Relating to blighted property

HB 2031 narrows the legal definition of "blighted property" in West Virginia by removing factors like tax delinquency exceeding a property's fair value from the criteria. It also restricts local governments and redevelopment authorities from seizing private property for projects without clearer justification. The bill directly affects property owners facing potential redevelopment efforts and limits how municipalities or regional authorities can acquire land for urban renewal. Key changes include revising definitions in state code to make it harder to label properties as "blighted" and adding requirements for municipal consent before redevelopment projects proceed. This aims to provide greater property rights protections while altering existing redevelopment processes.