West VirginiaCounty commissions may sell property through bidding or direct sales
West Virginia county commissions may use competitive bidding or sell county-owned land directly to private buyers, subject to price floors and public notice rules.
What it does
County commissions may sell property through public competitive bidding. The minimum price must be at least one and one-half times its latest assessed value or based on a licensed appraiser’s valuation.
A county commission may sell land directly to a private buyer if the price is at least 75 percent of its assessed or appraised value and it follows public notice and disclosure rules.
Argument forPublic bidding could give qualified buyers an equal chance to compete and help counties compare offers for their property.
Argument againstPrice floors and bidder requirements could make it harder to sell county property when few buyers qualify or are willing to bid.
More detail
County commissions may sell property through competitive bidding. This applies to county property sold through competitive bidding. The minimum price must be at least one and one-half times the latest assessed value or the value in an appraisal by a state-licensed appraiser. The commission must give public notice, give qualified bidders an equal chance, and open sealed bids publicly. It must also set award rules and keep records. The law took effect upon passage on March 10, 2026.
County commissions may sell county-owned land directly to private buyers. This applies to county-owned real property sold directly to a private buyer. The price must be at least 75 percent of the value set by the county assessor or a state-licensed appraiser. Before considering offers, the commission must advertise the property, sale method, minimum price, and when it will act. After approving a sale, it must post all offers, offerors’ names, and amounts online for at least 30 days. The commission must post offers online for at least 30 days after approving the sale.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 273, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 19Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/19/2026Major
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/19/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/19/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 11To Governor 3/11/2026 - Senate JournalTo Governor
- Mar 11To Governor 3/11/2026Minor
- Mar 11House Message received
- Mar 10Completed legislative action
- Vote recorded PASSAGE-SENATE AMENDED HB. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT FROM PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Communicated to Senate
- Mar 10Effective from passage (Roll No. 379)
- Mar 10House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 378)
- Mar 10House received Senate message
- Mar 9Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Effective from passage (Roll No. 375)
- Mar 9Passed Senate (Roll No. 374)Passed Senate
- Mar 9Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 9On 3rd reading
- Mar 6Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 6Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 6On 2nd reading
- Mar 5Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 5On 1st reading
- Mar 4Reported do pass, with amendmentMinor
- Feb 5To Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 5To Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 5Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 4Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded EFFECT FROM PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Effective from passage (Roll No. 48)
- Feb 4Passed House (Roll No. 47)Passed House
- Feb 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 4On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 3Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Feb 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 3On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 2On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Jan 30By substitute, do pass
- Jan 21Markup Discussion
- Jan 20To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 19Markup Discussion
- Jan 19To House Legal ServicesMinor
- Jan 16To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 16Introduced in HouseMinor
- Jan 16To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 16Filed for introductionIntroduced
Government & Ethics