The bill amends West Virginia Code §8-13-13 to regulate the imposition of fire protection service fees by municipalities. It prohibits any municipality from imposing new fire protection service fees on individuals or businesses located in counties that have already established a fire service fee, unless there is an intergovernmental agreement in place between the municipality and the county commission. The bill outlines specific requirements for this agreement, including that the fees must be uniform for all users, and that no individual or business should be required to pay both municipal and county fire service fees. Additionally, it allows municipalities to increase or decrease existing fire protection fees that were in effect prior to June 30, 2024.

The intergovernmental agreement must include terms such as limiting fees to those within the first due areas covered by the municipality's fire services, and it is set to expire five years after its effective date, with provisions for renewal. The bill also establishes a reconciliation process for the first year after the amendments take effect, ensuring that individuals and businesses are not overcharged. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more structured and equitable framework for fire service fees while ensuring that municipalities cannot impose new fees without proper agreements in place.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-17-12, 8-13-13
Committee Substitute: 8-13-13
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 8-13-13
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 8-13-13