Transportation (Roads & Highways)

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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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 131: Creating credit against severance tax for certain infrastructure improvements

SB 131 creates a tax credit against West Virginia's severance tax for businesses that make qualifying investments in road/highway infrastructure improvements or coal production/processing facilities. It directly affects coal industry businesses and infrastructure developers in coal-producing regions by allowing them to reduce their severance tax liability. The credit covers costs for labor, materials, and real property improvements tied to certified road projects or coal facilities, with applications required through the Transportation Secretary. Unused credits can be carried forward, and the credit may be transferred to successors. This policy aims to incentivize private investment in infrastructure and coal sector capital projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates severance tax credit for infrastructure investments, reducing tax liability for qualifying businesses.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill provides severance tax credit for coal infrastructure, directly subsidizing fossil fuel production instead of promoting renewables or clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentProvides tax credits for coal infrastructure, prioritizing industry over environmental protection and potentially increasing pollution from coal operations.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates tax credit for road/highway infrastructure investments, directly funding transportation improvements via severance tax reduction for qualifying projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Coal Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Tags Economic Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 4426: Ensure State Road Construction Account funds are in addition to general highways funds provided to the DOT districts

HB 4426 creates a special State Road Construction Account within the State Road Fund to provide dedicated highway construction and maintenance funding for 10 specific West Virginia counties: Raleigh, Fayette, Wyoming, Mercer, Kanawha, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, McDowell, and Nicholas. The bill explicitly requires that funds from this new account must be in addition to, not reduce, existing highway funding those counties receive from the general State Road Fund. It ensures counties listed in the bill will not lose their regular highway funding simply because they receive money from this new account. The account will be used for highway projects in these counties as defined in specific transportation plans from 2017.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated funding for highway construction without reducing existing allocations, explicitly requiring new funds to be 'in addition to' current highway funding, strengthening fiscal support for infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates dedicated highway funding for 10 counties without reducing existing funds, explicitly advancing transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 447: Relating to Industrial Access Road Grant Program

SB 447 amends West Virginia's Industrial Access Road Fund to clarify spending rules and raise monetary limits. It increases the annual county allocation cap for unmatched funds from $400,000 to $800,000 and sets a $300,000 cap for matched funds. The fund can only finance roads to existing or planned industrial sites (e.g., manufacturing, distribution, or West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program locations), not schools, shopping centers, or private property. Counties must provide surety bonds if sites aren't built on time, and projects require Division of Highways approval within 90 days.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases county funding caps for industrial road program within state budget, advancing fiscal allocation for infrastructure spending.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases funding caps for industrial road infrastructure, expands program scope to support industrial access roads, directly advances transportation infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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

HB 4040: Non-State Owned Roads Improvement Act

HB 4040, the Non-State Owned Roads Improvement Act, grants West Virginia municipalities (cities, towns, and counties) authority to repair and improve roads not owned or maintained by state or federal governments. It allows municipalities to pave, fix potholes, install signage, and enhance drainage on these roads while providing legal protection from lawsuits if improvements are done in good faith and follow safety standards, excluding cases of serious negligence. Municipalities must notify the public through notices, media, or meetings before starting projects and publish details like timelines and funding sources online. The bill permits using existing municipal funds, state/federal infrastructure grants, or private partnerships to cover costs, with immediate effective date upon passage.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationGrants municipalities authority to repair/upgrade non-state roads, enhancing infrastructure and safety standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4007: Relating to industrial access roads

HB 4007 amends West Virginia's Industrial Access Road Fund rules to clarify how state funds can be used for constructing or maintaining access roads to industrial sites. The bill directly affects counties and municipalities seeking funding for roads leading to approved manufacturing, distribution, or processing facilities (including West Virginia Business Ready Sites), while restricting the fund from covering roads to schools, hospitals, shopping centers, or private property. Key changes include raising the annual funding cap to $6 million per fiscal year, setting a $800,000 maximum for unmatched funds per county, and requiring counties to certify site construction or provide surety before funds are allocated. The bill also clarifies that funds cannot be used for utility adjustments or roads on private property, and mandates the Division of Highways must review location requests within 90 days.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill clarifies state fund allocation for industrial access roads, directly managing budget appropriations within fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationClarifies state funding for industrial access roads, directing funds to transportation infrastructure projects while restricting non-industrial uses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 8: Requiring DOH Commissioner to develop formula for allocating road funds among districts

This bill requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to create a formula for distributing state and federal road funds among the state's 10 road districts by 2027. The formula must consider specific factors like county population (from census data), road mileage, traffic volume, heavy truck usage, and bridge conditions to ensure funds are allocated based on actual needs. Before finalizing the formula, the Commissioner must gather public input through a six-week comment period and publish all feedback online. The proposed formula must be submitted to the Legislature for approval as a rule, guaranteeing districts cannot receive less funding than their highest previous five-year allocation unless the overall highway budget decreases.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates need-based allocation of road funds using objective factors, ensuring infrastructure investments align with actual district requirements, directly advancing transportation funding and planning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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

HB 4363: Establishing a program for camera assisted speed enforcement in active work zones on public highways

HB 4363 allows the use of camera systems to enforce speed limits in active road construction zones on West Virginia public highways. It authorizes the state highway commissioner to set work zone speed limits and permits "work zone speed control systems" (cameras) as an exception to general bans on photo enforcement devices. The bill requires drivers to obey speed limits in work zones and specifies that cameras can only be used to assist law enforcement with speed enforcement, not for general traffic monitoring. It also sets rules for camera operation, including machine function restrictions and lawful use conditions. This directly affects drivers traveling through active highway construction sites and highway authorities managing work zone safety.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety for road construction workers by enforcing speed limits in work zones via camera systems, directly aligning with Labor & Employment's workplace safety focus.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill authorizes camera enforcement in work zones to improve road safety, directly enhancing transportation safety standards for construction areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 692: Authorizing green flashing warning lights on DOH vehicles

Senate Bill 692 would amend West Virginia law to authorize the use of green flashing warning lights on Division of Highways (DOH) vehicles. Currently, the law restricts light colors (blue for police, red for emergency vehicles, yellow/amber for others), but this bill adds green as a permitted color specifically for DOH vehicles. The Commissioner of the Division of Highways would have discretion to use these green lights on DOH vehicles and equipment. This change directly affects DOH road maintenance, construction, and emergency response vehicles operating on West Virginia highways.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes green lights for DOH road maintenance vehicles to improve visibility and safety, enhancing transportation safety standards per bill's intent.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Roads & Highways

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 690: Creating alternative DOH procurement procedure

SB 690 creates a new "general contractor/construction manager" (GCM) procurement method for West Virginia's Division of Highways (DOH) to use on highway, bridge, and infrastructure projects. This alternative procedure, authorized under federal law (23 U.S.C. 112), would allow the DOH to bypass traditional design-build bidding requirements for eligible projects. The bill directs the DOH to develop specific rules for implementing GCM agreements, including conditions and terms for entering such contracts. The change would primarily affect highway construction contractors and the DOH's project delivery process, offering a streamlined option for project procurement. The bill is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee for review.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates alternative procurement method for highway/bridge infrastructure projects, enabling efficient project delivery under federal law to advance transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways