HB5168 - $12M transferred to EMS Salary Enhancement Fund
Summary
West Virginia Governor signed HB5168 into law, enacting an annual transfer of $12 million from the State Lottery Fund to the Emergency Medical Services Salary Enhancement Fund. The bill passed unanimously in the House (94-0) and Senate (34-0), with minor House amendment (96-1), and takes effect upon signing. This legislation provides dedicated funding to increase compensation for EMS first responders across the state.
What changed
HB5168 establishes a recurring annual funding mechanism transferring $12 million from the State Lottery Fund to a dedicated EMS Salary Enhancement Fund. The bill passed through both chambers with broad bipartisan support and was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2026. Key amendments were adopted in Senate Finance and Government Organization committees, with minor title amendments and one withdrawn government organization amendment before final passage.
For EMS agencies and first responders, this legislation creates a new dedicated funding stream for salary enhancement, potentially improving recruitment and retention in emergency medical services. County governments and EMS providers should coordinate with the state treasury to ensure proper fund allocation procedures are followed. The bill does not impose new regulatory compliance obligations on private entities but establishes a budgetary mechanism for public emergency medical services compensation.
What to do next
- Monitor state treasury implementation of annual $12M transfer to EMS Salary Enhancement Fund
- Review eligibility criteria for EMS agencies to receive salary enhancement funds
- Track future legislative sessions for potential amendments to fund allocation formulas
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / West Virginia / HB5168 Signed by Governor HB5168 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-14
To increase funding for EMS first responders.
The purpose of this bill is to transfer, after the end of each fiscal year from any remaining and available net profits in the State Lottery Fund, the sum of $12 million to the Emergency Medical Services Salary Enhancement Fund.
Bill Details
State West Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.wvlegislature.gov/BillStatus/Billshi...
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Sponsors
Joseph Statler (Rep - R) Gary Howell (Rep - R) Christopher Toney (Rep - R) Daniel Linville (Rep - R) John Paul Hott (Rep - R) Rick Hillenbrand (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-01 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 2026-03-14 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal 2026-03-14 S Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-14 S To Governor 3/30/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-30 H To Governor 3/30/2026 2026-03-14 S House Message received 2026-03-14 H Completed legislative action 2026-03-14 H Communicated to Senate 2026-03-14 H House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 693) 2026-03-14 H House received Senate message 2026-03-13 S Senate requests House to concur 2026-03-13 S Title amendment adopted 2026-03-13 S Passed Senate (Roll No. 559) 2026-03-13 S Read 3rd time 2026-03-13 S On 3rd reading 2026-03-12 S Finance com. amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-03-12 S Governemnt Organization com. amendment withdrawn by unanimous consent 2026-03-12 S Read 2nd time 2026-03-12 S On 2nd reading 2026-03-11 S Read 1st time 2026-03-11 S Immediate consideration 2026-03-11 S Reported do pass, with amendment 2026-03-06 S To Finance 2026-03-06 S Reported do pass, with amendment, but first to Finance 2026-02-24 S To Government Organization 2026-02-24 S To Government Organization then Finance 2026-02-24 S Introduced in Senate 2026-02-23 H Communicated to Senate 2026-02-23 H Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-02-23 H Passed House (Roll No. 164) 2026-02-23 H Read 3rd time 2026-02-23 H On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-20 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-20 H On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-19 H Read 1st time 2026-02-19 H On 1st reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-18 H By substitute, do pass 2026-02-04 H To House Finance 2026-02-04 H Introduced in House 2026-02-04 H To Finance 2026-02-04 H Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-02-23 Passed House (Roll No. 164) Yea: 94 Nay: 0 2026-03-13 Passed Senate (Roll No. 559) Yea: 34 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 693) Yea: 96 Nay: 1
Committee Referrals
2026-02-04 H Finance 2026-02-24 S Government Organization 2026-03-06 S Finance
Amendments
2026-02-23 sb5168 hfat criss 2-23 _1 2026-02-23 hb5168 hfat criss 2-23 _1 2026-02-23 hb5168 hfat criss 2-23 _1 adopted Adopted 2026-03-04 hb5168 s gov am _1 3-4 2026-03-06 hb5168 s fin am _1 3-6 2026-03-11 hb5168 sfat barrett _1 3-11 2026-03-04 hb5168 s gov am _1 3-4 adopted Adopted 2026-03-06 hb5168 s fin am _1 3-6 adopted Adopted 2026-03-11 hb5168 sfat barrett _1 3-11 adopted Adopted 2026-03-04 hb5168 s gov am _1 3-4 withdrawn 2026-03-14 hb5168 hfa mcgeehan, criss and statler 3-14 _1 2026-03-14 hb5168 hfa hansen 3-14
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Comm Sub 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
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