To eliminate the offices of Treasurer and Auditor, replacing their duties and responsibilities under a new Office of Comptroller.
Summary
House Joint Resolution 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to reorganize West Virginia’s fiscal offices by removing the separately named offices of state auditor and state treasurer from the state Constitution and replacing them with a single office of comptroller. The resolution would amend multiple constitutional provisions in Article VII, which governs the executive department, and Article XII, which governs education and the school fund, so that references to the auditor and treasurer are revised to include the comptroller instead. It also directs that the proposed amendment be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election.
If approved by the electorate, the amendment would change the constitutional structure of state government by consolidating or renaming the financial oversight functions currently associated with the auditor and treasurer into a comptroller office. The bill also updates the constitutional board responsible for managing the school fund so that the comptroller becomes one of the officials overseeing investments and administration of that fund. In practical terms, the measure would affect the constitutional offices themselves, the election and vacancy provisions for those offices, and the statutory and administrative framework that would need to be aligned with the new office title and duties.
Impact
The resolution would amend the West Virginia Constitution rather than the state code, so its immediate effect is to place a proposed constitutional change before voters. If ratified, it would remove constitutional references to the auditor and treasurer as separate executive offices and substitute comptroller in those provisions, requiring conforming changes to laws, procedures, and administrative practices that currently reference those offices. It would also alter the constitutional composition of the board of the school fund by adding the comptroller in place of the auditor and treasurer references.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, the bill appears to be introduced as a structural government reorganization measure rather than a controversial policy change, and there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes showing opposition or support. The caption and text suggest the sponsor’s intent is to streamline fiscal oversight under a single comptroller office. Because no debate or voting history is provided, the overall sentiment cannot be measured beyond the bill’s formal presentation as a constitutional amendment for voter consideration.
Contention
The main point of contention inherent in the proposal is whether West Virginia should eliminate two constitutionally established offices—auditor and treasurer—and consolidate their functions under a new comptroller. That raises questions about separation of duties, accountability, and whether combining offices could improve efficiency or reduce independent oversight. Another likely issue is the scope of downstream changes needed in statutes and administrative rules if the constitutional offices are renamed or merged, especially for election administration, vacancy appointments, and management of the school fund. No specific objections or supporters are documented in the provided materials.