West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 11 R cosponsors

HB 5685 — Relating to authorizing bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center

Last action — Chapter 60, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill authorizes bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center.

This legislation allows for the issuance of bonds intended for upgrading the West Virginia Science and Culture Center. These improvements are aimed at enhancing the center's facilities and offerings.

Summary

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

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

80 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill HB 5685 changes how funds from the State Lottery Fund are allocated, specifically regarding debt service for revenue bonds. The amendments include new sections that ensure funds are prioritized for uses like higher education, state park upgrades, and cultural preservation. This matters because it clarifies the funding process and ensures that critical services and projects are funded appropriately, potentially supporting economic growth and community development in West Virginia.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 5685 By Anderson, Riley, Horst, Statler, Mazzocchi, Dittman, Rohrbach, Fehrenbacher, Howell, Zatezalo, and Toney [Originating in the Committee on Finance;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 5685 BY ANDERSON , ILEY, ORST , TATLER, MAZZOCCHI, DITTMAN, ROHRBACH , EHRENBACHER , OWELL , ZATEZALO,AND TONEY [Passed March 12, 2026;
reported on February 26, 2026] Eng HB 5685 A BILL to amend and reenact §29-22-18f of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
in effect 90 days from passage (June 10, 2026)] Enr HB 5685 AN ACT to amend and reenact §29-22-18f of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
(a) Any and all remaining funds in the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund after payment of debt service pursuant to sections eighteen-a, eighteen-d, and eighteen-e and eighteen-h of this article shall be made available to pay debt service in connection with any revenue bonds issued pursuant to section eighteen of this article, if and to the extent needed for such purpose from time to time.
(a) Any and all remaining funds in the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund after payment of debt service pursuant to sections eighteen-a, eighteen-d, eighteen-e and eighteen-h of this article shall be made available to pay debt service in connection with any revenue bonds issued pursuant to section eighteen of this article, if and to the extent needed for such purpose from time to time.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, after first satisfying the requirements for funds dedicated to pay debt service in accordance with bonds payable from the State Lottery Fund pursuant to section eighteen of this article, any and all remaining funds in the State Lottery Fund shall be made available to pay debt service in connection with revenue bonds Eng HB 5685 issued pursuant to sections eighteen-a, eighteen-d, and eighteen-e, and eighteen-h of this article, if and to the extent needed for such purpose from time to time.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, after first satisfying the requirements for funds dedicated to pay debt service in accordance with bonds payable from the State Lottery Fund pursuant to section eighteen of this article, any and all remaining funds in the State Lottery Fund shall be made available to pay debt service in connection with revenue Enr HB 5685 bonds issued pursuant to sections eighteen-a, eighteen-d, eighteen-e, and eighteen-h of this article, if and to the extent needed for such purpose from time to time.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h), section eighteen-a of this article, when bonds are issued for projects under subsection (d) or (e) of section eighteen-a of this article, or for the School Building Authority, infrastructure pursuant to section eighteen-d of this article, higher education, or state park improvements pursuant to section eighteen-e of this article, or improvements to the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any history of the State of West Virginia pursuant to section eighteen-h of this article that are secured by profits from lotteries deposited in the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund, the Lottery Director shall allocate first to the Economic Development Project Fund an amount equal to one tenth of the projected annual principal, interest and coverage requirements on any and all revenue bonds issued, or to be issued as certified to the Lottery Director;
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (h), section eighteen-a of this article, when bonds are issued for projects under subsection (d) or (e) of section eighteen-a of this article, or for the School Building Authority, infrastructure pursuant to section eighteen-d of this article, higher education, state park improvements pursuant to section eighteen-e of this article, or improvements to the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any history of the State of West Virginia pursuant to section eighteen-h of this article that are secured by profits from lotteries deposited in the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund, the Lottery Director shall allocate first to the fund or funds from which debt service is paid on bonds issued under section eighteen-a of this article for the School Building Authority, infrastructure pursuant to section eighteen-d of this article, higher education, state park improvements pursuant to section eighteen-e of this article, and improvements to the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any history of the State of West Virginia pursuant to section eighteen-h of this article an amount equal to one tenth of the projected annual principal, interest and coverage requirements on any and all revenue bonds issued, or to be issued as certified to the Lottery Director.
