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Progress Report
SAMANTHA CART
2018 Legislative Session
The West Virginia Legislature convened on January 10,
2018, to begin what would become a closely-watched and at
times divisive session characterized by the first teacher strike
since 1990.
All eyes were on the Mountain State’s 34 senators and 100
delegates as they waded through a packed docket of potential
legislation. Despite the attention received due to the strike, a
variety of the state’s most pressing issues were addressed and
met with promising legislation. In addition, for the first time
in 36 years the Legislature passed a balanced budget bill before
the end of the regular 60-day session, avoiding one of the costly
extended sessions West Virginians have come to expect.
Over the course of the 2018 session, many important bills
that could potentially help West Virginians seeking employment,
addiction recovery and treatment services and new business
opportunities were discussed, amended and voted on. In our
2018 progress report, we take a look at 10 bills proposed to
help West Virginia workers, entrepreneurs, families and business
owners. These bills address ways to keep young entrepreneurs
in the state, limit the amount of prescription pills prescribed,
decrease redundant regulations from state and local agencies
on the coal industry, reduce the number of West Virginians on
welfare, move important oil and gas drilling projects forward
and improve health care and raise wages for all state employees.
While not all 10 bills made it to Governor Jim Justice’s desk
for signing, they all address vital topics important to helping
move the Mountain State forward.
SB 365
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
REINVESTMENT ACT
By Natalie Roper
SENATE: 32-0 HOUSE: 94-5
The Young Entrepreneur Reinvestment Act was passed in
2016 with the purpose of waiving filing fees for anyone under
the age of 30 establishing a business in West Virginia, includ-
ing limited liability companies and for-profit and nonprofit
corporations. The 2016 act had a sunset provision expiring
the filing fee waivers in June 2018 without renewal legislation.
During the 2018 legislative session, Senate Bill (SB) 365 was
introduced to renew the act and remove the sunset provision
so the program will not expire in the future.
Since the legislation was passed in 2016, 106 young entre-
preneurs from 30 counties across the Mountain State have
taken advantage of the fee waiver and started new businesses
in the state thanks to the investment and incentive this pro-
gram offers. The Young Entrepreneur Reinvestment Act is an
important way for West Virginia to support the growth and
development of the next generation of business owners. It is
well-known that West Virginia loses too many young people
to opportunities in other places, and attracting this entrepre-
neurial generation is key to the state’s future. This bill is one
way to support young entrepreneurs who want to start and
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
grow their businesses in West Virginia. While the $100 filing
fee doesn’t sound like much, to young entrepreneurs starting
out, every penny counts, and that is money that can be de-
voted to other things needed to get a business off the ground.
Thanks to the proven success of the Young Entrepreneur
Reinvestment Act in its first two years, SB 365 received
bipartisan support throughout the 2018 session. The bill was
sponsored by Senators Ryan Weld, Ryan Ferns, John Unger,
Robert Plyma