West Virginia House Bill HB4520

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/26
• Refer: 1/19/26

Caption

Provide 25% Discount to WV Residents using State Parks

Summary

House Bill 4520 would add a new section to West Virginia’s parks and recreation code requiring the director of state parks to give West Virginia citizens a 25 percent reduction in fees for lodging and services at West Virginia State Parks. To qualify, a resident would need to document residency with a valid West Virginia driver’s license or state identification card. The discount applies only to lodging and services used exclusively by the citizen. The bill is narrowly focused on state park pricing and does not create a new program beyond the resident discount. It would directly affect the administration of West Virginia State Parks by requiring a standardized resident rate for eligible lodging and service fees, likely reducing revenue from those transactions while potentially encouraging more in-state use of park facilities.

Impact

HB4520 would amend Chapter 20, Article 5 of the West Virginia Code by adding a new §20-5-25 establishing a mandatory resident discount for state park lodging and services. The measure would affect the Division of Natural Resources or other state park administrators responsible for setting and collecting fees, and it would create a new statutory pricing preference for West Virginia residents over nonresidents. The bill could also have fiscal implications for state park operations because discounted fees may reduce receipts from lodging and service sales.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears supportive and pro-resident, with the bill framed as a benefit for West Virginia citizens using state parks. The caption and purpose statement present the measure as a straightforward cost-saving policy for residents, and there is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials indicating opposition or amendment activity.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely involve the fiscal impact on state park revenues, whether the discount should apply to all services or only certain categories, and how residency would be verified. Another possible concern is whether a resident-only discount could affect pricing equity between West Virginia residents and out-of-state visitors.