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HB 5668WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia creates economic development program and tax credits for eight central counties

Original title: Establishing the Central West Virginia Economic Development and Rural Revitalization Act

Last action · February 17, 2026: To House FinanceSponsors: Lori Dittman and 10 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia establishes the Central West Virginia Economic Development and Rural Revitalization Act, providing grants, loans, technical assistance, and tax credits for businesses and infrastructure projects in eight central counties starting July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Businesses and local governments in Webster, Clay, Braxton, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Lewis, and Gilmer counties gain access to new state financial assistance, while investors and small businesses qualify for targeted tax credits tied to job creation and capital investments.

Background

Central West Virginia has faced prolonged economic challenges, including population decline, limited employment opportunities, and aging infrastructure. 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

Businesses and residents in Webster, Clay, Braxton, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Lewis, and Gilmer counties

Eligible for grants, loans, technical assistance, and tax credits under the newly established regional economic development program.

Directly affected

West Virginia Department Commerce

Must administer the program, coordinate with other state agencies, propose legislative rules, and submit annual reports to state leadership.

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

Which counties are included in the Central West Virginia region for this program?

The region includes the counties of Webster, Clay, Braxton, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Lewis, and Gilmer.

What tax credits are available under this act?

The act creates an investment tax credit of up to 25 percent for qualified capital investments and a small business job creation tax credit of up to $3,000 per new full-time job per year for up to three years.

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Finance
Feb 17, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee
To Finance
Feb 17, 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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Targeted Regional Revitalization

The legislation establishes a specific geographic definition encompassing eight central West Virginia counties to concentrate state economic assistance and tax credits.

Webster Clay Braxton Roane Calhoun Wirt Lewis Gilmer

Connected Entities

Joint Committee on Government and Finance, Division of Highways, Roane and 12 more

OrganizationJoint Committee on Government and Finance“Receives the annual report from the Department”Map →

OrganizationDivision of Highways“Coordinates with the Department for program administration”Map →

locationRoane“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

locationWebster“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Development Office“Coordinates with the Department for program administration”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Department Commerce“Administers the Central West Virginia Economic Development and Rural Revitalizat”Map →

locationGilmer“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

locationCalhoun“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

locationWirt“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

locationClay“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

OrganizationState Tax Department“Consults on the investment tax credit determination”Map →

locationLewis“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

PersonGovernor“Receives the annual report from the Department”Map →

OrganizationWorkForce West Virginia“Coordinates with the Department for program administration”Map →

locationBraxton“County included in the Central West Virginia region”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz35
Current news / social attention level

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