Bill > HB5320

This bill, known as the "WELCOME ACT," aims to address the housing shortage and encourage residential development by allowing a subdivision, which is the division of land, to keep its original tax classification until individual lots are sold, preventing premature reassessment. It clarifies that selling or conveying part of a parcel does not automatically classify the remaining or conveyed portion as a formal subdivision that restricts future division, and local governments cannot prohibit or restrict property owners from further subdividing land after selling a portion. The bill also establishes requirements for new parcels to have a defined right-of-way for vehicular access, ensuring practical ingress and egress and emergency vehicle access, though actual road construction is not mandated. Furthermore, it limits local governments' ability to impose road construction standards within a subdivision that exceed those of the primary access road, unless it's an "imminent programmed improvement" (a planned and funded project by the Division of Highways, or DOH) for that access road, and preserves existing deed restrictions that may limit further subdivision within formally recorded plats. Property owners or developers can seek legal remedies, including attorney's fees and recovery of excess costs, if local governments violate these provisions.

Budget and Finance

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5320&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill