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HB 4780WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill HB 4780 requires entities taking land via eminent domain to pay a 15% county fee

Original title: Private or government, to pay an additional fee during eminent domain proceedings

Last action · January 23, 2026: To House FinanceSponsor: George Street

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Any private or government entity acquiring property through in West Virginia must pay a 15% fee based on the court-ordered land value directly to the affected county or counties. This fee is separate from standard condemnation costs and does not reduce the compensation paid to the landowner. Counties must restrict the use of these funds exclusively to acquiring and improving public forests, parks, and recreation facilities.

Why it matters

Condemning agencies face an added 15% project cost on property acquisitions, while county governments gain a dedicated revenue stream restricted to local park and forest investments.

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

Condemning Entities

Private and government entities executing eminent domain must pay an additional 15% fee on top of court-ordered property values.

Directly affected

County Governments

Counties receive a new 15% fee revenue stream restricted to public parks, forests, and recreation facility improvements.

Directly affected

Landowners

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 pay the 15% additional fee under HB 4780?
Any entity, whether private or governmental, that acquires property through proceedings.
Does this fee reduce the money paid to the property owner?
No, the bill explicitly states that the fee shall not reduce the amount paid to the landowner.
How can counties spend the revenue collected from this fee?
Counties are restricted to using the funds solely for the acquisition of additional public forests, parks, recreation facilities, and improvements to those facilities.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Finance
  2. Jan 23, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Finance
  4. Jan 23, 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

George StreetHouse · District 83RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Delegate Street, West Virginia Legislature, Committee on Finance
PersonDelegate Street“Introduced the bill in the House.”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Legislative body considering the bill.”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on Finance“House committee reviewing the bill.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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