[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6281862,"mediaKeyId","2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5","parentId",2601523,"title","Senate committee advances bill to make right-of-first-refusal permanent, widens \"bad actor\" bar at tax sales","audioSeconds",404,"startMs",1580000,"endMs",1984000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5&start=1580&end=1984","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5/thumbnail_1580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6281862/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-make-right-of-first-refusal-permanent-widens-bad-actor-bar-at-tax-sales","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281862-52d28d4fdbe63a6d8fa58d3e227d5b16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150837&Signature=DbPeEQyqRiTzc8W83JQF9h~CAsF2NNlDlwzOVFYAQ87BDyKstpnOrs1q6~xpZ0SRctAH8iyosi9-yk4MG3ARfRnYlAAPOsA0RABxsg2ymYz-c9xnziWENaol9ozgv~BMXn8hoBPhxm-HDrhbuEP~F8srmdrgt9k1a0fFNYCzNqrbFvkqcT3uZ4DOTK5JRPdBkuaxOKFPCRVhKGaUuXkPJlLQd0k8gaIkb8grzXwqrJY~EwZlz3H1uRbfiRiyahZo8zqQyD7tfesgMnnIoT~vkCZa81gX~NWQdcEKpLmaTdM1x8ER0yxHtXYwndZhGkfcmKa8iqNds65iN2K2QTq58w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 538 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, adopting an amendment that broadens the criteria used to bar certain buyers from acquiring tax‑delinquent properties.

The committee substitute keeps in place the bill’s core change — removing a sunset and notice provision so the right of first refusal remains permanent — and incorporates an amendment offered by Senators Helton and Jeffreys to expand the definition of a disqualifying “bad actor.”

The amendment cites two code sections by number and broadens the set of factors that can lead an auditor conducting a public auction to refuse to sell to a bidder. Counsel told the committee those provisions (11A‑3‑45 and 11A‑3‑48) now include examples such as failure to make required payments at a prior auction, delinquency in payment of real property tax to any county, a history of noncompliance with county or municipal code‑enforcement orders, and failure to comply with valid repair or abatement orders within five years prior to registration for an auction.

Committee members said the bill had been laid over at a prior meeting to give time to draft that clarifying amendment; the substitute adopted at this hearing incorporates the revised language. During discussion, a senator asked where proceeds above the delinquent taxes go; counsel said the understanding presented at the prior hearing was that surplus proceeds are retained by the county.

The motion to report the committee substitute to the full Senate was made by the vice chair and carried by voice vote; the chair declared the motion adopted.

Ending: The committee’s recommendation sends the committee substitute to the full Senate for consideration. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally; the committee adopted the motion by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Government Organization Committee in Session Mar 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 538 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, adopting an amendment that broadens criteria to disqualify buyers at tax‑delinquent property auctions.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6281852,"Senate committee advances several Department of Administration bills; votes at a glance",175,3285000,3460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5&start=3285&end=3460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5/thumbnail_3285000.jpg","/articles/6281852/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-several-Department-of-Administration-bills-votes-at-a-glance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281852-fad37333c10d587ad893b87e26432605/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150837&Signature=ijwWHocAS99mihuIFy5YVyCerul44LTGhVBoz7n54vj1wEScOeirCFltMbri9o7uKQqC0wYnHTegyWq8Ut7ZBAF1Y8iCG4pwnR71LgJmibAs9Scerr6AxQXx9O~aAeGS9O0Wwx8RbIXCj2ttsur9HUwO73UZg9lOZn3d668ZylsV-dneLEAXI5kKKDV1iNTdXpDNRjnDPpplEBymdeSb1~9aeWGZTA0EvVrm-V5r549wHGbHJ2PBwkRmvja78Zuka1fznOQY4SBE-lugRsA8QwBW9VGChMI-yQqWFeg74VFrOQbJWn3lK-Pl0tb6JFutFVTnTTZKAZu3JlWLS~PPmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report multiple bills requested by the Department of Administration to the full Senate with recommendations that they pass.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 734: Committee substitute to repeal the state recycled‑products procurement program was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Committee counsel, Candace Krause, said the repeal is a cost‑saving measure intended to remove purchasing constraints that the department said can increase costs and reduce vendor participation. The committee adopted the recommendation by voice vote.

