Environment

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5439: Creaing a pollinator planting program

HB 5439 would create a statewide pollinator protection program under West Virginia's Department of Agriculture to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The program requires the department to develop a plan with input from beekeepers, farmers, and conservation groups, focusing on planting pollinator-friendly habitats on private property and in state parks and forests. Key provisions include mitigating damage from invasive plant species, encouraging low-maintenance habitat creation, identifying educational opportunities, and leveraging existing state/federal grants for conservation. The goal is to protect pollinator health while supporting West Virginia's agricultural economy and beekeeping industry.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates statewide pollinator habitat program under Department of Agriculture, directly supporting biodiversity conservation and natural resource protection through habitat creation and invasive species mitigation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5414: New Oil and Gas Well Plugging Assurance Act

This bill requires oil and gas operators to provide financial assurance before drilling new wells that aren’t expected to produce, either through a bond or funds held in an escrow account managed by the State Treasurer. It aims to prevent future "orphan wells" by ensuring money is available to plug wells that become abandoned without a responsible operator. The funds must be used only for plugging the well or, if the operator fails to act, for the state to plug it using the reserved funds. This directly affects operators seeking new permits after July 2026 and protects landowners from property devaluation and environmental risks linked to unplugged wells.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires financial assurance to prevent orphan wells, ensuring funds for plugging abandoned wells to protect environment from pollution and contamination.95% confidence

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HCR 20: Designating the City of Gary water and wastewater systems for emergency intervention under the State Utility Accountability and Improvement Program.

HCR 20 designates Gary's water and wastewater systems for emergency state intervention under West Virginia's utility program, directly affecting Gary residents who face aging infrastructure, water quality issues, and financial instability. The resolution requires a state team to conduct an emergency assessment within seven days, classifies the systems as Tier 4 (highest emergency tier), and prioritizes them for up to $3 million in emergency repairs from the Distressed Utilities Account. It mandates monthly progress reports to the legislature and sets a 6-month preliminary evaluation, serving as a pilot for the state's utility intervention program. The resolution does not delay ongoing Public Service Commission ownership proceedings for the systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M from Distressed Utilities Account for emergency infrastructure repairs, directly funding public utility services per state fiscal program.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAddresses water quality issues via emergency repairs to prevent contamination, directly protecting environmental resources and public health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5642: To create the West Virginia Water and Wastewater Utility Sustainabilty Act

HB 5642 creates the State Utility Accountability and Improvement Program to support water and wastewater utilities in West Virginia, particularly those facing financial or operational challenges. It establishes a State Utility Management Corps to provide direct assistance, authorizes temporary management (conservatorships) for struggling utilities, and creates a Priority Utility Docket for faster public service commission reviews. The bill also expands the Distressed Utilities Account for financial aid, sets up a tiered reclassification system for rate adjustments, and requires annual utility assessments for transparency. These provisions apply directly to public water and wastewater utilities across the state, aiming to improve service reliability and long-term sustainability.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSupports water utility sustainability, preventing pollution from failing systems through financial/operational assistance to critical environmental infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

Track

failed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 5525: To create the “Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund” to be used in water emergencies or to upgrade infrastructure so residences can get clean water.

HB 5525 creates the "Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund" to improve drinking water in 13 specific counties (Boone, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming). The bill requires water utilities to conduct quarterly contaminant testing, replace lead service lines by 2035 (with financial help for low-income households), and implement advanced filtration systems where water quality fails state standards. It appropriates $10 million in state funds for infrastructure upgrades, mandates public reporting of test results within 30 days, and imposes fines (reinvested into the fund) for violations of safe drinking water limits. The law also requires annual infrastructure assessments and updates to contaminant standards every three years based on scientific research.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates fund for clean water infrastructure, mandates contaminant testing and lead line replacement, directly improving water quality and environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 893: Providing tax credits for expenditures and activities related to biochar manufacturing

