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HB 5167WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia bill requires candidates for public office to prove tax compliance

Original title: Creating the Taxpayer Accountability for Public Service Act.

Last action · February 4, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: George Miller and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5167 requires individuals seeking public office to submit a proving all es are paid or subject to an approved payment plan. Election authorities must verify compliance and remove non-compliant candidates by April 1 of the election year, while individuals who file false tax status information face a five-year disqualification.

Why it matters

Candidates for local and state elected positions must resolve overdue es or active payment plans before their candidacy can be certified for the ballot.

Background

House Bill 5167 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Candidates for public office

Candidates must obtain and submit tax compliance certification, prove paid personal property taxes, and face ballot removal or disqualification if non-compliant.

Directly affected

Election authorities

Election authorities are tasked with verifying tax compliance with collection agencies, removing non-compliant candidates from the ballot by April 1, and managing nomination vacancies.

Directly affected

Tax collection agencies

Tax authorities must issue certifications of tax compliance, verify payment plans, and assist election authorities in checking candidate tax statuses.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a candidate has an ongoing dispute regarding their tax assessment?

A person may still run for public office if they have filed a good faith challenge to the tax assessment and that challenge is pending resolution.

Are candidates with past-due taxes completely barred from running?

No, candidates can still qualify if they have entered into an approved payment plan with the tax authority and remain in good standing with that plan.

What is the penalty for submitting false information about tax status?

Any person who knowingly files false information regarding their tax status is disqualified from running for public office for a period of five years.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary
Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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