Scored 4/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Coal & Companies Bill
Coal and gas companies get tax breaks for disaster cleanup
Relating to establishing disaster repair and recovery effort tax credit for taxpayers subject to the severance and business privilege tax in certain circumstances
Mixed: some good, some bad ·
This proposed bill would let mining and gas companies skip paying some of their state taxes if they help clean up after a natural disaster.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
When a flood or storm hits, we need all the help we can get. But this proposed bill gives a special deal to wealthy mining and gas companies. Instead of paying their normal taxes to the state, they could use their own bulldozers to clean up and then write off the entire cost. It sounds helpful, but it really just lets big companies pay their taxes by doing construction work instead of giving money to the state. That would leave less money in the state budget for schools, roads, and everyday people.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- Applies to companies that pay severance taxes for removing natural resources like coal and gas.
- Gives these companies a tax credit for helping fix public property after a disaster.
- Lets them write off the full cost of their labor, materials, and equipment.
- Allows companies to cut their annual tax bill by up to 20 percent for up to ten years.
- Reduces the tax money the state collects to pay for normal public services.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the West Virginia Bill Book 2026
The best and worst West Virginia bills of 2026, one page each — our take on the left, the bill on the right, and room for your notes. No email needed.
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