Bill > HB2818

This bill modifies the requirements for membership on county and municipal development authorities in West Virginia, establishing new residency qualifications for board members. Specifically, the bill requires that all members of these development authorities be West Virginia residents who have maintained continuous residency in the state for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment. For county development authority members, they must also be residents of the specific county where the authority is located, while municipal development authority members must reside in the specific municipality. The bill eliminates the previous provision that allowed members to be drawn from citizens of contiguous counties regardless of their state of residence. Additionally, the bill adds a provision that no existing members can be grandfathered in if they do not meet these new residency requirements. The legislation also extends these residency requirements to other county boards, commissions, authorities, and committees, mandating that such bodies must have members who have lived in West Virginia for at least five years and in the specific county for at least one year. The goal appears to be ensuring that development authorities are staffed by long-term local residents with a strong understanding of the community's economic needs and challenges.

Government Affairs

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=2818&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill