West Virginia Senate Bill SB766

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/17/25
• Refer: 3/17/25

Caption

Supplemental appropriation to Department of Human Services

Summary

SB766 is a supplemental appropriations bill that adds a new fiscal year 2025 appropriation to the West Virginia Department of Human Services. Specifically, it directs $45,022,906 from the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund to the department’s Medical Services account for expenditure during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill is framed as an amendment to the state’s existing appropriations, using an unappropriated surplus balance identified in the Governor’s budget materials. The measure does not create a new program or change eligibility rules; instead, it authorizes additional spending authority for an existing human services medical services line item. In practical terms, it increases available funding for state medical services administered through the Department of Human Services, likely supporting Medicaid-related or other health service obligations funded through the lottery surplus account. Because it is a supplemental appropriation, its effect is limited to the current fiscal year and the designated fund and organization code.

Impact

SB766 would amend the state’s FY 2025 appropriations law by adding a $45,022,906 line item to Fund 5365, Organization 0511, within the Department of Human Services. It authorizes the use of State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund surplus dollars for Medical Services, thereby increasing the department’s spending authority without altering substantive provisions in Chapters 9, 48, or 49 of the West Virginia Code. The bill primarily affects the Department of Human Services and the state treasury’s allocation of surplus lottery revenues.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is routine and budgetary rather than controversial. It was introduced by Senate leadership at the request of the Executive and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which is typical for supplemental appropriations. No committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials. Overall, the bill appears to have been presented as a straightforward funding measure to support existing state medical services obligations.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of interest, if debated, would likely involve the size of the appropriation, the use of lottery surplus funds for medical services, and whether the surplus should be reserved for other priorities. However, the record supplied here contains no recorded objections, amendments, or vote breakdowns identifying any legislators or stakeholders who opposed the measure.