West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5027: Relating to eminent domain and use of property taken.
Status: Introduced, February 2, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §54-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating generally to the use of property taken by eminent domain. ARTICLE 1. Right of Eminent Domain. §54-1-2. Public uses for which private property may be taken or damaged. (a) The public uses for which private property may be taken or damaged are as (2) For the construction and maintenance of telegraph, telephone, electric light, heat and power plants, systems, lines, transmission lines, conduits, stations (including branch, spur and service lines), when for public use; (3) For constructing, maintaining and.
From the introduced text, February 2, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §54-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating generally to the use of property taken by eminent domain. ARTICLE 1. Right of Eminent Domain. §54-1-2. Public uses for which private property may be taken or damaged. (a) The public uses for which private property may be taken or damaged are as (2) For the construction and maintenance of telegraph, telephone, electric light, heat and power plants, systems, lines, transmission lines, conduits, stations (including branch, spur and service lines), when for public use; (3) For constructing, maintaining and operating pipelines, plants, systems and storage facilities for manufacturing gas and for transporting petroleum oil, natural gas, manufactured gas, and all mixtures and combinations thereof, by means of pipes, pressure stations or otherwise, (including the construction and operation of telephone and telegraph lines for the service of such systems and plants), and for underground storage areas and facilities, and the operation and maintenance thereof, for the injection, storage and removal of natural gas in subterranean oil and/or gas bearing stratum, which, as shown by previous exploration of the stratum sought to be condemned and within the limits of the reservoir proposed to be utilized for such purposes, has ceased to produce or has been proved to be nonproductive of oil and/or gas in substantial …