The House Energy and Public Works Committee met this evening.
Markup & Passage
House Resolution 13 proposes approval of United States H.R. 5966, the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, to bring clean water, enhanced fish and aquatic wildlife, economic benefits, and expanded recreation opportunities to West Virginia.
Committee Hearing
House Bill 4537 requires municipalities and public service districts to determine the cost of adding potential customers to water service from the municipality and the public service district, and to apply to the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council for available funding. Additionally, the bill extends service to potential customers who have made required deposits if a grant or grants are awarded to cover the fees for the service extension.
House Bill 4563 requires EZ-Passes to be assigned to individual drivers, not to automobiles. During the discussion, many people supported the idea, but the feasibility may be complicated by how tolls are currently collected. The bill was advanced to markup and passage.
House Bill 5511 allows a lump sum payment of accrued personal leave to full-time employees of a county school board upon the end of full-time employment due to death.
House Bill 5525 establishes the Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund Act of 2026 to enhance water quality standards, test for, and remove various contaminants. The bill also states that a survey shall be conducted to replace lead service lines within all public water systems in the counties of Boone, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming.
