Part ofCorporations →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.

HB 5196WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia allows local governments to partner with the Land Stewardship Corporation for land reuse

Original title: Relating to allowing intergovernmental agreements with the Land Stewardship Corporation

Last action · February 6, 2026: To House Local GovernmentsSponsors: Andy Shamblin and 7 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5196 authorizes local governments to enter into intergovernmental agreements allowing the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation to act as a local . The measure specifies the powers, limitations, tax-exempt status, and liability protections of the corporation.

Why it matters

Local jurisdictions gain an operational partner for property management and community revitalization without needing to form an independent agency from scratch, while the corporation receives clear legal bounds and tax exemptions for its activities.

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

Local governments

Local governments gain the option to enter into intergovernmental agreements allowing the Land Stewardship Corporation to act as a land reuse agency within their jurisdiction.

Directly affected

West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation

The corporation is granted expanded statutory authority to contract with local governments, along with defined tax exemptions, operational powers, and liability protections.

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

Can the Land Stewardship Corporation seize property using eminent domain?

No, the bill explicitly states that the corporation does not have the power of or the ability to condemn property.

Does the Land Stewardship Corporation have to pay local property taxes?

No, the property, income, and operations of the corporation are exempt from all taxation by the state or its political subdivisions, though leased property requires .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

5 actions

Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Local Governments
Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Government Organization
Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
To Government Organization
Feb 4, 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.

Connected Entities

West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation, Internal Revenue Service, West Virginia Housing Development Fund and 1 more

OrganizationWest Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation“Nonprofit corporation designated to serve as a land reuse agency under intergove”Map →

OrganizationInternal Revenue Service“Federal agency where the corporation applies for nonprofit exempt status.”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Housing Development Fund“Receives copies of ordinances when land reuse agencies are created.”Map →

OrganizationSecretary of State“Issues documentation indicating the formation of land reuse entities.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools