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HB 5056WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia allows teachers retirement system beneficiaries to switch to maximum life annuity if spouse dies within five years

Original title: Permit beneficiary under the State Teachers Retirement System to convert to the maximum life annuity if the spouse dies within the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement

Last action · February 2, 2026: To House FinanceSponsor: Chris Toney

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5056 permits retired teachers enrolled in a under the State Teachers Retirement System to convert to a if their spouse dies within the first five years of retirement.

Why it matters

Provides retired educators whose spouses die early in retirement with a single-life payout option, altering the monthly allowance calculation under statutory limits.

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

State Teachers Retirement System beneficiaries

Retired educators enrolled in joint life annuities gain the option to switch to a maximum life annuity under specific conditions.

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

Who is eligible to convert their retirement plan under this bill?

Beneficiaries under the State Teachers Retirement System who have a and whose spouse dies within the first five years of retirement, or whose marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment.

What documentation must be provided to the retirement board to make the change?

The beneficiary must provide proof of the spouse's death or proof of the entry of a final decree of divorce or annulment.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 2, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Finance
Feb 2, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 2, 2026HouseCommittee
To Finance
Feb 2, 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.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

State Teachers Retirement System

OrganizationState Teachers Retirement System“Retirement system for teachers governed by West Virginia code”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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