West Virginia creates Office of Entrepreneurship with $350,000 funding for new businesses

Original title: Creating an Office of Entrepreneurship

Last action · February 10, 2026: To House Government OrganizationSponsors: Joe Funkhouser and 8 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5404 establishes the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Secretary of State's Office to assist new businesses and first-time entrepreneurs. The bill provides $350,000 in funding and two full-time staff members for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Why it matters

New businesses operating for fewer than five years gain a dedicated state point of contact for agency interactions, while taxpayers allocate $350,000 across two fiscal years to support startup and operational resources.

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

first-time entrepreneurs

First-time entrepreneurs receive state assistance with getting a business started, financed, and postured to stay afloat for its first five years.

Directly affected

West Virginia Secretary of State's Office

The Secretary of State's Office houses the newly created Office of Entrepreneurship and manages its assigned staff and funding.

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 does the Office of Entrepreneurship do?

It assists businesses for their first three years by strengthening support policies, collaborating with organizers to expand resource access, and serving as a point of contact for businesses operating for fewer than five years when interacting with state and local agencies.

How much funding is allocated for this new office?

The bill provides $350,000 to the Office of Entrepreneurship for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Government Organization
Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
To Government Organization then Finance
Feb 10, 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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