HB 2742 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to creating limited waiver from certificate of public convenience and necessity requirement for certain water or sewer services projects.

HB 2742 creates a temporary waiver for certain water and sewer service projects from needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" permit. This waiver applies specifically to projects funded in whole or part by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFR) money, and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (or the Water Development Authority for Economic Enhancement Grants). The waiver expires on April 30, 2025, and applies to projects that meet technical feasibility standards. It directly affects utility providers with at least 4,500 customers and $3 million in annual revenue, streamlining approval for eligible infrastructure projects.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Aug 2025

Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Signed Aug 5, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Version → Enrolled Version · 4 edits · Apr 25, 2025

MODERATE

HB 2742 was converted from an Engrossed version to an Enrolled version, which is the final legislative text signed into law. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new subsection (l) that establishes specific notice and procedural requirements for water or sewer utilities that are political subdivisions of the state (such as municipalities) seeking to pursue construction projects outside their ordinary course of business. This ensures public transparency and customer notification before rate changes are implemented. The bill also retains existing provisions regarding waiver of certificate requirements for ARPA-funded projects and maintains various timelines for commission decisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific procedural requirements for political subdivision water or sewer utilities, whereas the Engrossed version did not contain this detailed subsection.

REQUIREMENT

New subsection (l) added specific public notice and hearing requirements for political subdivision water or sewer utilities pursuing non-ordinary construction projects, including notice on billing statements, legal advertisements, and a 45-day waiting period before rate changes take effect.

TIMELINE

Added a 45-day waiting period requirement for approved rates to take effect, with limited exceptions for financial distress, to prevent immediate rate hikes upon project approval.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a mechanism for customers to petition circuit court if dissatisfied with county commission actions on proposed rates, with a 30-day filing window.

TECHNICAL

Text was reformatted to match the Enrolled Version final legislative format, including removal of committee markup indicators and addition of certification signatures and governor's signature line.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

31–2

Passed

Total votes 33

Apr 10, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 25, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/25/2025

lower

Apr 12, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - Senate Journal

upper

Apr 12, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - House Journal

lower

Apr 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate effective date (Roll No. 556)

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 432)

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported do pass

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

To Government Organization

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 91)

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Do pass

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

To House Enviroment, Infrastructure, and Technology

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors