WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5044

By Delegates Toney, Cooper, and Roop

[Introduced February 02, 2026; referred to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §7-1-5b, relating to the rural county stabilization program.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. COUNTY COMMISSIONS GENERALLY.

§7-1-5b. Rural county stabilization program.

(a) State agencies shall provide simplified grant applications and multi-year funding options for eligible rural counties.

(b) Counties may enter into shared-service agreements for administrative and grant writing and management functions.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the grant process for counties.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.