SB 982: Creating Neighborhood Access Road Program - West Virginia

Enrolled Version → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The Committee Substitute of SB 982 makes several substantive changes to the Neighborhood Access Road Program, most notably extending the program's sunset from three years to ten years after the effective date. The bill also shifts the program's role from directly providing for road work to providing funding for it, removes a 'subject to available funding' qualifier, and drops the requirement that available funds be confirmed prior to program operation. Sponsorship was narrowed from four senators to one.

TIMELINE

The program sunset was extended from three years after the effective date to ten years after the effective date, significantly lengthening the program's authorized lifespan.

SCOPE

Section 17-31-2 changed from the program providing 'for the reconstruction or improvement' of roads to providing 'funding for the reconstruction or improvement,' shifting the program's role from direct service delivery to a funding mechanism.

Sponsorship was reduced from four senators (Morris, Z. Maynard, Rucker, and Taylor) to a single senator (Morris), indicating the bill was reworked in committee under a single lead sponsor.

REQUIREMENT

The phrase 'Subject to available funding' was removed from Section 17-31-2, and the title no longer references 'requiring available funds prior to operation of the program,' suggesting the pre-operation funding requirement was dropped or relocated.

ENFORCEMENT

The reporting recipient in Section 17-31-8 was changed from the 'Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability' to the 'Oversight Commission on Transportation Accountability,' removing 'Legislative' and 'Department of' from the commission name.

sb982 hfa criss and anderson 3-11 _1 adopted.htm → sb982 sfat barrett _1 3-3 adopted.htm · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill's title was updated to reflect its full purpose of creating a Neighborhood Access Road Program, while a previous motion to change a specific number in the text was removed. This change clarifies that the legislation establishes a new state program to fund residential road improvements, administered by the Division of Highways, rather than focusing on a minor textual edit.

Scope change

The bill's scope is now explicitly defined as creating a new Neighborhood Access Road Program with specific administrative and funding requirements, replacing a vague reference to amending a specific line item.

SCOPE

Added a comprehensive title describing the creation of the Neighborhood Access Road Program, including provisions for findings, administration, funding, and a sunset date.

TECHNICAL

Removed a motion to strike the number '10' and insert '3' in section nine, line 1.

sb982 hfa anderson 3-13 _1 adopted.htm → sb982 hfa criss and anderson 3-11 _1 adopted adopted.htm · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill's title was updated to reflect that Delegates Criss and Anderson are the sponsors, replacing Delegate Anderson as the sole sponsor. Additionally, the amendment text was revised to target a different section of the bill (Section 9 instead of Section 8) and changed the specific number being amended from '10' to '3', indicating a shift in the legislative focus or a correction to the amendment's target.

Scope change

The scope of the amendment's application changed from Section 8 to Section 9, and the specific numerical value being modified was altered from 10 to 3.

REQUIREMENT

The amendment targets a change in a numerical requirement from 10 to 3 within Section 9 of the bill.

SCOPE

The amendment's location was moved from Section 8 to Section 9.

DEFINITION

The bill's header was updated to list Delegates Criss and Anderson as the sponsors instead of just Delegate Anderson.

Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute → sb982 hfa anderson 3-13 _1 adopted.htm · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a Committee Substitute version to a final adopted version, incorporating a specific amendment to add the words 'Department of' before a reference to a state agency. This change clarifies the administrative responsibility for the program but does not alter the program's funding, eligibility, or operational rules.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains unchanged; the amendment only affects the specific agency name referenced in the text.

TECHNICAL

Added the words 'Department of' to the agency name on page 3, section 8, line 2, to clarify the specific department responsible for the program.

Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to include additional sponsors and shift the reporting committee from Transportation and Infrastructure to Finance. The program's funding is now explicitly subject to available resources, and the oversight body for annual reports was updated to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Transportation Accountability.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Neighborhood Access Road Program, but the administrative oversight and funding conditions have been adjusted.

TIMELINE

The bill was reported by a different committee (Finance instead of Transportation and Infrastructure) and on a later date (March 2 instead of February 23).

REQUIREMENT

The annual report must now be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Transportation Accountability instead of the Oversight Commission on Transportation Accountability.

FISCAL

The program's operation is now explicitly subject to available funding, adding a financial constraint to the bill.

SCOPE

The bill's title was updated to reflect that the program is subject to available funding.

Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute → Enrolled Version · 4 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, changing the effective date to 90 days after passage (June 12, 2026) and replacing the original reporting body with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability. The program's sunset date was significantly shortened from 10 years to just three years, requiring reauthorization sooner.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on creating a Neighborhood Access Road Program, but the timeline for its operation has been drastically reduced, limiting the window for implementation and funding.

TIMELINE

The program's sunset date was changed from 10 years after the effective date to only three years after the effective date.

The effective date was updated to 90 days from passage, specifically June 12, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The annual report recipient was changed from the Legislative Oversight Commission on Transportation Accountability to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability.

TECHNICAL

Added standard enrolled bill certification signatures for the Clerks of the Senate and House, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor.

Introduced Version → Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 4 edits · Mar 14, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden its scope by adding 'reconstruction' alongside 'improvement' for road projects and clarifying that the Division of Highways is not required to accept roads into the state system. Additionally, the bill's title was updated to include new co-sponsors and a committee report date, while minor text adjustments were made to the legislative findings and fund definitions.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes 'reconstruction' of public access roads as an eligible activity and clarifies that the Division of Highways does not have to accept funded infrastructure into the official state road system.

SCOPE

Added 'reconstruction' to the list of eligible road activities in the legislative findings and program creation sections.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that funded projects must connect to an existing state road and removed the requirement for the state to accept infrastructure into the road system.

REQUIREMENT

Added new co-sponsors (Senators Z. Maynard, Rucker, and Taylor) and a committee report date to the bill header.

TECHNICAL

Minor text adjustments were made to the legislative findings and fund definitions to improve clarity and consistency.

Creating Neighborhood Access Road Program

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors