House 4550

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4550

By Delegates Funkhouser, Clark, Pinson, Holstein, Street, Butler, Hornby, J. Cannon, Akers, Gearheart, and Drennan

[Introduced January 19, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §54-1-2a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eminent domain; and requiring the State of West Virginia, or any agency or political subdivision to provide a landowner their appraisal.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN.

§54-1-2a. Notice; good faith purchase.

Prior to initiation of any condemnation proceeding pursuant to slum and blight, the applicant must make a reasonable attempt to notify all parties subject to a petition for condemnation provided in section two of this article, and attempt to enter into negotiations for purchase of the property with the owners. The applicant shall make an offer in good faith for the purchase of the property subject to the condemnation prior to initiation of the condemnation proceeding.   The applicant shall provide their appraisal to landowners involved in eminent domain negotiations with their initial offer.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the State of West Virginia, or any agency or political subdivision, to provide appraisals to landowners when involved in eminent domain negotiations.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.