This bill proposes the establishment of an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Office of the Secretary of State in West Virginia. The new office will serve as a liaison for entrepreneurs, startups, and scale-ups, facilitating their navigation through government processes and identifying barriers to business growth. It will also coordinate with various state agencies and entrepreneurial support organizations to foster relationships that promote business development. The Office is tasked with providing timely responses to inquiries, developing an implementation plan, and submitting an annual report to the Joint Standing Committee on Economic Development detailing its activities and recommendations for improving entrepreneurship in the state.

Additionally, the bill creates a special revenue account known as the "West Virginia Office of Entrepreneurship Fund," which will receive an annual appropriation of $175,000 from the General Revenue Fund starting July 1, 2026. The Office of Entrepreneurship will also have the authority to generate revenue through events and services while ensuring that government liaison services remain free for all entrepreneurs. The Secretary of State is granted the power to promulgate legislative rules to implement the provisions of this article.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5B-2P-1, 5B-2P-2