The bill introduced on January 14, 2026, seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 7-1-3uu, which grants county commissions the authority to establish and impose voluntary firefighter service fees on residents. This fee is intended to support volunteer fire departments within the county and is not mandatory, allowing county commissions to decide on its imposition and collection. The bill also establishes a Volunteer Firefighter Service Fund, into which all proceeds from the fee will be deposited, ensuring that the funds are used exclusively for the benefit of volunteer firefighters serving in the county.

Additionally, the bill outlines the administration of the Volunteer Firefighter Service Fund, specifying that disbursements will be made to eligible volunteer firefighters after completing each 10 years of service. The county commission will have the discretion to determine the amount of funds allocated for each service period and may create tiered distribution schedules based on years of service. Importantly, the funds collected under this section are restricted to the purposes explicitly stated in the bill, ensuring accountability in their use.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-1-3uu