Morrisey Signs State Budget With A Dozen Changes

Overnight, Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent out a press release indicating he signed Senate Bill 250, the budget bill, but with a handful of changes. 

In a letter to Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, Morrisey outlined a dozen line-item vetoes. Several were drafting errors, but others were reductions in specific line items, the biggest of which was a $400,000 cut to the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, leaving $700,000 in support of abused and neglected children in court. 

Despite the line-item vetoes, Morrisey largely supported the budget for fiscal year 2027 and highlighted several of his key priorities in a press release. These included $276 million to fully fund the Hope Scholarship program, an additional $125 million dedicated toward state roads and progress made toward the 5% tax cut he included in his version of the budget.  

“The difficult decisions we made last year to start addressing the state’s long-term financial liabilities paid off,” Morrisey said. “Our success last year in reducing base program expenditures helped give us the fiscally prudent budget I signed today.”  

The budget also includes money to provide a 3% pay increase the governor promoted for state employees, including teachers, highway workers and law enforcement officers. This increase, Morrisey said, is expected to help retain experienced professionals in the state who educate students, maintain critical infrastructure and keep communities safe. 

The budget fully funds the state’s higher education funding formula for the first time, providing greater financial stability for West Virginia’s colleges and universities. Morrisey said these investments strengthen education at every level and help prepare the next generation of West Virginians for success. 

Also, for the first time, the state’s Flood Resiliency Trust Fund will receive dedicated funding through a $5 million investment included in the final budget. The funding will aid in flood preparedness, improve disaster mitigation efforts and support long-term infrastructure projects designed to better protect communities across West Virginia.