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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Requires State to Remove Trees Threatening Private Structures or Reimburse Property Owners
Last action · February 9, 2026: To House Energy and Public WorksSponsors: Bill Ridenour and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
State agencies must remove trees on state-owned or leased property or rights-of-way that threaten private structures within six months of receiving a certified written request from a property owner or lessee. If the state fails to act, property owners may cut down the trees themselves after giving seven days' notice and file a claim against the state for reimbursement up to $10,000.
Property owners with structures near state land gain a direct legal mechanism to force tree removal or recover out-of-pocket removal costs up to $10,000 through a shortened state claims procedure.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
private property owners
Property owners gain the right to request tree removal from adjacent state land, enter state property to remove trees if the state fails to act, and file claims for reimbursement up to $10,000.
state agencies
State agencies are required to evaluate and remove threatening trees within six months of notice, prepare claim stipulations, and incur removal or reimbursement expenses.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a property owner do before the state is required to remove a threatening tree?
Can a property owner cut down the trees themselves if the state ignores the request?
What is the maximum amount a property owner can recover for tree removal costs under the shortened procedure?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Energy and Public Works
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Energy and Public Works
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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