West Virginia House Bill HB5277

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26
• Engrossed: 3/12/26
• Enrolled: 3/14/26
• Passed: 3/14/26

Caption

Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Health Facilities-Welch Community Hospital, William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

Summary

HB5277 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates money from West Virginia’s unappropriated General Revenue surplus to three state psychiatric and community hospitals operated by the Department of Health Facilities. It adds new fiscal year 2026 appropriations for capital outlay, repairs, and equipment at Welch Community Hospital, William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital. The bill does not create a new program or change eligibility rules; instead, it authorizes one-time spending from surplus funds for facility needs. The amounts appropriated are $1,000,000 for Welch Community Hospital, $3,400,000 for William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and $4,304,000 for Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital, all effective immediately upon passage.

Impact

HB5277 amends the state’s fiscal year 2026 appropriations by directing surplus General Revenue to the Department of Health Facilities for capital improvements, repairs, and equipment at three hospitals. Its practical effect is to increase available funding for maintenance and modernization of state-run health facilities without altering substantive health law or creating ongoing obligations beyond the current fiscal year.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House and Senate unanimously, and the Senate also suspended the constitutional rule to move it quickly, indicating consensus that the appropriations were needed and appropriate. The immediate-effect language further suggests legislative agreement on the urgency of the spending.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available record. No committee transcript is provided, and the roll calls show no dissenting votes in either chamber. The only potentially sensitive issue is the use of unappropriated surplus funds for specific state facilities, but the unanimous votes indicate no recorded opposition to the allocation amounts or the choice of hospitals.