and second, to the fund or funds from which debt service is paid on bonds issued under section eighteen-a of this article for the School Building Authority, infrastructure pursuant to section eighteen-d of this article, higher education, and state park improvements pursuant to section eighteen-e of this article, and improvements to the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any history of the State of West Virginia pursuant to section eighteen-h of this article an amount equal to one tenth of the projected annual principal, interest and coverage requirements on any and all revenue bonds issued, or to be issued as certified to the Lottery Director.
Eng HB 5685 Notwithstanding any provision of §29-22-18a(d) of this code to the contrary, the deposit of $19 million into the Economic Development Project Fund is for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, only.
Notwithstanding any provision of §29-22-18a(d) of this code to the contrary, the deposit of $19 million into the Economic Development Project Fund is for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, only.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2047, in lieu of the deposit required under §29-22-18a(d)(3)of this code, the commission shall first deposit an amount equal to the certified debt service requirement, not to exceed $12 million in any one fiscal year, into the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund created in §31-15-16e of this code, to be used in accordance with the provisions of §31-15-16e of this code.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter through the Enr HB 5685 fiscal year ending June 30, 2047, in lieu of the deposit required under §29-22-18a(d)(3)of this code, the commission shall first deposit an amount equal to the certified debt service requirement, not to exceed $12 million in any one fiscal year, into the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund created in §31-15-16e of this code, to be used in accordance with the provisions of §31-15-16e of this code.
All amounts deposited in the fund shall be pledged to the repayment of the principal, interest, and redemption premium, if any, on any revenue bonds Eng HB 5685 or refunding revenue bonds authorized by this section.
All amounts deposited in the fund shall be pledged to the repayment of the principal, interest, and redemption premium, if any, on any revenue bonds or refunding revenue bonds authorized by this section.
The authority may further provide in the trust agreement for priorities on the revenues paid into the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund as may be necessary for the protection of the prior rights of the holders of bonds issued at different times under the provisions of this section.
The authority may further provide in the trust agreement for priorities on the revenues paid into the Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund as may be necessary for the protection of the prior rights of the Enr HB 5685 holders of bonds issued at different times under the provisions of this section.
On or before September 30, Eng HB 5685 2026, the Governor shall certify to the authority at any time prior to the issuance of bonds under this section, a list of those capital improvements at the building presently known as the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any history of the State of West Virginia that will receive funds from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this section.
On or before September 30, 2026, the Governor shall certify to the authority at any time prior to the issuance of bonds under this section, a list of those capital improvements at the building presently known as the West Virginia Science and Cultural Center and any other site acquired necessary to preserve any Enr HB 5685 history of the State of West Virginia that will receive funds from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this section.
and, in case the seal of the authority has been Eng HB 5685 changed after a facsimile has been imprinted on such bonds or notes, such facsimile seal will continue to be sufficient for all purposes.
and, in case the seal of the authority has been changed after a facsimile has been imprinted on such bonds or notes, such facsimile seal will continue to be sufficient for all purposes.
Enr HB 5685 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 7
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Originating in House Finance

  4. Do pass

  5. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  6. Read 1st time

  7. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  8. Read 2nd time

  9. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  10. Read 3rd time

  11. Passed House (Roll No. 339)

  12. Communicated to Senate

  13. Introduced in Senate

  14. To Finance

  15. To Finance

  16. Reported do pass

  17. Immediate consideration

  18. Read 1st time

  19. On 2nd reading

  20. Read 2nd time

  21. On 3rd reading

  22. Read 3rd time

  23. Passed Senate (Roll No. 518)

  24. Communicated to House

  25. Completed legislative action

  26. House received Senate message

  27. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

  28. To Governor 3/25/26

  29. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

  30. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

  31. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

  32. Chapter 60, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 5685 do?
Relating to authorizing bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center
Who sponsors HB 5685?
HB 5685 is sponsored by William Anderson (Republican), Clay Riley (Republican), Chuck Horst (Republican), Joe Statler (Republican), Margitta Mazzocchi (Republican), Lori Dittman (Republican), Matthew Rohrbach (Republican), Bob Fehrenbacher (Republican), Gary G. Howell (Republican), Mark Zatezalo (Republican), and Christopher W. Toney (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5685?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 5685?
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