Tree removal at state expense

HB 5357 requires West Virginia state agencies to remove trees on state-owned or leased property threatening damage to nearby private structures within six months of a written request from the affected property owner. If the state fails to act, the private property owner may cut down the trees after providing seven days' written notice to the state, with no liability for doing so. Property owners can then file a claim against the state for costs incurred, limited to $10,000 under a streamlined process in §14-2-17b. This bill directly affects private property owners whose structures face tree-related risks on adjacent state land.