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HB 5617WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Allows Large Non-Profit Retailers to Retain Sales Tax for Job Training Programs

Original title: To allow authorized retailers, qualified as workforce training community centes, to retain a portion of consumer sales and use taxes

Last action · February 16, 2026: To House FinanceSponsor: Bob Fehrenbacher

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5617 allows certified s with annual sales of at least $1 million to retain 75 percent of revenue collected after the first $1 million. The retained funds must be used to provide job training and placement services for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Why it matters

Qualifying retailers gain the ability to redirect a portion of state sales tax collections into local workforce development programs, provided they meet specific job placement quotas and reporting requirements.

Background
  • State legislative measures in West Virginia regarding taxation are introduced and referred to specialized committees such as the House Finance Committee for review. 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

Workforce training community centers

Certified retailers may retain 75 percent of sales tax collections above $1 million to fund job training programs, subject to mandatory placement quotas and reporting rules.

Directly affected

Persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment

Individuals receive individualized training and employment plans, job coaching, and post-employment support services funded by retained tax revenues.

Directly affected

West Virginia Department of Revenue

The department is responsible for certifying retailers, reviewing compliance, conducting revocation hearings, and proposing legislative rules.

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 retailers are eligible to apply for certification?
Retailers that qualify as a —meaning they are 501(c)(3) non-profits, collect sales tax on donated goods, have experience helping individuals with employment barriers, are affiliated with a national or statewide organization, and have annual sales of at least $1 million.
How much tax revenue can a certified organization retain?
A certified qualifying organization may retain 75 percent of the revenue it collects after the first $1 million of revenue collected during the certification period.
What must certified organizations do with the retained funds after their first year?
After the first year, for every $10,000 in retained sales tax revenue, the organization must provide job training and placement services to at least three people and successfully place an average of at least 2.25 people in jobs.

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
  1. Feb 16, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Finance
  2. Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Feb 16, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Finance
  4. Feb 16, 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.

Sponsors

Bob FehrenbacherHouse · District 11RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

financial connection95% confidence

Sales Tax Exemption Threshold Linked to Job Placement Quotas

The bill directly ties tax retention amounts to strict quantitative performance metrics, requiring 2.25 successful job placements per $10,000 retained after the initial year.

West Virginia Department of Revenue

Connected Entities

West Virginia Department of Revenue
OrganizationWest Virginia Department of Revenue“Department responsible for certifying qualifying organizations, administering ta”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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