West Virginia Bill creates geographic pay differential for State Police troopers in high-cost areas

Original title: Relating to compensation for sworn members of the WV State Police

Last action · January 27, 2026: To House Government OrganizationSponsors: Flanigan and 10 others

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 4839 establishes a for of the West Virginia State Police assigned to high-cost living areas. The percentage supplement is paid in addition to base salary and is determined by objective housing cost indicators established by the State Budget Office.

Why it matters

Sworn troopers stationed in regions with residential costs above the statewide median receive additional salary supplements funded through legislative appropriations, directly affecting take-home pay and agency recruitment without altering base retirement calculations.

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

Sworn members of the West Virginia State Police

Troopers assigned to designated high-cost geographic zones receive an additional percentage salary supplement, while those transferred outside eligible zones lose the differential.

Directly affected

State Budget Office

Must designate and review eligible geographic zones based on median residential real property values and rental rates at least once every two years.

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 for the geographic assignment compensation differential?

of the West Virginia State Police who are assigned by agency order to a designated high-cost geographic zone and maintain a primary residence within reasonable commuting distance of their duty station.

How is the compensation differential amount determined?

It is calculated as a percentage supplement to the member's base salary, based on how much housing costs in the assigned zone exceed the statewide median according to objective housing cost indicators.

Does this differential count toward retirement and benefit calculations?

No, the differential is not considered base salary for retirement, longevity, or benefit calculations unless otherwise expressly authorized by law.

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

Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Government Organization
Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee
To Government Organization then Finance
Jan 27, 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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