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West Virginia Bill Creates Legislative Oversight Committee to Approve Economic Development Authority Contracts

Original title: Creating a standing legislative oversight committee to approve all West Virginia Economic Development contracts.

Last action · January 14, 2026: To House FinanceSponsor: Kump

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 4174 establishes a seven-member legislative oversight committee to review and approve all contracts and financial agreements entered into by the West Virginia , effective January 1, 2027.

Why it matters

The measure shifts contract-approval authority for state economic development projects from the agency's board to a newly created legislative committee, altering how state financing, loans, and property transactions are finalized.

Background
  • The West Virginia Economic Development Authority operates as a public corporation and governmental instrumentality exercising public powers to promote industrial, commercial, and tourist activity within the state. context
  • House Bill 4174 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature by Delegate Kump. 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.

Directly affected

West Virginia Economic Development Authority

The authority must obtain prior approval from the new legislative oversight committee before entering into any contracts, financial agreements, or property transactions.

Directly affected

West Virginia Legislature

Legislative leadership appoints members to a new seven-member committee tasked with reviewing and approving economic development contracts.

Directly affected

Industrial development agencies and enterprises

Entities seeking state economic development assistance or contracts must await review and approval by the legislative oversight committee.

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 does House Bill 4174 do?
It creates a seven-member legislative oversight committee to approve all contracts and financial agreements entered into by the West Virginia .
Who serves on the new legislative oversight committee?
The committee consists of four members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House and three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Finance
  2. Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Finance
  4. Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed 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

KumpHousePrimary sponsorNo profile match

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Transfer of Contract Approval Power

The legislation introduces a mandatory legislative check on all routine and financial contracts executed by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.

Connected Entities

House of Delegates, Senate, State Treasurer and 6 more
OrganizationHouse of Delegates“Chamber of the West Virginia Legislature providing four members for the new over”Map →
OrganizationSenate“Chamber of the West Virginia Legislature providing three members for the new ove”Map →
PersonState Treasurer“State official required to approve banking goods and services contracts under re”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Economic Development Authority“State authority whose contracts and financial agreements are subjected to legisl”Map →
PersonSenate President“Officer responsible for appointing Senate members to the legislative oversight c”Map →
OrganizationState Building Commission“Previous vesting body for certain powers and responsibilities.”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Economic Development Administration“Federal agency providing grant funds for revolving loan funds.”Map →
OrganizationJobs Investment Trust“Entity managed by the Economic Development Authority under referenced code provi”Map →
PersonSpeaker of the House“Officer responsible for appointing House members to the legislative oversight co”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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