SB 5 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishing Adopt-A-Road program

SB 5 establishes West Virginia's Adopt-A-Road program, allowing individuals, groups, counties, or municipalities to volunteer for road maintenance projects under the Division of Highways. Participants must apply online, sign an agreement, and follow safety rules - covering tasks like litter cleanup, pothole repairs, or trail maintenance - while the state may provide up to 30% of project costs (or 100% for litter control using a specific fund). The program requires participants to cover signage costs and indemnify the state against liability from their work. It mirrors existing Adopt-A-Highway programs but expands participation to broader road infrastructure maintenance.

Issues: ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a narrow focus on unimproved primitive roads to a broader program covering all roads under Division of Highways control. The committee substitute expanded eligibility to include counties and municipalities, added detailed definitions, established funding limits for materials, and included an indemnification provision. These changes make the program more comprehensive and legally robust while clarifying operational requirements.

Scope change

Expanded from unimproved primitive roads only to all roads under Division of Highways jurisdiction, including improved roads, trails, and infrastructure

SCOPE

Program scope expanded from unimproved primitive roads to all roads, roadbeds, shoulders, trails, and infrastructure under Division of Highways control

DEFINITION

Added formal definitions for applicant, maintenance, participant, person, and road to clarify program terms

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility to include counties and municipalities in addition to individuals and groups

FISCAL

Established 30 percent cost limit for materials and equipment, with 100 percent funding available for litter control projects from Highway Litter Control Fund

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for Division to terminate agreements with 30 days notice or immediately for violations

REQUIREMENT

Added indemnification requirement where participants must hold state harmless from claims related to project injuries or damages

Added authority for Division to install recognition signage at participant expense

Changed from requiring six volunteers to allow broader participation without specific minimum group size

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

32–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 33

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 42)

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors