[{"_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",6110260,"mediaKeyId","2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282","parentId",2758460,"title","Committee approves measure allowing warning signs for unimproved, high‑clearance roads","audioSeconds",775,"startMs",1163000,"endMs",1938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282&start=1163&end=1938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282/thumbnail_1163000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110260/West-Virginia/Committee-approves-measure-allowing-warning-signs-for-unimproved-highclearance-roads","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110260-e4631c4efdc232802d8fa76951a7f9a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157380&Signature=E9lzwbGNYOl0Oop3wClzC7w3MwIRw8CjaPTYMf4~D86x65GmLkKf1QuoBTC3dM-2mjrLLi5C2pdEyWKgbIgXftshVrg-kX8Y~SGb1CeKUyCcF7YLkskaWmlKXbo-oFe7c0P8DJxBvAg8aboWjACCF-lJ~X3oX2QWGoXznDMJIJv4PU83P~9dWtyMZWiHcW9aS2X6ZgD91IDzH8Zri~6qVw7o9rbH4TYT3yUKgKmVuk8DPj6jRTEaw0gd~8mOCnLg7BR2JNnSJwOqTG-1yZpOuth6JumclbQT5qGPQJRvuYU0JhV7f0WwrdvERk5qsglbeS0HKWfT-seURdVv~04-Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 794 and voted to report the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass, subject to the Committee on Finance review.

The substitute would amend a section of state code governing the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Highways to allow the commissioner to design and place signs and markers warning motorists where roads are unimproved or otherwise present hazards for low‑clearance vehicles. Committee counsel told senators federal rules constrain use of graphic symbols on signs but allow use of text warnings; the bill would authorize signs that do not jeopardize federal highway funding.

Counsel explained the measure is intended to give the Division of Highways authority to post uniform text warnings on unimproved roads to advise motorists that use is at their own risk rather than to change road classification. The committee did not request a fiscal note, with counsel characterizing the expected cost as de minimis and likely absorbed through existing signage budgets.

Nate Taney, general counsel with the Department of Transportation, told senators the department does not have an immediate count of how many roads would qualify for such signs and would work with district offices to identify candidate sites. He said district offices and the department's existing public reporting channels could be used for constituents to request signs. On liability, Taney said sovereign immunity and the claims process remain the state's primary protections, and that posting warnings could reduce liability by notifying motorists of known hazards.

During discussion senators raised concerns about how signage would interact with commercial GPS and mapping systems and whether signs might encourage recreational off‑road vehicle use on state rights‑of‑way. The committee heard no fiscal objection from DOT counsel, and no amendments were offered.

A voice vote was taken; the chair declared the ayes have it. The committee reported the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass and be first referred to the Committee on Finance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Session Mar 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 794 and reported it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, referring the measure to the Committee on Finance.","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},6110265,"Senate committee advances bill creating tax credits for short‑line railroads",826,290000,1116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282&start=290&end=1116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282/thumbnail_290000.jpg","/articles/6110265/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-bill-creating-tax-credits-for-shortline-railroads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110265-7abf67baf03b058869d904d6c8d58f6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157380&Signature=bcbT73mgcMyiTK1gPzCHSnuA6RpoTbMDhsab7zzl1hZ5H6Jfr-73Q3QBE3eQIuLQDhC~h~cCI9dLPUvDyLn3uTY7khAJbmhDPYlQy8aqfcHstjWwh7J60bmCzuMpnlO9aaX8Lg4Uvn-PhGSwnTb0Nn2vPWynT~vJrMFDLp6OVtvGZuXhMXWSqUOYpLBXxkjBho30Yujr7a4PogtAG0n2WEI2ETmA~Ous348WvYMAhnarJGmB44HYX5QM-rPJ12TZBDwkRMmv56kkm3NDOaDU3YNkTrLhWRJYvdLxT4T1XoY4y~PH45mkP6-OO1Z~8as5bLc5htoeMXmWqbUNiYMfEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to report Senate Bill 722 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, sending the measure first to the Committee on Finance for its fiscal review.

Senate Bill 722 would create the West Virginia Short Line Railroad Modernization Act, adding a new article in the state tax code to permit two separate tax credits for eligible short‑line railroads. The first is a credit equal to 50% of qualified short‑line maintenance expenditures, capped at $5,000 per mile of track owned, leased or operated in West Virginia at the end of the calendar year. The second is a credit equal to 50% of qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures; it would be capped at $2 million per individual project and $5 million in the aggregate per year.

The bill allows credits to be used against personal income, business franchise and corporate net income taxes in any order, permits a five‑year carryover, and allows credits to be transferred or sold under conditions set in the bill. The measure requires annual reporting by the Tax Department to the governor, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. Committee counsel also noted two fiscal notes accompanying the bill that estimate the cost — depending on assumptions — at roughly $7.4 million annually if short‑line railroads claimed the annual caps.

Mariah, committee counsel, told senators the bill defines an “eligible taxpayer” as a class 2 or class 3 short‑line railroad located wholly or partly in West Virginia and excludes maintenance expenditures that were used to generate a federal tax credit or that were funded by a federal grant. She also pointed the committee to two fiscal notes and background materials from Mickelson and Company provided to members.

