Removing the Office of County Surveyor from election ballots
Summary
HB2032 would remove the elected office of county surveyor from West Virginia election law and formally discontinue the office after the 2024 elections. The bill amends election and vacancy-filling provisions so that county surveyor is no longer listed among offices to be elected, and it repeals the separate code section governing county boundary/surveyor-related provisions. It also updates related statutes to delete references to county surveyor from bond requirements and vacancy procedures.
In practical terms, the bill would end future ballot access for county surveyor and eliminate the office as a functioning elected county position in West Virginia. Any county surveyor vacancies or election procedures currently tied to that office would no longer apply after the transition period, and counties would no longer be required to maintain the office as part of their elected county structure.
Impact
The bill would amend multiple sections of the West Virginia Code, including election provisions, vacancy-filling rules, and official bond requirements, to remove county surveyor from the list of offices recognized under state law. It would also repeal §7-2-8, further signaling the end of the office. The main affected parties are county election officials, county commissions, and any remaining officeholders or candidates associated with the county surveyor position; after the effective transition, the office would no longer appear on ballots or be treated as an active elected office.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available sentiment appears neutral and administrative rather than controversial. The measure is framed as a housekeeping change reflecting that counties no longer use elected county surveyors, suggesting the sponsor views it as a modernization or cleanup bill. There is no evidence in the provided materials of organized opposition or support, but the subject matter implies limited public impact compared with more substantive policy bills.
Contention
The main point of contention, if any, would likely be whether eliminating an elected county office is appropriate and whether any residual surveying or boundary-related functions still need statutory recognition. Another possible issue is the transition period: the bill removes the office after the 2024 elections, so questions could arise about how any remaining duties, records, or local needs are handled during and after the phase-out. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are included in the provided history.
Expiring funds to the unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, from the Department Revenue, State Budget Office, PEIA Rainy Day Fund