While the tax bills passed during the 2020 Legislative Session are awaiting the governor's approval, most of the largest tax cut proposals failed to make it across the finish line but will likely return next year. Specifically, the legislature failed to place on the November 2020 ballot a constitutional amendment to repeal part or all…
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Editor's Note: This blog post was guest authored by Lida Shepherd, program director for the American Friends Service Committee and all-around wonder woman. With jails and prisons twenty-five percent over capacity and county and state budgets stretched thin, the West Virginia legislature made significant strides this session to reduce the impact the criminal justice system…
The 2020 Legislative Session saw several positive health bills passed with solid bipartisan support. Bad health policy proposals were largely stopped or not considered. The WVCBP thanks partners West Virginians for Affordable Health Care and West Virginia Citizen Action Group. Our three organizations, along with several other individuals and partner groups, advocated for a Health…
Last week, the House swiftly passed an income tax reduction plan (HB 4892) that could lead to large budget deficits while giving most of the tax cuts to high-income West Virginians. While the bill is convoluted and vague, it is apparent it will have large fiscal ramifications for the state on top of eventually eliminating…
As the 2020 Legislative Session heads down the home stretch, attention now turns to the state budget. While budget proposed by the governor at the beginning of the legislative session showed little change from the previous year, there will likely be some adjustments made, as a number of revenue reducing bills are currently working their…
Yesterday, we took a look at the Senate's version of the FY 2021 budget. Now the House has unveiled their version, and as in the Senate, there are a number of changes made from the governor's proposal. The House has three revenue bills that will reduce the General Revenue Fund by $6.1 million in FY…
With crossover day behind us and most major pieces of legislation in place, the Senate began work on the FY 2021 budget this week, presenting their version of the budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee. The Senate has made a number of changes to the Governor's proposed budget, both on the revenue and spending…
On Monday, the WV Senate narrowly passed Senate Bill 528, which would make it easier for corporations in West Virginia to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. This bill, based on model legislation prepared by ALEC, is similar, but far more expansive, than a house bill that passed out of House Industry and Labor…
On top of Senate Bill 655 that would reduce local property tax revenues from natural gas extraction, there are also several bills moving in the House that would give sizable tax reductions to natural gas and coal corporations. House BIll 4439 would expand a 35% tax credit on the coal severance tax that was passed…
A bill recently passed by the Senate would change how natural gas property is valued for property tax purposes, and could have a major impact on local governments throughout the state. At issue is how the State Tax Department calculates production expenses on natural gas wells. When valuing oil and natural gas wells for property…