SB 893 creates a state tax credit equal to 10% of the federal carbon storage credit (under IRS Section 45Q) earned by businesses operating new biochar manufacturing facilities in West Virginia that began operations after July 1, 2025. It directly affects eligible businesses that qualify for the federal credit, allowing them to reduce their state corporation income tax by up to 50% of their tax liability for the year. The credit lasts up to 12 years and requires verification through IRS certification and documentation proving biochar production occurred in the state. Businesses must submit federal tax return copies and evidence of carbon sequestration meeting nationally recognized standards to claim the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 10% tax credit reducing state tax liability for biochar businesses, directly providing tax relief and incentivizing industry growth under tax policy.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProvides tax credit for biochar manufacturing (carbon storage), aligning with federal carbon storage incentives to promote clean energy infrastructure and carbon sequestration.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes carbon sequestration via biochar manufacturing through tax credits tied to federal carbon storage (Section 45Q), directly advancing climate change mitigation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5173: To create the West Virginia Rural Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention Act.

HB 5173 creates the West Virginia Rural Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention Act, targeting individuals who improperly dispose of litter on public or private property, including near waterways. It establishes tiered penalties based on litter quantity: fines from $100 for small amounts (under 100 lbs) up to $50,000 for large dumps (over 500 lbs), with enhanced fines (50% higher) near protected waters. The bill also allows courts to order community service (cleaning litter for 8-200 hours) instead of or alongside fines, and creates a Rural Illegal Dumping Prevention Fund for cleanup programs. It directly affects anyone who illegally discards litter, imposing specific criminal penalties for repeat offenses and violations near water.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill penalizes littering/dumping near waterways with enhanced fines, directly targeting pollution control and protecting natural resources per summary.95% confidence

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HR 10: Proposing approval of United States H.R. 5966, Ohio River Restoration Program Act, to bring clean water, enhanced fish and aquatic wildlife, economic benefits, and expanded recreation opportunities to West Virginia.

This resolution (HR 10) proposes approval of federal legislation (H.R. 5966), the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, which would establish a program to improve the Ohio River. The program would fund specific actions like cleaning polluted water, restoring fish habitats, controlling invasive species, and improving public access to the river. West Virginia directly benefits as 28% of the river’s length borders the state, providing drinking water for 700,000 residents and supporting local economies. The resolution itself does not create funding but formally supports the federal bill’s implementation. This is a procedural resolution endorsing the broader federal restoration effort.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds river cleanup, habitat restoration, and pollution control - directly advances environmental protection and water quality goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality Wildlife

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 5318: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Commerce - State Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund from Special Revenue.

HB 5318 increases funding for West Virginia's state parks and recreation operations by supplementing existing budget lines. It adds $12,000 to "Current Expenses" (raising the total to $25,000) and $6.43 million to "Other Assets" (raising the total to $6.5 million) within the Department of Commerce's State Parks and Recreation Endowment Fund. This bill uses unappropriated funds from the 2026 fiscal year to cover these increases, directly affecting the Division of Natural Resources' park management. The change is purely procedural, adjusting budget allocations without creating new policies or programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state parks funding by $6.43M from unappropriated funds, advancing public recreation services and fiscal responsibility.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases funding for state parks and recreation operations, directly supporting natural resource conservation and park management under the Division of Natural Resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Parks & Recreation

Track

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 1022: Removing electrical transformers as exempted aboveground storage tanks

SB 1022 removes electrical transformers from the list of exempted aboveground storage tanks under West Virginia's regulatory framework. This change means transformers - commonly used in electrical systems - will now be subject to the same safety, inspection, and environmental compliance requirements as other aboveground storage tanks. The bill directly affects utility companies, industrial facilities, and property owners that operate or maintain electrical transformers. It modifies the existing definition in §22-30-3 by deleting the exemption previously listed under subsections (L) and (O), requiring transformers to meet all registration, notice, and signage rules under the Aboveground Storage Tank Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves transformers from environmental exemptions, requiring compliance with safety/environmental standards, strengthening regulatory oversight for pollution prevention.95% confidence

Track