Senate approves bill raising small-business revenue threshold and limiting municipal licensing for home-based firms

Senator from Harrison explained House Bill 24 51 on the floor as a measure to facilitate the creation of home‑based businesses. The bill creates a new article governing municipal regulation of home‑based businesses and, after a floor amendment adopted the previous day, includes provisions from Senate Bill 933.

The sponsor said the bill defines a home‑based business, prevents municipalities from imposing licensing or permitting rules that would not apply to a similar commercial property, and does not alter reasonable existing regulations or private deed restrictions. The bill raises the threshold that triggers a municipal business license from $4,000 to $10,000 in annual revenue. It also provides that a municipality may not require a license for an independent contractor with no physical location in the municipality with under $10,000 in annual revenue, and it restricts municipalities from imposing a business & occupation or privilege tax on a small business with less than $10,000 in annual revenue.

On the floor the clerk recorded a machine vote of 28 yays, 6 nays, 0 absent; the Senate declared the bill passed and adopted a title amendment. The clerk will communicate the action to the House.

Sponsor remarks emphasized making West Virginia more business‑friendly for small operations and ensuring municipal rules do not unfairly burden home‑based entrepreneurs.