Plain English Breakdown
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HB5056 • 2026
Permit beneficiary under the State Teachers Retirement System to convert to the maximum life annuity if the spouse dies within the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement
Permit beneficiary under the State Teachers Retirement System to convert to the maximum life annuity if the spouse dies within the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement
Education
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-02-02
H
To House Finance
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2026-02-02
H
Introduced in House
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2026-02-02
H
To Finance
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2026-02-02
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Permit beneficiary under the State Teachers Retirement System to convert to the maximum life annuity if the spouse dies within the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 5056 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 5056 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE FISCAL NOTE 2026 REGULAR SESSION FISCAL NOTE Introduced House Bill 5056 By Delegate Toney [Introduced February 02, 2026; referred to the Committee on Finance] A BILL to amend and reenact §18-7A-28 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the State Teachers Retirement System; options to beneficiaries; and authorizing a change of options because of death of beneficiary with a joint life annuity, within the first five years of retirement. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 7A. STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM. §18-7A-28. Options to beneficiaries; change of certain options because of divorce or annulment; limitation on recalculated monthly benefits. The retirement board is hereby authorized to offer plans, optional with the beneficiary, for the payment of allowances due such the beneficiary for retirement, withdrawal, or prior service pensions under the retirement system. No plans shall may be offered, however, which are not approved by competent actuaries. When a beneficiary and his or her spouse have been approved for a retirement plan which provides for them a joint life annuity, and (1) their marriage is subsequently dissolved; or (2) the spouse dies during the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement, the board shall permit such the beneficiary to convert to the maximum life annuity plan approved by the board: Provided, That the beneficiary shall furnish to the board: (1) proof of entry of a final decree of divorce or annulment; or (2) proof of the spouse’s death: Provided, however, That a beneficiary who qualifies for the change of retirement plans afforded by this section shall be permitted only one such change: Provided further, That the recalculated monthly benefits, independently of increases granted by law after the beneficiary's retirement, shall may not exceed the monthly benefits which would have been applicable under the maximum life annuity plan at the time the beneficiary retired; and with such the recalculation to be effective on the first day of the month following submission to the board by the beneficiary of proof of entry of a final decree of divorce or annulment. Upon remarriage, a retirant may name the new spouse as an annuitant for any of the survivorship retirement benefit options offered by the provisions of this section: Provided, That the beneficiary shall furnish to the retirement board satisfactory proof of the marriage: Provided, however, That the retirant certifies under penalty of perjury that no qualified domestic relations order that would restrict such a designation is in effect: Provided further, That no cause or action against the board may then arise or be maintained on the basis of having permitted the retirant to name a new spouse as annuitant for any of the survivorship retirement benefit options. The value of the new survivorship annuity shall be the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's benefit prospectively in effect at the time the new annuity is elected. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit a beneficiary under the State Teachers Retirement System who has been approved for a retirement with a joint life annuity to convert to the maximum life annuity if the spouse dies within the first five years of the beneficiary’s retirement. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: