West Virginia House Bill HB5685

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/26
• Engrossed: 3/4/26
• Refer: 3/5/26
• Report Pass: 3/10/26
• Enrolled: 3/12/26
• Passed: 3/14/26

Caption

Relating to authorizing bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center

Summary

HB5685 authorizes the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to issue up to $150 million in revenue bonds to finance capital improvements at the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired to preserve West Virginia history. The bill directs that bond proceeds, after costs and reserves, be used for certified capital improvements, and it requires the Secretary of Tourism to submit a proposed list of projects to the Governor by September 1, 2026. The Governor must then certify the final list of eligible improvements to the Authority by September 30, 2026, with the ability to revise that list before bonds are issued after consulting with the Secretary of Tourism. The bill also creates a new special revenue fund, the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund, and amends lottery revenue provisions to dedicate State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund deposits to debt service for these bonds. Beginning in fiscal year 2027 and through fiscal year 2047, the Lottery Commission must deposit certified debt service amounts, capped at $12 million per fiscal year, into the new fund in lieu of a prior $19 million deposit to the Economic Development Project Fund for fiscal year 2025 only. The bill further clarifies the priority of lottery-backed debt service payments among existing bond programs and provides that any remaining balances in the new fund may be used to redeem or purchase outstanding bonds. The bill’s impact on state law is to expand the state’s lottery-backed bonding authority and create a dedicated financing mechanism for cultural and historical preservation projects tied to the Science and Culture Center. It amends the State Lottery Act and the Economic Development Authority statutes to establish new debt service priorities, a new special revenue fund, and a new bond issuance program with long-term repayment obligations supported by lottery revenues. It also sets procedural requirements for project selection and certification, shifting significant control over the use of bond proceeds to the Governor and the Secretary of Tourism. The general sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable, as reflected in its broad bipartisan passage in both chambers: 86-5 in the House and 31-1 in the Senate. The votes suggest little organized opposition and a consensus that the project is a worthwhile state investment. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public or legislative concerns beyond the vote totals. The main points of contention likely center on the use of lottery revenues and the issuance of long-term debt for a specific facility. Potential concerns include the $150 million bond cap, the 20-year maturity limit, and the diversion of lottery proceeds away from other uses or funds. The bill also concentrates decision-making authority in the executive branch by requiring the Governor to certify the project list, which could raise questions about oversight, project scope, and whether the improvements are sufficiently defined before bonds are issued.

Impact

HB5685 amends §29-22-18f and adds new §§29-22-18h and 31-15-16e to authorize lottery-backed revenue bonds for the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and related historical preservation sites. It creates the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund, directs specified State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund deposits into that fund, and requires the Economic Development Authority to issue bonds secured solely by those pledged revenues. The bill also establishes project-selection and certification procedures involving the Secretary of Tourism and the Governor, and it adjusts the priority of lottery revenue transfers for debt service among existing bond programs.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have enjoyed strong support and minimal opposition. It passed the House by 86-5 and the Senate by 31-1, indicating broad bipartisan agreement. With no committee transcripts available, the record suggests a generally positive reception focused on funding cultural and historical improvements rather than a contentious policy debate.

Contention

The likely areas of concern are fiscal and procedural rather than ideological: the use of lottery revenues to support up to $150 million in bonds, the long repayment period, and the reallocation of funds that might otherwise go to other state purposes. Another possible point of contention is the Governor’s role in certifying the final list of capital improvements, which gives the executive branch substantial control over which projects receive funding. Any opposition appears to have been limited, given the overwhelming vote margins.