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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia reduces severance tax rate on metallurgical coal to 3.5 percent by 2028
Last action · March 13, 2026: Senate requests House to concurSponsors: Vernon Criss and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
West Virginia lowers the severance and business privilege tax rate on from five percent to three and one-half percent in incremental steps starting July 1, 2026. Producers will pay four and one-half percent for coal severed between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, four percent through June 2028, and three and one-half percent thereafter.
Lowers production tax liabilities for producers operating in the state over a three-year implementation timeline.
- West Virginia levies an annual privilege tax on the business of severing natural resources, including coal, limestone, and sandstone. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
metallurgical coal producers
Producers face a phased reduction in the severance tax rate applied to the gross value of metallurgical coal mined and sold.
coal-producing counties
Local governments receive additional severance tax allocations that are calculated as part of the total tax rate established for coal.
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 will the tax rate be for metallurgical coal starting July 1, 2028?
How is metallurgical coal defined in this measure?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
25 actions- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate requests House to concur
- Mar 13, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate (Roll No. 578)
- Mar 13, 2026SenateRead 3rd time
- Mar 13, 2026SenateOn 3rd reading
- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12, 2026SenateRead 2nd time
Show 19 earlier actions
- Mar 12, 2026SenateOn 2nd reading
- Mar 11, 2026SenateRead 1st time
- Mar 11, 2026SenateImmediate consideration
- Mar 11, 2026SenateCommitteeReported do pass, with amendment
- Mar 5, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Finance
- Mar 5, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Finance
- Mar 5, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Mar 4, 2026HouseCommunicated to Senate
- Mar 4, 2026HouseFloorPassed House (Roll No. 341)
- Mar 4, 2026HouseRead 3rd time
- Mar 4, 2026HouseOn 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 3, 2026HouseRead 2nd time
- Mar 3, 2026HouseOn 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 2, 2026HouseRead 1st time
- Mar 2, 2026HouseImmediate consideration
- Mar 2, 2026HouseDo pass
- Mar 2, 2026HouseOriginating in House Finance
- Mar 2, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Mar 2, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled 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.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Phased Severance Tax Reductions
The state has previously implemented multi-year phased reductions for thermal or steam coal and is now applying a similar incremental reduction schedule for metallurgical coal.
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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