HB 4958 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

To create the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program

HB 4958 establishes the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program to support Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties (the "Southern Coalfield" area), which have suffered economic decline due to coal industry challenges. The bill creates a Revitalization Council - including county commissioners, state agency heads, and college representatives - to coordinate resources, prioritize economic development, and develop strategies for these counties. Key provisions include requiring annual reports, authorizing reduced-cost access to state property/equipment for qualifying businesses, and directing the Division of Economic Development to facilitate incentives. The program operates for five years with no new state positions created, focusing on streamlining existing state and partner resources for community revitalization.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Feb 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Feb 20, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was converted from an 'Introduced' draft to an 'Engrossed' version, incorporating significant substantive changes. The most critical addition is the creation of a Revitalization Council with 15 specific members, including representatives from local county commissions, universities, and economic development agencies, who are explicitly barred from receiving compensation. The scope of technical assistance was expanded to include a detailed list of 14 contributing partners, such as Small Business Development Centers and various university clinics. Additionally, the bill added new sections requiring annual reporting to the Governor and legislature, and established specific duties for the council to assess reclaimed mine sites and develop rapid response strategies for new businesses.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general framework to a specific operational plan with a defined 15-member council and a list of 14 contributing partners, formalizing the collaboration between state agencies, local governments, and educational institutions.

REQUIREMENT

Created a Revitalization Council with 15 specific members, including representatives from Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming County Commissions, and various universities, who serve without compensation.

Mandated that the Revitalization Council report annually to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding progress and strategic plans.

Added specific duties for the council to conduct assessments of reclaimed mine sites and develop rapid response strategies to attract new enterprises.

DEFINITION

Added a comprehensive list of 14 'Contributing Partners' including Small Business Development Centers, university clinics, and regional planning councils to provide technical assistance.

Changed the definition of 'Revitalization Council' to reflect the newly added specific members and partners, replacing the placeholder reference to a future section.

TECHNICAL

Included new provisions prioritizing the use of West Virginia's native resources and energy sources to support local manufacturing and reduce costs.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

95–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 100

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic9

8 Yea 1

88% Yea

R Republican91

87 Yea 4

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 21, 2026

Committee

To Government Organization

upper

Feb 21, 2026

Committee

To Government Organization then Finance

upper

Feb 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 148)

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Amended

Amendment rejected (Roll No. 147)

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

Amendment reported by the Clerk

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Do pass

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

To House Government Organization

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

To Government Organization

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors