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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill 5405 designates large property owners as institutional landowners and requires annual economic reports
Last action · February 10, 2026: To House Government OrganizationSponsor: Corby Dillon
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 5405 designates any individual, government entity, or organization owning 1,000 or more acres of land in West Virginia as an "" and requires them to submit detailed annual reports to the Secretary of State starting in 2026. The Secretary of State must then compile and submit an annual summary report to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
Large landowners and government entities holding 1,000 or more acres must compile extensive property, tax, timber, and revenue disclosures for the state, while the Legislature receives new data tracking rural land use trends and economic impacts.
- The West Virginia Legislature is the state's bicameral lawmaking body, consisting of a House of Delegates and a Senate. context
- House Bill 5405 was introduced during the 2026 regular legislative session and referred to the House Committee on Government Organization. context
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.
Landowners who own 1,000 or more acres
Must submit detailed annual inventories regarding parcel economic activity, timber values, floodplain data, taxes, and revenues to the Secretary of State.
Secretary of State
Must create a list of institutional landowners, contact them annually with filing requirements, and submit a yearly summary report to the legislative committee.
Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Receives annual summary data collection reports regarding land use trends, economic patterns, tax implications, and rural impacts.
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
Who qualifies as an institutional landowner under this bill?
What information must large landowners report to the state?
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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 10, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Government Organization
- Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Feb 10, 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)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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