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HB 5282WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill HB 5282 Appropriates $17.6 Million in Surplus Funds for Public Defender Services and Appointed Counsel Fees

Original title: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Administration-Public Defender Services from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

Last action · February 6, 2026: To House FinanceSponsors: Roger Hanshaw and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5282 provides a of $17,600,000 from the of the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Department of Administration's Public Defender Services for 2026. The funds are allocated specifically to Public Defender Corporations and through June 30, 2026.

Why it matters

Provides immediate state funding to cover operational shortfalls for public defender corporations and legal representation fees for appointed counsel across West Virginia.

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

Public Defender Services

Receives $17,600,000 in new supplemental appropriations for distribution to public defender corporations and appointed counsel.

Directly affected

Appointed Counsel

Receives an additional $15,000,000 in funding for fee compensation during fiscal year 2026.

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

Where do the funds for this supplemental appropriation come from?

The funds are drawn from the in the State Fund, General Revenue.

What specific accounts receive the funding under HB 5282?

Public Defender Corporations - Surplus receives $2,600,000, and - Surplus receives $15,000,000.

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 6, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Finance
Feb 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee
To Finance
Feb 6, 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.

Connected Entities

Public Defender Services, Department of Administration, West Virginia Legislature

OrganizationPublic Defender Services“Spending unit receiving funds under fund 0226, organization 0221”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Administration“Parent agency receiving the supplemental appropriation”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Body enacting the supplemental appropriation bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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