Bill > HB5026

This bill, known as the "West Virginia Unfunded Federal Mandate Accountability Act," aims to address the financial burden placed on the state by federal mandates that require spending without providing adequate funding. It defines a "federal unfunded mandate" as any federal law, regulation, or order that forces the state or its local governments to act or comply without sufficient federal money to cover the costs, and "compliance costs" as all expenses incurred by the state to meet these requirements. The bill grants the Governor the authority to collect detailed information on these mandates and their associated costs from all state agencies, which are required to conduct annual reviews and document all expenses meticulously. The Governor will then compile an annual "Unfunded Mandate Report" detailing these costs and prepare a "bill" to be sent to federal agencies and the congressional delegation seeking reimbursement, following the same format as the state budget. This process will be integrated into the annual state budget submission to the Legislature, clearly showing the financial impact of these mandates, and the bill will take effect 90 days after its passage.

Government Affairs

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5026&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill