West Virginia House Bill HB3509

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/26/25
• Refer: 3/26/25

Caption

Supplementing and amending appropriations to the Department of Economic Development – Office of the Secretary

Summary

HB3509 is a supplemental appropriations bill that adds a new fiscal year 2025 appropriation to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of the Secretary. The bill directs $41,159,321 from the State Fund, General Revenue surplus to a new line item labeled “Site-Ready Projects, SEED, Vo-Tech and Workforce Investments – Surplus.” It is an executive-request bill introduced to allocate available surplus funds during the 2025 fiscal year. The bill also provides that any unexpended balance remaining in this appropriation at the close of fiscal year 2025 is reappropriated for expenditure in fiscal year 2026. In practical terms, it creates a dedicated funding stream for economic development-related projects and allows unused funds to carry forward rather than lapse at year-end.

Impact

HB3509 amends the state’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations law by creating a new general revenue appropriation within the Department of Economic Development’s Office of the Secretary. It authorizes spending from the state’s unappropriated surplus balance for site-ready projects, SEED initiatives, vocational-technical education, and workforce investments, and it extends the availability of any remaining funds into fiscal year 2026. The bill affects the state budget and the department’s authority to expend surplus revenue, but it does not amend substantive program law outside the appropriations process.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is a routine executive budget measure rather than a controversial policy proposal. It was introduced by the Speaker and a delegate by request of the Executive, which typically indicates administration support and a budgetary priority. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no evidence of recorded opposition or debate in the supplied materials.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. Based on the bill text, any disagreement would likely center on the size and use of the $41.2 million appropriation, including whether surplus general revenue should be directed to economic development, workforce training, vocational-technical programs, and site-ready infrastructure rather than other state needs. However, the supplied materials do not identify any member, committee, or stakeholder raising objections.