- Senate Bill 736: Committee substitute to eliminate the requirement that the Ethics Commission print physical lobbyist booklets and instead require the information be posted on the commission’s website was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Counsel said the Department estimated a savings of around $3,500 per year. The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote.

- Senate Bill 738: Committee voted to report a bill repealing five code sections that established the Department of Administration’s employee suggestion award board. Counsel said the board has not met since 2021 and that cash awards are limited by statute to 20 percent of the first year’s estimated savings or $16,000, whichever is less. The committee adopted the motion to report the bill by voice vote.

Other committee business

- Approval of minutes: The committee approved the minutes from the March 11 meeting on a motion by the vice chair; the chair declared the motion adopted by voice vote.

Each motion to report the listed bills was made by the vice chair and carried by voice vote; the transcript does not include roll‑call tallies.

Ending: All administration‑requested items before the committee at this hearing were reported to the full Senate; details about subsequent floor scheduling were not on the record.","The Senate Government Organization Committee reported several administration‑requested bills to the full Senate with recommendations that they pass, including repeal of a recycled‑products procurement preference, elimination of printed lobbyist booklets, and termination of the employee suggestion award board.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6281857,"Committee votes to dissolve state design‑build board while preserving design‑build option for public projects",1279,1996000,3275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5&start=1996&end=3275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2601523-c8b6db7b89312289abeeb545ea95b8c5/thumbnail_1996000.jpg","/articles/6281857/West-Virginia/Committee-votes-to-dissolve-state-designbuild-board-while-preserving-designbuild-option-for-public-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281857-ff4f8caccabd9e9904de6ed845eb43a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150837&Signature=ac56wKsVuRfhlmeWNhImCog0vUIoflq0e8Ch0vImBBBEI53R2qR6xNRMyAM9a2RU1tgfWHTxpcHnwxQ9HBYozSwNcTjGDVJBhOrhjzjtpJnwf-RGgfgGELuz-0V3S3HgZxX6~U3eKGVnVATLx16kbA4w6J7pUgYA33EILnkjfNlOUvKIcPdr5UoPo4RcCvVb2IqZ2eL95rhwyOsOi7dHActyP~wVGMETRrqIyQT~YYIQ2~NUyWPqe2D3P75mGMnVZ-gnFAl7gNLp7tGd9EFZkTZOo3cOxFS7lLAq2nXgMCAfM692vyqagLTptbEIikxSLvG01JyM8aIaUqhQ~KB1Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 731 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The substitute repeals the statutory authority for the Design‑Build Board while preserving the ability of state entities, municipalities and school districts to use the design‑build delivery method; the bill carries an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Committee counsel explained that the original introduced bill had repealed the entire article and could have been read to prohibit future use of design‑build; the substitute was drafted to remove the board’s statutory structure while leaving the process available. Counsel told members the Department of Administration would retain rulemaking and supervisory authority over the process under the substitute.

Robert Paulson, general counsel for the West Virginia Department of Administration, testified that design‑build can speed project delivery but carries different risk profiles and that the department wants municipalities and school districts to be able to use the method without the extra step of board review in many cases. He said in practice some projects that claimed to be design‑build were not truly design‑heavy and that board oversight often added delay.

Jason Visatella, chief executive officer of the Contractors Association of West Virginia, summarized the board’s origin in Chapter 5, Article 22A and said stakeholders worked with sponsors and the Department to craft a substitute that eliminates the board as a barrier while preserving standards and the availability of the method.

Justin Williams of Affiliated Construction Trades, who serves on the design‑build board, said the board includes contractors, architects, engineers, workforce representatives and insurance interests and urged that adequate guidelines remain to protect taxpayer dollars. During discussion, several senators expressed concern about oversight for very large projects and suggested rulemaking could set dollar thresholds or other additional review for higher‑value projects.

The vice chair moved to report the committee substitute to the full Senate; the motion carried by voice vote and the chair declared the motion adopted.

Ending: The substitute will be reported to the full Senate; committee members asked that Department of Administration rulemaking address oversight and thresholds for large projects.","The committee substitute for Senate Bill 731 would terminate the Design‑Build Board but preserve the design‑build project delivery method and leave oversight and rulemaking with the Department of Administration; the committee reported the substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill to make right-of-first-refusal permanent, widens "bad actor" bar at tax sales

Senate committee advances several Department of Administration bills; votes at a glance

Committee votes to dissolve state design‑build board while preserving design‑build option for public projects