Trent Kingsbury, business development associate and financial analyst at Mickelson and Company, testified to the committee that the bill follows an increasingly common model used in other states to keep low‑density branch lines connected to the national freight network. \"This legislation is doing is it's a proven model that helps small rural, low density branch lines stay connected to the, national freight network,\" Kingsbury said. He told senators there are no class 2 railroads currently operating in West Virginia — the state's short lines are class 3 — and described the existing federal qualified railroad track maintenance credit as a 40% credit capped at $3,500 per rail mile. He said inflation and current maintenance costs mean railroads need to spend substantially more per mile today.

Senators who spoke during committee discussion said they supported the bill from an economic development perspective, noting short lines serve as first‑mile/last‑mile connections for rural businesses. The counsel acknowledged two concerns raised in the fiscal note: how the department would interpret ambiguous language about caps and how the department would verify whether specific expenditures had already been used to generate federal credits or were funded by federal grants. Counsel said those questions are likely to receive closer review in Finance.

The committee recorded a motion by the vice chair from Taylor to report SB 722 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass, subject to the original double committee reference to the Committee on Finance; the chair declared the motion adopted.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved reporting SB 722 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be first referred to the Committee on Finance.","The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to report Senate Bill 722 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the bill would create two 50% tax credits to support maintenance and new infrastructure for class 2 and 3 short‑line railroads in West Virginia and carries reporting and fiscal provisions.",{"_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},6110255,"Committee pulls bill to exempt cars 25+ years from property tax after constitutional concerns",433,1920000,2353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282&start=1920&end=2353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2758460-753a5f341d69d2b94e93e97bce501282/thumbnail_1920000.jpg","/articles/6110255/West-Virginia/Committee-pulls-bill-to-exempt-cars-25-years-from-property-tax-after-constitutional-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110255-0d960a3d52c9a607d032206b1dd2f4bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157380&Signature=Kdjrf8NdelNS3g-JnLc6v3CmujvvPqyGVjyM-jPsn60WVfoltXOEUK1fU914Oh4yRfyNqdurTXe86s2kLlJ1pgh9En5-18yvHOlcAfvfQ~Mp1f1sUBqQUNAllY3HCmzYDRSAq9TjVBklTq~BumInUTzFzpad1KE6NfH3erxcJs~8UXO8ayhPQbxR92VVQzppRAWye3xGOGT~bwRG3Zq5n5kFYtrCvQsuoH~3iBMpfyFSLBXnxn5-RIb-ttd0c057iDbve87590WXI4~GxCYIPp6oLlb-789dXzmMcB2ZWk6ne~f7gQRcfDlg4VR~4s-UQgzSAamOR-DrScN3GTD57A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee removed Senate Bill 807 from its agenda after committee counsel and the Department of Revenue raised questions about the measure's constitutionality and fiscal impacts.

Senate Bill 807 would exempt private passenger automobiles that are 25 years old or older from personal property taxation. Committee counsel told members the Tax Department estimated an annual revenue loss of roughly $3.0 million if the exemption were enacted. The department's breakdown in the fiscal note cited an estimated annual loss of approximately $860,000 to the State General Revenue Fund, $1,180,000 to county school boards, $790,000 to county commissions, and $170,000 to municipalities.

Counsel explained the constitutional concern stems from Article 10, Section 1 of the West Virginia Constitution, which requires that all property, real and personal, be taxed in proportion to its fair market value. Counsel said that while the legislature may exempt property used for specified purposes under the constitution, the proposed bill would categorically exempt a class of personal property without regard to use, which raises constitutional questions.

Senator from West asked whether current mechanisms — including the motor vehicle property adjustment tax credit that functions as a timely‑paid rebate — would mean affected taxpayers simply receive refunds. Committee and Department of Revenue testimony clarified the difference: the existing rebate reimburses taxpayers who timely paid the motor vehicle property tax, shifting the burden to the state general fund; an exemption in SB 807 would prevent collection of the local taxes in the first place, reducing revenues available to local governments.

Mark Muco (Department of Revenue) told the committee that West Virginia’s treatment of property taxation is embedded in the state constitution, unlike surrounding states, and that the state’s current practice reimburses taxpayers for paid taxes rather than exempting the tax from collection. He confirmed the fiscal‑note estimates and explained that local jurisdictions would lose the identified revenue if the exemption took effect.

Given those concerns, counsel said the bill would not be voted on at this time and that the committee may revisit it in the future after further review by Finance or constitutional guidance.","Senate Bill 807, which would exempt private passenger automobiles 25 years or older from personal property taxation, was removed from the committee's agenda after counsel and Department of Revenue witnesses raised constitutional and fiscal issues; committee did not vote on the measure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves measure allowing warning signs for unimproved, high‑clearance roads

Senate committee advances bill creating tax credits for short‑line railroads

Committee pulls bill to exempt cars 25+ years from property tax after constitutional concerns