West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 4801 — Defining Permissible expenditures for municipalities and counties

Last action — Chapter 83, 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 26, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 76% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 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

The bill defines what municipalities and counties can spend funds on.

This legislation specifies allowable expenditures for municipalities and counties. It aims to clarify financial spending guidelines for local governments.

Summary

Defining Permissible expenditures for municipalities and counties

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

77 added · 58 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill HB 4801 allow counties and cities to use money from the hotel occupancy tax for the demolition of unsafe and unsanitary structures and for planning their reuse. This amendment is important because it provides local governments with additional resources to improve community safety and aesthetics, ultimately enhancing the appeal of areas for tourists and residents alike. Additionally, the bill still requires municipalities to approve budgets for spending these funds, ensuring accountability in how the money is used.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 4801 By Delegates Pritt, Hornby, and Flanigan [Introduced January 26, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 4801 B YDELEGATES PRIT, ORNBY ,ANDFLANIGAN [Passed March 12, 2026;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Eng HB 4801 A BILL to amend and reenact §7-28-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permissible expenditures of counties and cities of revenue from the hotel occupancy tax;
in effect 90 days from passage (June 10, 2026)] Enr HB 4801 AN ACT to amend and reenact §7-18-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permissible expenditures of counties and cities of revenue from the hotel occupancy tax;
If a convention and visitor’s bureau is not located within such municipality, county or region, or a bureau located within such municipality has not complied with the requirements of §7- 18-13a of this code, then the percentage appropriation required by this subsection shall be appropriated as follows:
If a convention and visitor’s bureau is not located within such municipality, county or region, or a bureau located within such municipality has not complied with the requirements of §7-18-13a of this code, then the percentage appropriation required by this subsection shall be appropriated as follows:
Eng HB 4801 The portion of such tax allocable to such hotel shall not exceed 75 percent of that portion of such tax collected and remitted by such hotel which is required to be expended pursuant to this subsection:
Enr HB 4801 The portion of such tax allocable to such hotel shall not exceed 75 percent of that portion of such tax collected and remitted by such hotel which is required to be expended pursuant to this subsection:
(B) If there is more than one convention and visitor’s bureau that is in compliance with the requirements of §7-18-13a of this code located within a county or region, the county commission Eng HB 4801 may allocate the tax authorized by this article to one or more of the bureaus in such portion as the county commission in its sole discretion determines.
(B) If there is more than one convention and visitor’s bureau that is in compliance with the requirements of §7-18-13a of this code located within a county or region, the county commission Enr HB 4801 may allocate the tax authorized by this article to one or more of the bureaus in such portion as the county commission in its sole discretion determines.
Eng HB 4801 (4) The construction, operation, or maintenance of public parks, tourist information centers, and recreation facilities, including land acquisition;
Enr HB 4801 (4) The construction, operation, or maintenance of public parks, tourist information centers, and recreation facilities, including land acquisition;
(8) (10) Passenger air service incentives and subsidies directly related to increasing passenger air service availability to tourism destinations in this state;
(10) Passenger air service incentives and subsidies directly related to increasing passenger air service availability to tourism destinations in this state;
(9) (11) Medical care and emergency services in any county where:
(11) Medical care and emergency services in any county where:
Eng HB 4801 (10) (12) Support and operation of the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area by the participating county commissions in the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreational Authority;
Enr HB 4801 (12) Support and operation of the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area by the participating county commissions in the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreational Authority;
or (11) (13) Support and operation of economic development activities, including site development, facilities, and infrastructure in an amount not to exceed $200,000.
or (13) Support and operation of economic development activities, including site development, facilities, and infrastructure in an amount not to exceed $200,000.
Eng HB 4801 (6) Recreational facilities.
Enr HB 4801 (6) Recreational facilities.
Enr HB 4801 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 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 7
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Judiciary

  5. To House Legal Services

  6. Markup Discussion

  7. To House Judiciary

  8. Markup Discussion

  9. Do pass

  10. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 1st time

  12. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  13. Read 2nd time

  14. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  15. Read 3rd time

  16. Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 2/13/26

  17. Read 3rd time

  18. Passed House (Roll No. 90)

  19. Communicated to Senate

  20. Introduced in Senate

  21. To Government Organization

  22. To Government Organization

  23. Reported do pass

  24. Immediate consideration

  25. Read 1st time

  26. On 2nd reading

  27. Read 2nd time

  28. On 3rd reading

  29. Read 3rd time

  30. Passed Senate (Roll No. 492)

  31. Communicated to House

  32. Completed legislative action

  33. House received Senate message

  34. To Governor 3/25/2026

  35. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

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

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

  38. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

  39. Chapter 83, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"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

Roll Call

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29000
Democrat 4000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 89 Yea · 1 Nay · 9 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 78108
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 89109
% of votes cast 90%1%0%9%
How each member voted (99)
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 Yea
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
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
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 Not Voting
Dean Jeffries Republican Not Voting
Doug Smith Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Not Voting
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Nay
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Not Voting
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 finance
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 4801 do?
Defining Permissible expenditures for municipalities and counties
Who sponsors HB 4801?
HB 4801 is sponsored by Flanigan, Vacant1 (Republican), and Michael Hornby (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4801?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 26, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4801?
Track HB 4801 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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