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Bill

HB 4280

Relating to authorizing the State Auditor to promulgate a legislative rule relating to standards for requisitions for payment issued by the state officers on the Auditor.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Smith

State Auditor authority would establish a formal rule defining standardized requisition for payment practices to improve accuracy, consistency, and internal controls across state a

To House Judiciary
#legislature--rulemaking
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Bill Summary · HB 4280

Overview

HB 4280 (West Virginia, 2026) would authorize the State Auditor to promulgate a legislative rule establishing standards for requisitions for payment issued by state officers. The bill outlines the auditable framework and process by which the State Auditor would implement and enforce these standards through a legislative rulemaking mechanism.

Purpose and intent

  • Empower the State Auditor to develop and adopt a formal set of standards governing how state officers issue requisitions for payment.
  • Ensure consistency, accuracy, and accountability in the process by which state agencies request and process payments.
  • Provide a clear regulatory baseline for requisition practices to enhance financial control, transparency, and compliance with applicable laws and internal policies.

Key provisions and changes

  • Authorization for rulemaking: The bill grants the State Auditor authority to promulgate a legislative rule concerning standards for requisitions for payment issued by state officers.
  • Scope of standards: The rule presumably would define required elements of requisitions, approval workflows, documentation, authorization thresholds, coding, and related internal controls. (The exact standards would be specified in the rule to be promulgated.)
  • Jurisdiction of application: Applies to requisitions for payment issued by state officers within the executive branch (and any other entities encompassed by the auditor’s oversight as defined by the rule).
  • Rulemaking process: The bill contemplates the typical legislative rulemaking framework (submission, review, and potential modifications through the specified legislative process), though the precise procedural steps would be defined by state law and the rulemaking provisions the Auditor uses.
  • Relationship to existing law: The rule would align with current purchasing, contracting, and financial management laws and policies, and would be used to supplement or clarify existing requirements for payment requisitions.

Who would be affected

  • State officers and their offices that issue requisitions for payment, who would need to comply with the new standards.
  • State agencies and departments responsible for processing requisitions for payment.
  • The State Auditor’s Office, which would develop, propose, and monitor compliance with the rule, including enforcement and potential audits related to requisition practices.
  • Potentially vendors and contractors indirectly, insofar as standardized requisition practices impact payment timelines and processing efficiency.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referrals: The bill was introduced on January 14, 2026, and referred to Government Organization, then Judiciary.
  • Consideration path: The action history shows “Do pass, but first to Judiciary” (January 30, 2026) and placement in House Judiciary after initial referrals, indicating committee review and potential amendments before floor consideration.
  • Sponsor: Co-sponsor Doug Smith.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the provided summary; typically, legislative rules or their effective dates are set within the act or by the general effective-date provisions of the law, possibly with a statutory effective date upon enactment or upon promulgation of the rule.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Enhanced internal controls: By standardizing requisitions for payment, agencies may reduce errors, duplicate payments, and improper approvals.
  • Compliance and transparency: A formal rule can improve auditability and compliance with financial management requirements.
  • Implementation needs: Agencies may require training and adjustments to existing processes to align with the new standards.
  • Oversight and enforcement: Clear standards would enable the State Auditor to assess conformity and recommend corrective actions when deviations occur.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize fiscal impact estimates, potential compliance costs for agencies, or alignment with existing West Virginia procurement and accounting statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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