SB 691 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Authorizing DOH to provide reimbursement for timely relocation of utilities

SB 691 amends West Virginia law to regulate how public utilities (like electric, gas, and telecom companies) must relocate their lines on state highway rights-of-way during road construction projects. It requires the Division of Highways to provide utilities with written notice (up to 18 months in advance) to remove or adjust lines, and mandates specific procedures for utilities to submit plans and work schedules. The bill also establishes a reimbursement process: if a utility lacks staff or resources to relocate lines itself, the Division of Highways may cover relocation costs using state road funds, with the utility repaying the state within two years. This directly affects utility companies and highway project timelines, ensuring clearer coordination and cost-sharing during infrastructure work.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → sb691 hepw am. _1 3-9 adopted.htm · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to replace the original Committee Substitute version with a new version (SB691 HE PW AM. #1) that significantly restructures the utility relocation reimbursement process. The new version adds more detailed procedures for reimbursement agreements, clarifies methods for completing design and construction work, and expands provisions for when federal funds are available versus unavailable.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on utility relocation for highway projects, but the procedures for reimbursement and work completion methods have been substantially expanded and clarified.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed requirements for reimbursement agreements including specific methods for completing preliminary engineering design work (internal forces, division-selected consultants, or highway construction subcontractors) and utility relocation construction work (competitive bidding or highway construction subcontractors).

Added provisions requiring utility acceptance of design and construction work and confirmation that work conforms to state and federal laws.

Added authority for the Division to propose rules and promulgate emergency rules to comply with the new subsection requirements.

Reorganized the bill structure from a multi-page committee substitute format to a consolidated single-section format with clearer subsection numbering.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit statement that reimbursement agreement provisions are completely voluntary and do not require utilities to enter into reimbursement agreements.

FISCAL

Added new subsection (g) addressing Federal highway fund availability, specifying different reimbursement procedures when federal funds are available versus unavailable.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

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

Amendments

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 550)

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Amendment reported by the Clerk

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

With amendment, do pass

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 238)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors