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HCR 4

Requesting the Joint Committee on Technology & Infrastructure to establish a Genesis Working Group to coordinate statewide planning for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, digital infrastructure, and energy-based economic development

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Bell and 10 co-sponsors

Creates a Genesis Working Group to coordinate statewide planning for AI, HPC, digital infrastructure, and energy-based economic development in line with federal opportunities.

To House Rules
#resolutions(interimstudy)
0
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Bill Summary · HCR 4

Summary of Bill: HCR 4 (2026) — Genesis Working Group for AI, HPC, digital infrastructure, and energy-based economic development

Purpose and intent

  • The bill asks the Joint Committee on Technology & Infrastructure to establish a Genesis Working Group.
  • The goal is to coordinate statewide planning for artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), digital infrastructure, and energy-based economic development.
  • Context includes a January 2026 federal direction (Executive Order) encouraging states to organize early to leverage federal support, private investment, and workforce development related to AI, HPC, digital infrastructure, and computational workloads (e.g., Bitcoin mining).

Key provisions and responsibilities

  • Creation of the Genesis Working Group (GWG), composed of:
    • Members of the West Virginia Legislature
    • Representatives from relevant state agencies
  • The GWG’s mandate is to coordinate long-term statewide planning aligned with opportunities from the federal Genesis Mission.
  • Focus areas the GWG shall consider (not exhaustive):
    1. West Virginia’s readiness for AI and HPC
    2. Integrating energy resources with computational load industries (data centers, Bitcoin mining, AI clusters)
    3. Alignment of broadband expansion, workforce development, and site readiness
    4. Identification of priority industrial sites for digital infrastructure
    5. Coordination with federal agencies and Genesis Mission programs
    6. Implementation pathways for findings from the 2026 Interim Study on Bitcoin, HPC, and digital infrastructure
  • Reporting: The GWG is required to meet as needed and deliver recommendations to the Joint Committee on Technology & Infrastructure prior to the 2027 Regular Session.

Who is affected

  • State government entities: Legislature (GWG members) and relevant state agencies involved in technology, infrastructure, energy, broadband, and economic development.
  • Potential beneficiaries include:
    • West Virginia residents and workforce (through planning and development of AI/HPC-related opportunities and job pipelines)
    • Businesses and industries in digital infrastructure, data centers, AI clusters, and Bitcoin mining (through coordinated planning and potential site readiness)
    • Broadband expanders and energy providers (via alignment of resources with AI/HPC needs)
  • Indirect beneficiaries: Regions and communities that may attract federal support and private investment under Genesis Mission initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referrals:
    • Introduced January 20, 2026
    • Referred to the House Energy and Public Works committee, then Rules
  • Adoption path:
    • Action history shows adoption on January 30, 2026, and referral to House Rules
  • Reporting timeline:
    • GWG must report recommendations to the Joint Committee on Technology & Infrastructure before the 2027 Regular Session
  • Sunrise nature:
    • The resolution creates an ongoing working group rather than a standalone bill with immediate regulatory effect; it directs coordination and planning efforts consistent with federal Genesis Mission opportunities.

Practical considerations and potential impact

  • Strategic alignment: Positions West Virginia to leverage federal Genesis Mission opportunities by establishing a formal planning body and clear mandate.
  • Economic development potential: By addressing energy-enabled digital infrastructure, site readiness, and workforce development, the bill aims to attract data centers, HPC facilities, AI workloads, and related industries.
  • Resource coordination: Emphasizes integrating energy resources with digital infrastructure, which could influence utility planning, transmission capacity, and renewable or non-renewable energy use in data-intensive sectors.
  • Timeliness: With a targeted 2027 reporting deadline, the GWG would translate interim findings (from the 2026 Interim Study) into actionable recommendations for state policymakers.

Overall, HCR 4 seeks to create a governance mechanism to plan and coordinate West Virginia’s participation in AI, HPC, digital infrastructure, and energy-driven economic development in line with federal objectives, while outlining a pathway for stakeholder collaboration, site readiness, and workforce and broadband readiness.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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