March 15, 2026 Governor Morrisey Notches More than a Dozen Legislative Wins in 2026 Legislative Session ...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Governor Patrick Morrisey today highlighted a series of major accomplishments secured by the Morrisey administration during the 2026 legislative session, delivering more than a dozen policy victories for West Virginians focused on tax relief, workforce development, government efficiency, energy policy, and education.

"West Virginians sent us to Charleston to tackle real problems and deliver real results," said Governor Morrisey. "This session we made meaningful progress reducing taxes, strengthening our workforce, improving government efficiency, and advancing policies that will position our state for long-term economic growth."

Among the most significant achievements was securing a 5 percent across-the-board income tax cut. Additional changes align West Virginia's tax code with the permanent provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts, sometimes referred to as the Working Families Tax Cut, ensuring families and businesses receive the full benefit of those federal changes. Together, these measures will provide roughly $230 million in annual tax relief for West Virginians.

"Families across our state are feeling the pressure of rising costs," Governor Morrisey said. "Cutting taxes was one of my top priorities from day one. This tax relief means more money stays in the pockets of hardworking West Virginians to help pay for groceries, utilities, and the everyday expenses families are facing."

The session also secured a 3 percent pay raise for state employees, including teachers, highway workers, law enforcement officers, and other public servants who keep communities running every day. The increase supports the workers who educate West Virginia's students, maintain critical infrastructure, and protect public safety while helping the state remain competitive in recruiting and retaining talented employees.

Additional policy victories from the session include:

• Fully funding the HOPE Scholarship program, ensuring families who have chosen educational freedom can rely on the program moving forward while providing stability for thousands of West Virginia students.
• Expanding education initiatives, including additional support for the Mountain State Digital Literacy Program and continued investment in the LETRS science-of-reading initiative to strengthen literacy instruction for teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade.
• Advancing the Governor's 50 by 50 energy strategy, directing the Office of Energy to develop West Virginia's first comprehensive energy plan and a long-term strategy to expand generation across coal, natural gas, nuclear, and other resources, while establishing the state's first energy security plan.
• Creating new workforce opportunities through micro-credentialing programs that help prepare West Virginians for skilled trades, manufacturing, and emerging industries.
• Establishing portable benefits options for independent contractors, allowing freelance and gig workers to access employment-related benefits that can move with them from job to job.
• Strengthening rural health care access through the Rural Health Transformation Program, allowing West Virginia to begin deploying nearly $199 million in federal funding to strengthen rural health systems across the state. The initiative supports expanded telehealth opportunities, improved access to primary and specialty care in underserved areas, and new strategies to address chronic illness that keeps too many West Virginians out of the workforce. By improving access to care and focusing on prevention and treatment, the program aims to help more West Virginians stay healthy, return to work, and participate fully in the state's economy.
• Streamlining state government by eliminating nearly 30 outdated boards, commissions, and councils, reducing redundancy and inefficiencies while ensuring state agencies can operate more effectively and deliver better service to taxpayers.
• Successfully fought to increase funding for roads and highways, strengthening investment in infrastructure that connects communities, improves safety, and supports economic growth across the state.

Further measures modernize personnel systems, support community revitalization efforts, and strengthen infrastructure investments across the state. Several additional priorities remain under consideration as the Morrisey administration continues advancing initiatives focused on economic development, fiscal responsibility, and improving educational outcomes for West Virginians.

"Taken together, these accomplishments represent real progress for the people of West Virginia," Governor Morrisey said. "While there is always more work to do, this was a productive session for many Morrisey Administration prioritiesthat moved our state forward and positioned us for continued growth and opportunity."