# West Virginia HB 5168: To increase funding for EMS first responders. West Virginia HB 5168, To increase funding for EMS first responders., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joe Statler (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-29 (Chapter 267, Acts, Regular Session, 2026) (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5168-2026rs - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: West Virginia HB 5168 - State: West Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: To increase funding for EMS first responders. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-04 - Last action: 2026-06-29, Chapter 267, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 - Sponsor: Joe Statler (Republican) - Cosponsors: 5 - Subjects: §5B-2-21b, §7-5C-1, §7-5C-2, §16-4C-25, §29-22-18H - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (224 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Lottery profits dedicated to EMS each year: benefit, medium. After required payments, the Lottery Commission sends remaining yearly net profits to EMS funds. The targets are $6 million to the EMS Crisis Response and Mental Health Treatment Fund, $3 million to the County EMS Fund, and $3 million to the All‑County EMS Fund. If less money is available, all thre… - Faster approvals for certified data centers and microgrids: benefit, medium. The state streamlines rules for certified microgrid districts and certified high‑impact data centers. Cities and counties cannot block them with the local zoning, permits, or licenses listed in the law. The Department of Commerce names a single “Data Economy Liaison” to help move projects faster. S… - New county EMS funds and formula: benefit, low. The law creates two state EMS funds. One fund pays only counties that have a countywide EMS levy or EMS fee. The other fund pays all counties. The state Office of EMS sends money to county commissions, and counties must pass it to their EMS departments. Payments are split by each county’s share of… - Certified projects must pay local taxes, utilities: cost, medium. Owners, operators, managers, tenants, and licensees of certified microgrid districts and certified high‑impact data centers must pay city business taxes, collect and remit sales and use taxes when required, pay property taxes like other businesses, and pay local service fees. They must also pay all… - EMS crisis and mental health support: mixed, low. The EMS Salary Enhancement Fund is renamed the EMS Crisis Response and Mental Health Treatment Fund. The fund can pay for EMS training, equipment, supplies, facility upkeep, and crisis response and mental health treatment. When Lottery money moves into this fund, the first $1,000,000 each year must… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joe Statler (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John Paul Hott (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gary G. Howell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Linville - Cosponsor: Christopher W. Toney (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | House | House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 693) | pass | 96 | 1 | | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 559) | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 164) | pass | 94 | 0 | | ## Actions (43) - 2026-06-29: Chapter 267, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (House) - 2026-06-29: Chapter 267, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (House) - 2026-04-01: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (House) - 2026-03-30: To Governor 3/30/2026 (House) - 2026-03-14: House received Senate message (House) - 2026-03-14: House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 693) (House) - 2026-03-14: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2026-03-14: Completed legislative action (House) - 2026-03-14: House Message received (Senate) - 2026-03-14: To Governor 3/30/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal (House) - 2026-03-13: On 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Passed Senate (Roll No. 559) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Title amendment adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Senate requests House to concur (Senate) - 2026-03-12: On 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Governemnt Organization com. amendment withdrawn by unanimous consent (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Finance com. amendment adopted (Voice vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Reported do pass, with amendment (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Immediate consideration (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Read 1st time (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Reported do pass, with amendment, but first to Finance (Senate) - 2026-03-06: To Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Introduced in Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-24: To Government Organization then Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-24: To Government Organization (Senate) - 2026-02-23: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-02-23: Read 3rd time (House) - 2026-02-23: Passed House (Roll No. 164) (House) - 2026-02-23: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House) - 2026-02-23: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2026-02-20: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-02-20: Read 2nd time (House) - 2026-02-19: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-02-19: Read 1st time (House) - 2026-02-18: By substitute, do pass (House) - 2026-02-04: Filed for introduction (House) - 2026-02-04: To Finance (House) - 2026-02-04: Introduced in House (House) - 2026-02-04: To House Finance (House) ## Bill text - Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1.pdf) - Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 enr.pdf) - Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 intr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed) - HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed) - HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed) - HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law) - HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime (signed) - HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds (signed) ## Sources - [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1.htm) - [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1.pdf) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 eng.htm) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 enr.htm) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 sub1 enr.pdf) - [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 intr.htm) - [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5168 intr.pdf) ## Related - [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs) - [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs) - [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs) - [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs) - [HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4138-2026rs) - [HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4106-2026rs) - [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills) - [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5168-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).