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Bill

HB 4541

To require DOH, when abandoning a right of way, to notify the legislative representatives in the county or counties in which this right of way is located via email and first class mail in addition to publication in the newspaper

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Howell

West Virginia requires DOH to email and mail-notify state legislators when abandoning highway rights-of-way, supplementing existing newspaper publication requirements.

To House Energy and Public Works
#legislature #roadsandtransportation
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Bill Summary · HB 4541

Legislative bill overview

HB 4541 requires the West Virginia Department of Highways (DOH) to notify state legislators via email and first-class mail when abandoning rights-of-way, in addition to the existing requirement to publish notices in newspapers. The bill applies to all county legislative representatives in areas where rights-of-way are being abandoned.

Why is this important

Right-of-way abandonments can affect local infrastructure, property values, and community development plans. Direct notification to elected representatives ensures they have timely information to respond to constituent concerns and coordinate with state officials, rather than relying solely on newspaper publication, which may have limited readership and visibility.

Potential points of contention

  • Notification burden: Identifying and maintaining accurate contact information for all county legislators across West Virginia could create administrative overhead for DOH
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what constitutes a "right of way" or clarify whether minor abandonments require the same notification as major ones
  • Redundancy concerns: Critics may argue that adding email and mail notification duplicates existing newspaper publication requirements without meaningfully improving transparency

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

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