West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

SB 749 — Relating to county economic opportunity development districts

Last action — Chapter 112, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 05, 2026. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    3 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

This bill relates to the establishment of county economic opportunity development districts.

The bill aims to create and regulate county economic opportunity development districts. These districts are intended to foster economic growth and development at the county level.

Summary

Relating to county economic opportunity development districts

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

29 added · 11 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 749 include the removal of the date it was introduced and the committees it was referred to, while adding details about when the law will take effect. Specifically, the bill will now be effective 90 days after its passage, which is projected to be May 28, 2026. These updates make it clear when the new regulations will begin, ensuring that stakeholders are aware of the timeline for implementation. This matters because it helps businesses and residents plan accordingly regarding the special district excise tax.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 749 BYS ENATOBARRETT [Introduced February 5, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Enrolled Senate Bill 749 BYS ENATOBARRETT [Passed February 27, 2026;
referred to the Committee on Economic Development;
in effect 90 days from passage (May 28, 2026)] Enr SB 749 AN ACT to amend and reenact §7-22-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to county economic opportunity development districts;
and then to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 749 A BILL to amend and reenact §7-22-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to county economic opportunity development districts;
Because a special district excise tax would have the effect of diverting, for a specified period of years, tax dollars which to the extent, if any, are not essentially incremental to tax dollars currently paid into the General Revenue Fund of the state, the Legislature finds that in order to substantially ensure that such special district excise taxes will not adversely impact the current level of the General Revenue Fund of the state, it is necessary for the Legislature to separately Intr SB 749 consider and act upon each and every economic development district which is proposed, including the unique characteristics of location, current condition and activity of and within the area included in such proposed economic opportunity development district and that for such reasons a statute more general in ultimate application is not feasible for accomplishment of the intention and purpose of the Legislature in enacting this article.
Because a special district excise tax would have the effect of diverting, for a specified period of years, tax dollars which to the extent, if any, are not essentially incremental to tax dollars currently paid into the General Revenue Fund of the state, the Legislature finds that in order to substantially ensure that such special district excise taxes will not adversely impact the current level of the General Revenue Fund of the state, it is necessary for the Legislature to separately Enr SB 749 consider and act upon each and every economic development district which is proposed, including the unique characteristics of location, current condition and activity of and within the area included in such proposed economic opportunity development district and that for such reasons a statute more general in ultimate application is not feasible for accomplishment of the intention and purpose of the Legislature in enacting this article.
(3) The Monongalia County Commission may levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of the University Town Centre Economic Opportunity Development District which Intr SB 749 comprises approximately 1,450 contiguous acres of land.
(3) The Monongalia County Commission may levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of the University Town Centre Economic Opportunity Development District which Enr SB 749 comprises approximately 1,450 contiguous acres of land.
(5) The Mercer County Commission may levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of The Ridges Economic Opportunity Development District which comprises approximately 420 contiguous acres of land, subject to holding a public hearing as provided in §7-22-14(c) of this Intr SB 749 code, submitting the application required by §7-22-14(d) of this code, and obtaining the approval of the West Virginia Development Office as provided in §7-22-14(e) of this code.
(5) The Mercer County Commission may levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of The Ridges Economic Opportunity Development District which comprises approximately 420 contiguous acres of land, subject to holding a public hearing as provided in §7-22-14(c) of this Enr SB 749 code, submitting the application required by §7-22-14(d) of this code, and obtaining the approval of the West Virginia Development Office as provided in §7-22-14(e) of this code.
Intr SB 749 (2) The annual report shall set forth in detail the following information:
Enr SB 749 (2) The annual report shall set forth in detail the following information:
(A) The amount of special district excise tax collected during the fiscal year.
(A) The amount of special district excise tax collected during the fiscal year;
Enr SB 749 The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate ...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
President of the Senate ...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 7
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Economic Development then Finance

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Economic Development

  5. Reported do pass, but first to Finance

  6. To Finance

  7. Reported do pass

  8. On 1st reading

  9. Read 1st time

  10. On 2nd reading

  11. Read 2nd time

  12. Floor amendment rejected (Roll No. 203)

  13. On 3rd reading

  14. Read 3rd time

  15. Passed Senate (Roll No. 212)

  16. Ordered to House

  17. House received Senate message

  18. Introduced in House

  19. Reference dispensed

  20. Immediate consideration

  21. Read 1st time

  22. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  23. Read 2nd time

  24. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  25. Read 3rd time

  26. Passed House (Roll No. 216)

  27. Communicated to Senate

  28. Completed legislative action

  29. House Message received

  30. To Governor 3/3/2026 - House Journal

  31. To Governor 3/3/2026

  32. Approved by Governor 3/9/2026

  33. Approved by Governor 3/9/2026 - Senate Journal

  34. Approved by Governor 3/9/2026 - House Journal

  35. Chapter 112, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 151 not signed on · 26 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (151)

151 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 151 →

"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

PASSAGE

Passed 88 Yea · 6 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 78604
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 88606
% of votes cast 88%6%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 Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Not Voting
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
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 Nay
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 Nay
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Not Voting
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 Nay
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Not Voting
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 Nay
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Nay
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Nay
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 →

Roll Call

Passed 27 Yea · 7 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 22700
Democrat 4000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 27700
% of votes cast 79%21%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 Nay
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Nay
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 Nay
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Nay
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 Nay
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Nay
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Roll Call

Failed 13 Yea · 20 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 111701
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 1300
Total 132001
% of votes cast 38%59%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Nay
Mike Woelfel Democrat Nay
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Nay
Ben Queen Republican Nay
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Nay
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Nay
Dean Jeffries Republican Nay
Eric Tarr Republican Nay
Eric Tarr Republican Nay
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Nay
Jack Woodrum Republican Not Voting
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Nay
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Nay
Robbie Morris Republican Nay
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Nay
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Nay
Ryan Weld Republican Nay
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Nay
Tom Takubo Republican Nay
Tom Willis Republican Nay
Trenton Barnhart Republican Nay
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

taxation finance transportation agriculture
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 SB 749 do?
Relating to county economic opportunity development districts
Who sponsors SB 749?
SB 749 is sponsored by Jason Barrett (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 749?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 05, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 749?
Track SB 749 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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