Transportation (Roads & Highways)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5562: Relating to establishing a process for the Department of Highways to receive complaints from the public relating to public road hazards

HB 5562 creates a public reporting system for hazardous conditions on state-maintained roads, such as potholes, damaged guardrails, or obstructed pathways. It requires the West Virginia Department of Highways to establish a 24/7 toll-free hotline, online portal, and mobile app for residents to report hazards, with the department tracking each report via unique IDs and classifying severity. The bill mandates a public online dashboard showing report volumes, response times, and resolution status, plus an annual report to the legislature on hazard trends and improvements. Crucially, it provides limited state liability if the Department fails to address a reported hazard after receiving notice, while protecting reporters' personal information.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates public reporting system for road hazards, mandating faster resolution tracking and transparency, directly improving road infrastructure maintenance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 1015: Establishing Drainage Relief Fund

SB 1015 creates the Drainage Remediation Fund in West Virginia's State Treasury to address drainage issues affecting state roads. The fund, administered by the Commissioner of Highways, provides financial support for drainage projects that protect state roads, including work on private property when necessary. County commissions, municipalities, and private landowners can apply for funding but must reimburse the fund for any requested project upgrades. Unobligated funds at year's end may revert to the State Road Fund at the Commissioner's discretion.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state fund (Drainage Remediation Fund) within State Treasury for essential road infrastructure, allocating budget resources for public works projects.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates Drainage Remediation Fund to fund road drainage projects protecting state infrastructure, directly advancing transportation infrastructure maintenance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 777: Creating Outdoor West Virginians with Disabilities Act

SB 777 creates the "Outdoor West Virginians with Disabilities Act" to improve access to state public lands for people with disabilities. It requires West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources and Division of Forestry to update land management plans, ensuring at least 2.5 miles of accessible roads per square mile on state forest and natural resource lands. The bill mandates that road closures must not reduce accessible road mileage below this threshold without specific justification, and requires public input before closing roads. It also prioritizes including roads that support diverse recreation like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing while maintaining accessibility standards.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates accessible road mileage standards on state lands, improving transportation infrastructure accessibility for disabled users.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5358: Authorizing the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to offer locality pay to Division of Highways employees working in certain jurisdictions

HB 5358 authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to offer locality pay to Division of Highways employees working in specific areas where competitive wages are needed to recruit and retain staff. The bill allows employees in designated locations to receive an additional $10,000 annually on top of their regular salary, exceeding standard pay ranges for their position. This applies specifically to workers involved in state road projects, including planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and traffic regulation. The commissioner must create a policy to implement this, but the bill does not guarantee funding or specify which areas will be designated.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes $10,000 annual locality pay increase for highway workers to recruit/retain staff, directly boosting wages and addressing retention needs in employment.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes locality pay for highway workers to retain staff on road projects, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4716: To enhance the flexibility, responsiveness, and economic development potential of the Industrial Access Road Fund

HB 4716 amends West Virginia law to improve how the Industrial Access Road Fund is managed, directly affecting counties and municipalities that use the fund for industrial infrastructure. The bill establishes that 0.75% of state tax collections (or $3 million annually) will fund industrial access roads, with unspent funds needing to be spent within three years or reverting to the State Road Fund. It allows counties to coordinate with regional economic development groups to fund cross-county projects and requires financial guarantees (like bonds) for new industrial sites if construction isn't already underway. The bill ensures funds are used for road construction, safety upgrades, and federal project matching, prioritizing sites with confirmed or imminent industrial development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates 0.75% of tax collections ($3M annual) to industrial road fund with 3-year spending rule, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds industrial access roads via dedicated tax allocation, ensuring infrastructure development within transportation sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 30, 2026

HB 4992: Relating to the creation of an alternative procurement procedure called the “general contractor/construction manager” procedure, and authorizing the Division of Highways to promulgate rules thereabout.

HB 4992 creates a new "general contractor/construction manager" procurement method for West Virginia's highway projects, directly affecting the West Virginia Division of Highways. This alternative procedure allows the Division to hire contractors without following the standard design-build bidding rules outlined in existing highway laws. The bill authorizes the Division to develop specific rules for implementing this method, including conditions for agreements and preferred terms, in line with federal guidelines. It does not change existing funding limits for the current design-build program but provides a separate contracting path for highway construction projects.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates new highway procurement method to streamline infrastructure projects, directly advancing transportation infrastructure development without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 22, 2026

HB 4763: Relating generally to “Flagger Ahead” signs and flaggers on public roads in the State of West Virginia.

HB 4763 requires road construction crews to remove "Flagger Ahead" signs within 30 minutes after flaggers stop working on public roads in West Virginia. It directly affects contractors and road crews who use these signs during work zones. The bill imposes escalating fines for violations: $50 for a first offense (covering court costs), $200 for a second, and $500 plus permit revocation for a third. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires prompt removal of work zone signs to enhance road safety, directly improving transportation infrastructure safety standards.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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

HB 4993: Relating to authorizing green flashing warning lights on Division of Highways vehicles, and other equipment at the discretion of the Commissioner of Highways.

HB 4993 would amend West Virginia law to authorize the Division of Highways to use green flashing warning lights on its vehicles and equipment, at the Commissioner of Highways' discretion. Currently, only specific colors are permitted for certain emergency vehicles (e.g., blue for police, red for ambulances and fire trucks), with strict authorization rules. This bill adds green as an approved color for Highway vehicles, without mandating its use. It directly affects the Division of Highways' fleet, allowing flexibility in warning light colors for their operations. The change is procedural, focusing on updating vehicle lighting regulations rather than altering emergency response protocols.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes green flashing lights for highway vehicles to enhance safety visibility, aligning with transportation safety improvements without mandating use.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 19, 2026

SB 482: Creating WV Driver Safety Modernization Act

SB 482 creates West Virginia's Driver Safety Modernization Act to improve road safety by establishing a system for reviewing drivers whose medical conditions, age, or behavior may affect driving ability. It requires periodic medical certification for certain drivers (not solely based on age), creates a medical review unit for fair assessments, and mandates reporting of wrong-way driving incidents. The bill also provides immunity for doctors reporting medical concerns, offers senior driver safety courses and mobility planning resources, and requires the state to review highway interchanges where wrong-way crashes occurred. This law directly affects drivers over a certain age, medical professionals, law enforcement, and the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates medical review system and mandates reporting for driver safety, directly enhancing road safety standards under transportation policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4700: To require railroad companies to provide alternative entry and exit ways

HB 4700 requires railroad companies to provide alternative entry and exit routes for communities when performing maintenance, repairs, or construction on a road that serves as the sole access point for residents or state employees for more than 24 consecutive hours. This applies specifically to roads designated as the only entry/exit way for public health and safety reasons. The bill amends existing laws (§17-4-8 and §31-2A-2 of West Virginia Code) to mandate this requirement during extended work periods. It directly affects railroad companies operating in communities reliant on single-road access during infrastructure projects.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires railroad companies to provide alternative access during road maintenance, enhancing transportation safety and infrastructure reliability for critical routes.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail Roads & Highways

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