant, requiring the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to establish a grant program to address food, health, and hygiene insecurities among students enrolled in state institutions of higher education. The bill is intended to support students’ basic needs to improve well-being and academic success.

The bill was sent to the floor with a recommendation that it do pass, but first referred to the House Committee on Finance.

HB4087 – West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliances

House Bill 4087 would create a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance by expanding the membership of the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission to include an interest in education.

The bill was sent to the House with the recommendation that it be passed, first being referred to the House Committee on Finance.

HB4002 – West Virginia Collaboratory

House Bill 4002 would establish the West Virginia Collaboratory, outlining its powers and duties, directing funding, and creating an advisory group to guide its operations.

The bill was advanced on mark-up and discussion phase for further consideration.

The House Health and Human Resources Committee met to discuss several bills, advancing some to the mark-up and passage phase for further consideration, while reporting others to the House with a recommendation that they do pass.

HB4196 – Medication-Assisted Treatment Program / Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

House Bill 4196 would amend the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program Licensing Act to require licensed programs to offer long-lasting reversible contraception (LARC) to patients receiving methadone or suboxone treatment.

The legislation ensures that patients have access to LARC directly at the treatment facility.

The committee reported the bill to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

HB4335 – Concerning Medicaid Providers

House Bill 4335 proposes changes to Medicaid provider enrollment and credentialing by setting expedited timelines, standardizing requirements across managed care organizations, and directing the creation of a unified statewide electronic credentialing system.

The committee reported the bill to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

HB4021 – Bring Them Home Fund / Child Welfare Facilities

House Bill 4021 would create the Bring Them Home Fund and establish guidelines for distributing funds to renovate existing state-owned properties to support the expansion of West Virginia’s child welfare provider network.

The bill would also grant authority to promulgate legislative rules related to the program.

The presenter noted that out-of-state placements may limit contact with family and support networks for children already experiencing a crisis.

The presenter stated that approximately 350 West Virginia children are currently placed out of state, at an estimated cost of about $2,000 per child, which is higher than the cost of in-state care.

Del. Mike Pushkin ( D – Kanawha, 054), raised concerns about concentrating many children in a single facility rather than using the funds to purchase or renovate smaller, home-like settings.

The presenter noted that children generally experience better outcomes in smaller, home-like settings.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

HB4022 – CPS Worker Allocation

House Bill 4022 would require the allocation and assignment of Child Protective Services (CPS) workers by county and mandate that any changes to these allocations be reported.

The bill is intended to ensure transparency and oversight in staffing decisions for CPS personnel.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

HB4354 – Foster Child Clothing Allowance

House Bill 4354 would establish requirements for an adequate wardrobe and approved necessities for children removed from their homes and placed in legal custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The bill also sets forth payment methods for these items and is intended to standardize clothing allowances for foster children.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

The Committee on Energy & Public Works met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 4008 was advanced to the floor. The bill allows the West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program to provide micro-grants of up to $100,000 to sites that are at least five acres and up to $250,000 that are over 20 acres.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 4410 clarifies the definition of “on-track equipment” to include “any tender, motor unit, freight or passenger car, or other on-track equipment used, operated, or employed upon railroad tracks, including all maintenance of way equipment used to inspect, maintain, and repair the rail system.” This clarifies that vehicle drivers should not get around any crossing gate or barrier when such equipment is visibly approaching on the track.

House Bill 4437 allows Gold Star parents to receive a free Gold Star vehicle registration for personal use.

House Bill 4471 was sent to a subcommittee.

The Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 4005 was advanced to the House floor. The bill, the Workforce Development Act of 2026, clarifies the types of employment a person under 18 is prohibited from performing.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 4015 extends the Tourism Development Act Credit to lodging facilities. To obtain credit, the facility must increase the sales tax base.

House Bill 4018 authorizes the State Resiliency Officer to disburse funds from the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to better enhance flood prevention, safety, and protection, upon the approval of the State Resiliency Office Board.

House Bill 4025 was moved to a future agenda.

The House Judiciary and Subcommittees met Monday morning to discuss House Bills 4352, 4358, 4433, 4044, 4364, 4415, 4169, 4473, and 4484.

House Judiciary

HB4352 prohibits the usage of surveillance and recordings in bedrooms and bathrooms of foster children under any circumstance, with the exception of children with medical diagnoses, and devices cannot be hidden if done so.

The bill was recommended for passage.

HB4358 establishes the Pilot Program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services.

The bill was recommended for passage.

HB4433 amends the concepts of human trafficking and adds laws against human smuggling

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase, where members will discuss potential amendments before deciding to move the legislation forward.

Courts

HB4044 would amend current law to require hair follicle drug testing of parents or guardians in substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.

The bill authorizes circuit courts to use the testing to assess controlled substance use over the prior 90 days and requires a neurological evaluation when the child is two months old or younger. Attempts to tamper with hair to avoid testing would be treated as a positive result.

The bill was reported to the Judiciary.

HB4477 would grant the West Virginia Attorney General prosecutorial authority over county and municipal elected officials in cases involving alleged election fraud, corruption, or related misconduct.

The bill has been scheduled for a mark-up and discussion, and will be taken up at the committee’s next meeting.

Homeland Security

HB4364 would amend and reenact state law relating to juvenile jurisdiction on military installations.

The bill addresses concurrent juvenile jurisdiction and would allow exclusive federal legislative jurisdiction to be transferred back to the state in cases involving juveniles.

The bill was reported to the Standing Committee on Judiciary.

HB4415 would create a state-level offense for attempting to smuggle contraband into federal correctional institutions.

Lead sponsor of the bill, Del. David Green (R – McDowell, 036), said the legislation was introduced in response to over a dozen attempted contraband smuggling incidents over the past two years, including the use of drones.

The bill would allow the state to prosecute individuals who attempt to bring contraband into federal facilities.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase, where members will discuss potential amendments before deciding to move the legislation forward.

House Legal Services

HB4169 would amend and reenact state law to align mental health examination requirements with those used for involuntary hospitalization proceedings.

The bill addresses individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law solely due to a prior adjudication related to mental health status.

The bill was reported to the Standing Committee on the Judiciary.

HB4473 would authorize the West Virginia Supreme Court to establish rules allowing for the limited practice of law by nonlawyers. The bill grants the court the discretion to establish parameters and limitations for such practice.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase for further consideration.

HB4484 would give county commissions the same authority as municipalities to sell or lease property, providing counties with greater flexibility in managing local assets.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase.