PRIA Logo™
West VirginiaHB 50882026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to Natural Resource Police Officer Retirement

Sponsored By: John Paul Hott (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§20-18-2§20-18-8

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Higher pension multipliers for Natural Resources Police

Your pension equals your final average salary times years of service times a multiplier. The multiplier is 2.25% per year for retirements on or before July 1, 2025. It is 2.50% per year for retirements after July 1, 2025 and up to July 1, 2029. It is 2.75% per year for retirements after July 1, 2029. Federal Section 415 limits still cap the annual benefit.

9.5% pension deductions and board flexibility

You pay 9.5% of your monthly salary into the retirement fund. If you work a second job that also requires retirement system membership, you pay another 9.5% on that job’s pay. Your employer also pays an additional percentage set each year by the retirement board. The board may lower member or employer rates if the plan is fully funded with less. Withheld amounts must reach the fund within 15 days after the pay period or calendar month ends.

How pay and service count for pensions

Final average salary is the average of your highest pay for any five straight plan years within your last ten. If you lack five full years because of disability, your average is your pre‑disability monthly pay times 12. Service credit each year is tied to hours worked: under 500 hours earns 0; 500–999 earns 1/3; 1,000–1,499 earns 2/3; 1,500+ earns a full year. First and last years give one‑twelfth of a year for each month with any hours. You do not earn service credit while you receive disability payments.

Who qualifies and when officers can retire

You are a member if first hired as a Natural Resources Police Officer on or after January 2, 2021, or you were hired earlier and elected to join. You reach normal retirement at the first of these: age 55 with 15+ years; while employed, age 55 when age plus service is 70 or more; or age 62 with 10 years. You must have at least 10 years of actual contributory service.

One-time $4.25 million for the pension fund

For the plan year starting July 1, 2026, the Division must pay $4.25 million into the Natural Resources Police Officer Retirement Fund by July 31, 2026. The board can reduce the amount if a lower payment still reaches 100% funding for that year.

60-day break and required distributions

To retire, you must fully end any job with the Division for at least 60 straight days, with no plan to return. This applies to full‑time, part‑time, temporary, per diem, substitute, or leased work. You must start required distributions by April 1 of the year after you reach the applicable age or after you retire, whichever is later. The applicable age is 72 (if you reached 72 before January 1, 2023), 73 (if you reach 72 after 2022 and before 2033), or 75 (if you reach 74 after 2032).

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Paul Hott

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Eric Brooks

    Republican • House

  • Lori Dittman

    Republican • House

  • David Green

    Republican • House

  • Roger Hanshaw

    Republican • House

  • D. Rolland Jennings

    Republican • House

  • Phil Mallow

    Republican • House

  • Carl Martin

    Republican • House

  • Joe Parsons

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Ward

    Republican • House

  • Jimmy Willis

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 123 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Passed Senate (Roll No. 504)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 301)

Yes: 89 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026House

  2. To Governor 3/25/26

    3/25/2026House

  3. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  4. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  5. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  6. House received Senate message

    3/13/2026House

  7. On 3rd reading

    3/12/2026Senate

  8. Read 3rd time

    3/12/2026Senate

  9. Passed Senate (Roll No. 504)

    3/12/2026Senate

  10. Communicated to House

    3/12/2026Senate

  11. Completed legislative action

    3/12/2026Senate

  12. On 2nd reading

    3/11/2026Senate

  13. Read 2nd time

    3/11/2026Senate

  14. Reported do pass

    3/10/2026Senate

  15. Immediate consideration

    3/10/2026Senate

  16. Read 1st time

    3/10/2026Senate

  17. Introduced in Senate

    3/5/2026Senate

  18. To Finance

    3/5/2026Senate

  19. To Finance

    3/5/2026Senate

  20. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    3/4/2026House

  21. Read 3rd time

    3/4/2026House

  22. Passed House (Roll No. 301)

    3/4/2026House

  23. Communicated to Senate

    3/4/2026House

  24. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    3/3/2026House

  25. Read 2nd time

    3/3/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in