Allowing certain entities to purchase qualifying tax-delinquent properties before they are offered at public auction
SB 538 allows certain organizations (like nonprofits or community groups) to purchase properties with unpaid property taxes before they are sold at public auction. It directly affects property owners who owe taxes and qualifying entities that can now buy these properties through a direct process. The key change skips the public auction step for eligible properties, enabling faster sales to specified entities. The bill became law after the governor signed it on April 30, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Feb 19, 2025
Signed Aug 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Committee Substitute
→
Enrolled Committee Substitute
·
4 edits
·
Apr 30, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized and enacted into law, removing the previous sunset date that would have ended the special powers of land banks on July 1, 2025. This change ensures that land reuse agencies and municipal land banks can permanently continue to purchase tax-delinquent properties before public auctions and refuse sales to adjacent owners with tax delinquencies. Additionally, the annual reporting requirements were slightly adjusted to remove a specific 'prior to' date and streamline the submission process to the Land Stewardship Corporation.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a temporary measure with a July 1, 2025 expiration date to a permanent provision with no sunset date.
TIMELINE
Deleted the provision stating that the right of first refusal and related powers would expire on July 1, 2025.
Added a certification confirming the bill is enacted and effective immediately upon passage.
REQUIREMENT
Revised the annual reporting deadline to remove a specific 'prior to' date and clarified the submission process to the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation.
ENFORCEMENT
Included standard enrolled bill signatures for the Clerks, Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor to finalize the legislation.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House of Delegates Apr 3, 2025
How they voted
30–2
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Mar 19, 2025
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Apr 30, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/30/2025
upper
Apr 12, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/30/2025 - Senate Journal
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House changed effective date
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 379)
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
To House Government Organization
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
To Government Organization
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 133)
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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