FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 21, 2026
Time Requested: 04:51 PM |
| Agency: |
Tax & Revenue Department, WV State |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2696 |
Introduced |
HB4699 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Taxation |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
General Revenue Fund
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Decreases Existing Revenue, Increases Existing Expenses
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The stated purpose of this bill is to create an incentive for employers to hire people who are pursuing a formal program of recovery from substance abuse issues by allowing the employer to claim a tax credit for employing eligible individuals, with limits based upon the employer’s total number of employees overall. The bill provides for recapture. Finally, the bill provides for an effective date.
According to our interpretation, the proposed bill provides nonrefundable Personal Income Tax and Corporation Net Income Tax Credits for eligible taxpayers who hire qualified individuals participating in a program of substance abuse recovery. A certified employer may claim a credit each year for up to seven eligible employees, depending on the total number of employees in the business entity. A business with 10 or fewer employees may claim a credit for one person, while a business employing more than 200 employees may claim a credit for up to seven qualified employees. The maximum credit allowed would be $2,000 per eligible individual hired and retained in employment. A study from the Recovery Research Institute revealed that roughly 22.3 million Americans - or nine percent of adults - are in recovery from some form of substance use disorder. The Tax Department cannot accurately estimate the number of eligible businesses that would qualify for this tax credit nor the amount of tax credit claimed in any given year due to the confidentiality of data on people in programs of substance abuse recovery.
Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Division would be $116,175 in FY2026 and $67,500 in subsequent fiscal years.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
116,175 |
67,500 |
67,500 |
| Personal Services |
67,500 |
67,500 |
67,500 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
2,475 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
46,200 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
According to our interpretation, the proposed bill provides nonrefundable Personal Income Tax and Corporation Net Income Tax Credits for eligible taxpayers who hire qualified individuals participating in a program of substance abuse recovery. A certified employer may claim a credit each year for up to seven eligible employees, depending on the total number of employees in the business entity. A business with 10 or fewer employees may claim a credit for one person, while a business employing more than 200 employees may claim a credit for up to seven qualified employees. The maximum credit allowed would be $2,000 per eligible individual hired and retained in employment. A study from the Recovery Research Institute revealed that roughly 22.3 million Americans - or nine percent of adults - are in recovery from some form of substance use disorder. The Tax Department cannot accurately estimate the number of eligible businesses that would qualify for this tax credit nor the amount of tax credit claimed in any given year due to the confidentiality of data on people in programs of substance abuse recovery.
Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Division would be $116,175 in FY2026 and $67,500 in subsequent fiscal years.
Memorandum
The stated purpose of this bill is to create an incentive for employers to hire people who are pursuing a formal program of recovery from substance abuse issues by allowing the employer to claim a tax credit for employing eligible individuals, with limits based upon the employer’s total number of employees overall. The bill provides for recapture. Finally, the bill provides for an effective date.
The bill fails to define when a participant is “in good standing.” The terms “certified employer” and “eligible taxpayer” are defined as an employer or taxpayer subject to the West Virginia Personal Income Tax AND Corporation Net Income Tax. It is unlikely that any taxpayer would be subject to both taxes.
The bill does not address if the credit is refundable.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
Email Address: RADfiscal@wv.gov