West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 8 R cosponsors

HB 4404 — Increase the allowance for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and allowing fire departments to make an expenditure for educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials

Last action — Chapter 290, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 16, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

Increases funding for volunteer fire companies and allows spending on training and prevention materials.

This bill raises the financial support available to volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies. It also permits fire departments to spend on educational materials and fire prevention promotional efforts.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means improved training resources for fire department workers, potentially enhancing their skills and effectiveness.

Summary

Increase the allowance for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and allowing fire departments to make an expenditure for educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

55 added · 37 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill has been amended to increase the annual spending limit for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies from $500 to $5,000 for educational, training supplies, and fire prevention materials. This change is significant because it allows fire departments to invest more in essential resources, improving their training and equipment, and ultimately enhancing public safety services. Additionally, it establishes clear rules for reimbursement of funds to ensure proper financial management.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 4404 By Delegates Heckert, Hillenbrand, Amos, Foggin, Fehrenbacher, Sheedy, G.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 4404 BYD ELEGATESH ECKERT, ILLENBRAND, MOS, OGGIN , FEHRENBACHER, SHEEDY, G.
Howell, and Hott [Introduced January 16, 2026;
OWELL,AND HOTT [Passed March 12, 2026;
referred to the Committee on Finance] Eng HB 4404 A BILL to amend and reenact §8-15-8b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the allowance for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to make an expenditure for educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials from $500 to $5,000 per year.
in effect from passage] Enr HB 4404 AN ACT to amend and reenact §8-15-8b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the allowance for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to make an expenditure for educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials from $500 to $5,000 per year.
Provided, That no moneys received from the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund or the Fire Protection Eng HB 4404 Fund may be used for equipment for personal vehicles owned or operated by volunteer or part- volunteer fire company or department members;
Provided, That no moneys received from the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund or the Fire Protection Enr HB 4404 Fund may be used for equipment for personal vehicles owned or operated by volunteer or part- volunteer fire company or department members;
Eng HB 4404 (11) Dues paid to national, state, and county associations;
Enr HB 4404 (11) Dues paid to national, state, and county associations;
(13) Educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials, not to exceed $500 $5,000 per a year;
(13) Educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials, not to exceed $5,000 a year;
If any money is received from sources other Eng HB 4404 than the Municipal Pensions and Fire Protection Fund or the Fire Protection Fund and is not transferred to another account within 60 days, the money may only be used in accordance with this section.
If any money is received from sources Enr HB 4404 other than the Municipal Pensions and Fire Protection Fund or the Fire Protection Fund and is not transferred to another account within 60 days, the money may only be used in accordance with this section.
Provided, That volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments shall may not commingle the received moneys with funds received from any other source, shall may not use the invested money as collateral or security for any loan, and shall retain all resulting statements of accounts and earnings for a minimum of five years from the date of the statements.
Provided, That volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments may not commingle the received moneys with funds received from any other source, may not use the invested money as collateral or security for any loan, and shall retain all resulting statements of accounts and earnings for a minimum of five years from the date of the statements.
Enr HB 4404 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 5
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Finance

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Finance

  5. Do pass

  6. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  7. Read 1st time

  8. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. Passed House (Roll No. 160)

  13. Effective from passage (Roll No. 161)

  14. Communicated to Senate

  15. Introduced in Senate

  16. To Government Organization then Finance

  17. To Government Organization

  18. Reported do pass, but first to Finance

  19. To Finance

  20. Reported do pass

  21. Immediate consideration

  22. Read 1st time

  23. On 2nd reading

  24. Read 2nd time

  25. On 3rd reading

  26. Read 3rd time

  27. Passed Senate (Roll No. 478)

  28. Effective from passage (Roll No. 479)

  29. Communicated to House

  30. Completed legislative action

  31. House received Senate message

  32. To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate Journal

  33. To Governor 3/18/2026

  34. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

  35. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

  36. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

  37. Chapter 290, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 144 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

EFFECT FROM PASSAGE

Passed 94 Yea · 0 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 84004
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 94006
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Kump — Not Voting
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Not Voting
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Not Voting
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Gregory A. Watt Republican Yea
Guy Ward Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Jordan Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Not Voting
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Not Voting
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 94 Yea · 0 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 84004
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 94006
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Kump — Not Voting
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Not Voting
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Not Voting
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Gregory A. Watt Republican Yea
Guy Ward Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Jordan Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Not Voting
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Not Voting
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4404 do?
Increase the allowance for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and allowing fire departments to make an expenditure for educational and training supplies and fire prevention promotional materials
Who sponsors HB 4404?
HB 4404 is sponsored by Scot C. Heckert (Republican), Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), Michael Amos (Republican), Dave Foggin (Republican), Bob Fehrenbacher (Republican), Charles Sheedy (Republican), Gary G. Howell (Republican), and John Paul Hott (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4404?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 16, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4404?
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