CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – State Treasurer Larry Pack is celebrating multiple noteworthy accomplishments from his first year in office and looking ahead to moving West Virginia forward in 2026.
“I never envisioned myself serving in public office, but I realized if I wanted to be part of the solution, this was the path I had to take,” Treasurer Pack said. “This has been an exciting year filled with a lot of progress. In addition to our 55-county statewide tour we finished last month, my team has focused on promoting the state’s financial shape with a continued emphasis on economic development projects and good-paying jobs, understanding the power of local government control, and advocating for programs and initiatives that support our hardworking West Virginia families.”
In 2025, Treasurer Pack acted against China when he proposed a Prohibited Foreign Investments Policy for short-term funds to the West Virginia Board of Treasury Investments (WVBTI), which was later approved by the Board in which he serves as Chairman. The West Virginia Investment Management Board (WVIMB) also approved a policy to divest long-term funds from Chinese-owned companies. Treasurer Pack also banned the use of Chinese AI DeepSeek on all Treasury devices.
Other 2025 accomplishments include:
- Returning $20 million to West Virginia taxpayers.
- Launching the first online firearms auction in Treasury history.
- Securing full funding and lowering the projected budget by $85 million for the Hope Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Announcing a record-breaking year ($40.6 million in Fiscal Year 2025) for unclaimed property returns.
- Announcing record unclaimed property funds found during searches at the State Fair of West Virginia.
- Welcoming online learning platform, Outschool, to the Hope Scholarship Program.
- Launching the first Community Volunteer Award for the Get a Life budget simulation.
- Expanding SMART529 plan benefits under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
- Announcing a new timeline for the SMART529 “When I Grow Up” Essay Contest.
- Unveiling new investment features for the Jumpstart Savings Program.
- Adding Santander Bank to the state’s Restricted Financial Institution (RFI) List.
- Advocating for the continuity of government during the transition of constitutional office holders and repealing an outdated program in the Treasurer’s Office that was obsolete.
Since taking Office, Treasurer Pack has heard from thousands of West Virginians over the course of his travels. From those discussions, Treasurer Pack has continued to advocate for policy solutions or assist constituents with community needs. This includes reducing taxes and regulations, investing in education, shrinking the size of government and helping local leaders focus on economic development.
This year, Treasurer Pack is committed to:
- Defending the Hope Scholarship Program.
- Eliminating the state income tax on tips and overtime.
- Increasing local control of schools.
- Prioritizing teacher pay in West Virginia.
- Advocating for an unclaimed property consumer protection bill.
- Establishing constitutional term limits.
- Traveling more across the state to visit local businesses and leaders, private and public schools, and other organizations that are making an impact in the Mountain State.
“There is no doubt there are many problems facing our state and it will take bold leadership and forward thinking to address these issues. But if we can buckle down and really hone in on issues that make the lives of West Virginians better, I know we can continue to make the Mountain State the best place to live, work and raise a family,” Treasurer Pack said.
