West Virginia

Justice says WV's surplus will trigger income tax cut, calls on lawmakers to lower tax another 5% • West Virginia Watch

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2024

Justice says WV's surplus will trigger income tax cut, calls on lawmakers to lower tax another 5% • West Virginia Watch

About four months out from an election that could make him West Virginia’s next U.S. senator, Gov. Jim Justice on Monday announced that the state has hit the trigger to phase out its personal income taxes while also directing the Legislature to convene for a special session to increase those tax cuts by another 5%.

The tax cuts that were triggered this week are based on revenue collections from fiscal year 2024, which came about $826 million above estimates. They will be enacted between 3% and 4%, though details for exactly what they will look like will be released on July 11, according to a news release.

“We’ve got another surplus of numbers that are just un-flat-believable in every way,” Justice said. “$826 million … today, with the tax cuts that we have in place and all that has been done, another $826 million. If you don’t believe that that’s a miracle from God above, you got something wrong with you …”

According to an analysis from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, the average West Virginia family will see about 85 cents per week from these cuts, or about $44 per year.

“When you look at the loss of child care subsidies or increases in the price of tuition, that amount of money is not going to address all of those needs,” said Kelly Allen, director of the center. “That’s too small for most families to notice or for it to make a difference in their lives. Contrast that with the paralysis this has caused at the Legislature and the collective impact on the state budget is huge while it’s so minimal for our families.”

To date, no replacement revenue stream has been created or announced to help fill what will end up being a decline in the state’s income due to these cuts. The tax cuts that are already set to take place — and the larger ones the governor said Monday he wants to see — will also occur permanently year over year, presenting a long-term decline in the state’s largest general revenue stream.

“There are still so many needs that are going unmet in this state and now, to promise additional tax cuts when that is still happening, well it’s reckless,” Allen said.

In his announcement Monday, Justice said he would also ask lawmakers in any special session call to — “first and foremost” — pass the child care tax credit he proposed during this year’s regular session. The proposal would create a tax credit equal to 50% of the allowable federal child and dependent care credit. It would benefit more than 16,000 families, according to the governor’s office.

“It was $4.2 million,” Justice said. “It’s next to nothing. But do you not understand that really and truly what we need in this state now is young people? We need people with young families that go to our schools and all that stuff.”

For Allen, the governor calling for the child tax credit while simultaneously lauding a tax cut that could total less than $50 annually for most families and asking for another cut presented somewhat of a disconnect between himself and the needs of the state.

“It struck me that there is all this work being done to get Medicaid back to pre-pandemic levels, to ensure child care doesn’t lose ground and many other things,” Allen said. “It’s hard to focus on those things and prioritize them while talking about tax cuts.”

Senate Finance Chair Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said in a statement Monday that the state is “on track” with spending forecasts and that he “expect[s]” to see further tax cuts come in the future. He did not comment specifically on whether doing so would be feasible in a special session this year.

“Regarding the Legislature, controlling spending growth and investing in ourselves has been the practice that helped us here, and will continue to decrease demand on West Virginia tax payers,” Tarr said. “I’m beyond excited to see so many of our ideas and efforts validated by West Virginia’s growth.”

Justice urged state lawmakers to not “be afraid” about enacting the further cuts.

“I’m going to challenge you in every way to find some way, somehow, if it can be done and still minding the store in absolutely the most prudent way we possibly can,” Justice said. “But for God-sakes-a-livin’, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

Justice acknowledged that work will need to be done later down the line to “stabilize ourselves and keep ourselves going” if legislators do increase tax cuts or dip into the state’s income tax reserve fund to do so, which he specifically outlined as an option on Monday.

That work, however, and any of the repercussions that come with it will likely not be faced by Justice as he is seeking a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

“The governor is on his way out the door so any consequences of current and additional tax cuts will really be borne by the next governor and the next legislature,” Allen said. “This governor has a history of not paying enough attention to the future impacts of policy decisions … we haven’t seen a six-year spending forecast in years, and that used to be the norm. Legislators are now being asked to enact additional tax cuts without any future information on the spending needs of the state.”

Justice said the special session call could come in August or September. It would be the second one called since the regular legislative session ended in March.

In May, Justice called lawmakers for a special session to address budget issues. During the three-day session, lawmakers passed a bill giving more than $180 million to the Department of Human Services. Child care was not included in the call for that session.

In a statement, state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin criticized Justice for not saying where the additional 5% in income tax cuts would come from. He said that the state needs “real, actionable solutions to the state’s most pressing problems rather than short-term political maneuvers.”

“Jim Justice is using tax dollars as if they were an extension of his campaign committee,” said Del. Pushkin, D-Kanawha. “He has no plan for how to come up with the money it would take to further reduce taxes, he just feels like there’s a way to do it. This isn’t a tax cut; it’s an attempted bribe.”

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Lotto America on March 11, 2026

Published

1 hour ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 11.

Winning Powerball numbers from March 11 drawing

03-06-55-58-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 11 drawing

01-03-22-28-40, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 11 drawing

1-3-4

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 11 drawing

1-1-2-0

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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West Virginia

WV faith leaders urge state senators to reject camping ban bill

Published

13 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

WV faith leaders urge state senators to reject camping ban bill

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Several West Virginia faith leaders are calling on state senators to reject a bill that would criminalize camping on public property, saying the legislation runs counter to Christian teachings on caring for the poor.

The West Virginia Council of Churches released an open letter signed by faith leaders and congregations from across the state, urging senators not to advance House Bill 5319. The bill, sponsored by Delegates Chiarelli and Browning, passed the House of Delegates on March 2 and is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Under HB 5319, it would be unlawful for any person to camp or store personal property — including tents, sleeping bags, tarps, blankets, and similar items — on any public street, park, trail, or other public property in West Virginia.

Penalties would escalate with each violation:

First violation: A written warning, along with information about resources and alternative shelter locations
Second violation: A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200
Third violation (within 12 months of the first): A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both

The bill specifies that each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Exceptions include people camping in designated campgrounds, those camping lawfully under state outdoor recreation law, and people sleeping overnight in a registered and insured motor vehicle parked legally.

The open letter, organized by the West Virginia Council of Churches, is signed by member denominations representing millions of Christians statewide — including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, the United Methodist Church’s West Virginia Conference, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Salvation Army, and more than a dozen other Christian communions.

The letter calls on senators to reject the bill, arguing that criminalizing homelessness conflicts with the Christian call to serve those in need.

“As followers of Christ, we believe in a God who created all beings and loves all creation. And in this nation full of plenty, Christians ask God to open our hearts so that when we see a person in need of a place to sleep, rather than wanting them to be disappeared into a jail cell, we look at them the way God would and ask, ‘How can I help?’”

The letter warns that HB 5319 “will create a revolving door between homelessness and jail, prevent people from getting on a path to stable housing, and make it harder for service providers and law enforcement to focus on solutions that center human dignity.”

It also argues that fines are an ineffective tool: “We cannot disappear human beings, nor expect that people experiencing homelessness have the money to pay any fine.”

Instead, the letter asks legislators to consider “that the practice of the Christian faith calls us to minister to the homeless and others in economic distress through a variety of ministries including feeding, clothing, and housing programs.”

The letter concludes by calling HB 5319 “antithetical to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ” and asking senators to “roundly reject” the bill.

Read the full open letter here.

The statewide camping ban debate has been building for more than a year. In January 2026, two nearly identical bills — Senate Bill 175 and Senate Bill 184 — were introduced in the legislature, both proposing to make camping on public property a criminal offense. Those bills were referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB 5319 represents the version that advanced further, clearing the House of Delegates on March 2.

The issue has deep roots at the local level. Both Morgantown and Clarksburg passed camping ordinances in late 2024. In April 2025, Morgantown voters chose to keep their camping ban in place after a referendum. But advocates have continued to raise concerns about the lack of shelter capacity — Morgantown alone had nearly 150 homeless residents but only around 50 shelter beds, with roughly 80 people still without a place to sleep even during the winter months.

Prior Coverage:

2 newly-introduced bills could criminalize homelessness in W.Va. with a statewide camping ban

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West Virginia

W.Va. lawmakers push through multiple bills as Saturday deadline nears

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

W.Va. lawmakers push through multiple bills as Saturday deadline nears

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – West Virginia lawmakers continued working as the Saturday midnight deadline approaches.

Senate Action

The Senate passed 12 bills, including one requiring adult content websites to use age verification to block minors. Senators also passed a bill creating a Cold Case Task Force.

House Bill 49-90, targeting gift card crimes, and House Bill 54-37, the Vape Safety Act, also passed unanimously. All four bills now go to the House for concurrence.

Delegates passed Alyssa’s Law, allowing teachers to wear mobile alert buttons that notify 9-1-1 and trigger a school lockdown in emergencies. The bill is named after a victim of the 2018 Parkland shooting.

Bill 4005, which clarifies jobs prohibited for workers under 16 — including bar work and logging — also passed. Both bills now head to Governor Patrick Morrisey’s desk.

Senate Bill 4 would require bystanders to stay at least 30 feet from first responders.

Senate Bill 75 would allow West Virginia law enforcement to cooperate with officers in bordering states. A bill from the Education Committee would allow teachers with at least 15 years of experience to become certified as school principals.

For more legislative coverage, go to our website at wdtv.com.

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