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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Senate alters rules for Flood Resiliency Trust Fund disbursements to prioritize low-income areas and nature-based solutions
Last action · February 2, 2026: To Government Organization then FinanceSponsors: Randy Smith and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
The West Virginia Legislature alters the conditions for disbursing funds from the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund, requiring that at least 50 percent of all disbursed funds benefit low-income geographic areas and low-income households, and another 50 percent go toward . s must meet specific planning and zoning requirements—including town road and bridge standards, flood hazard bylaws, and FEMA mitigation plans—to qualify for funds.
Local governments and residents seeking flood relief funds face new mandatory prerequisites, while low-income communities and nature-based flood mitigation projects gain guaranteed funding minimums.
- The West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund was established to finance state and local flood prevention, mitigation, and resiliency projects. context
- The State Resiliency Officer oversees the development and implementation of the state's Flood Resiliency Plan. 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.
Low-income households and geographic areas
Guaranteed not less than 50 percent of all funds disbursed through the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund.
Political subdivisions
Must adopt specific road, flood, and emergency mitigation plans within 24 months to remain eligible for fund disbursements.
State Resiliency Officer
Granted explicit powers and conditions to manage, prioritize, and approve all trust fund disbursements.
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 must approve disbursements from the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund?
What percentage of funds must go toward low-income areas?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.
Procedural history
17 actions- Feb 2, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Government Organization then Finance
- Jan 30, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Government Organization
- Jan 30, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Jan 30, 2026HouseHouse received Senate message
- Jan 29, 2026SenateOrdered to House
- Jan 29, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate (Roll No. 20)
Show 11 earlier actions
- Jan 29, 2026SenateRead 3rd time
- Jan 29, 2026SenateOn 3rd reading
- Jan 28, 2026SenateRead 2nd time
- Jan 28, 2026SenateOn 2nd reading
- Jan 27, 2026SenateRead 1st time
- Jan 26, 2026SenateOn 1st reading
- Jan 23, 2026SenateCommittee substitute reported
- Jan 15, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 15, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Allocation Minimums Added to Flood Fund
The bill introduces strict statutory spending floors, requiring at least half of trust fund expenditures to support low-income areas and another half to implement nature-based solutions.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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