HB 4010: Providing a statutory program for loaning financial assistance to local airports for airplane hangar construction in this state - West Virginia

Introduced Version → Engrossed Committee Substitute · 5 edits · Mar 14, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was transformed from a pilot loan program for general airport improvements into a permanent, fully funded grant program specifically for constructing wide-body hangars. The scope shifted from a limited pilot project to a state-wide initiative with a dedicated $75 million fund, and eligibility now strictly requires hangars meeting specific large-size dimensions to support major aviation repair and overhaul operations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a temporary pilot loan program for general airport needs to a permanent, fully funded grant program exclusively for constructing large, wide-body hangars.

FISCAL

Created a new special revenue fund called the Airport Hangar Development Fund and authorized an initial transfer of $75 million from the Economic Development Project Fund.

DEFINITION

Defined eligible projects strictly as wide-body hangars with minimum dimensions of 250 feet in width, 225 feet in depth, and 75 feet in height.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the funding mechanism from loans to grants and restricted assistance to only those airports proposing to build hangars meeting the new specific size requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed application requirements, including concept plans, site plans, and specific data on runway length, pavement ratings, and available property for expansion.

TIMELINE

Established a specific deadline of July 1, 2026, for the initial funding transfer and September 1, 2026, for the program's establishment.

hb4010 hfa mcgeehan 3-13 _1 adopted.htm → hb4010 sfat barrett _1 3-11 adopted.htm · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the title and sponsor information, with the Senate version replacing the House version. The substantive content regarding the $75 million transfer for airport hangar grants remains the same, but the Senate version adds a more detailed title description and changes the sponsor from Delegate McGeehan to Senator Barrett.

TECHNICAL

Title and sponsor information changed from House version (Delegate McGeehan) to Senate version (Senator Barrett) with a more detailed bill description.

Document version numbers and dates changed from 3-13 to 3-11, reflecting the Senate amendment date.

hb4010 s fin am _1 3-9 adopted.htm → hb4010 hfa mcgeehan 3-13 _1 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to rename the fund from 'Airport Hangar Development Fund' to 'West Virginia Economic Growth and Aviation Investment Fund' and split the $75 million allocation into two tiers. Tier 1 ($29 million) is dedicated to airport hangar grants, while Tier 2 ($46 million) provides flexible funding for broader business development activities. The new structure allows Tier 1 funds to be used for general business purposes after a 30-month period.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from exclusively funding airport hangar construction to also supporting general business formation, expansion, and economic development initiatives through a new discretionary fund tier.

FISCAL

The $75 million fund transfer was split into two tiers: $29 million for airport hangar grants and $46 million for general business development.

SCOPE

Added Tier 2 funding for business formation, expansion, recruitment, retention, marketing, and export assistance.

TIMELINE

Added a 30-month restriction period during which Tier 1 funds can only be used for airport hangar grants before becoming eligible for general business use.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized grant program requirements from standalone subsections into numbered items under the new fund structure.

Committee Substitute → hb4010 s fin am _1 3-9 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the Airport Hangar Development Fund from a special revenue fund to a sub-fund of the Economic Development Project Fund, and added new provisions allowing the authority to promulgate emergency rules and requiring that funds for runways over 8,000 linear feet be reserved for at least one grantee. These changes clarify the fund's structure and add flexibility in rule-making while ensuring some funding is set aside for larger runway projects.

FISCAL

Changed the Airport Hangar Development Fund from a special revenue fund to a sub-fund of the Economic Development Project Fund.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority to promulgate legislative rules, including emergency rules, to implement the program.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that funds for runways over 8,000 linear feet must be kept available for at least one grantee.

Updated runway preference criteria from 'over 7,000 linear feet' to 'over 7,500 linear feet' with the new runway funding reservation requirement.

Engrossed Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill version was updated from the Engrossed Committee Substitute to the Committee Substitute, with changes primarily affecting the bill's versioning and navigation links rather than substantive policy content. The legislative history section was modified to reflect different bill versions, and the title page was updated to show the bill as a Committee Substitute for House Bill 4010.

TECHNICAL

Bill versioning and navigation links were updated to reflect the current Committee Substitute status instead of the previous Engrossed Version.

The legislative history section was reorganized to show different bill versions in a different order, likely for clarity and navigation purposes.

The title page was updated to indicate this is a Committee Substitute version rather than an Engrossed version, with the same sponsors and committee origin information.

Providing a statutory program for loaning financial assistance to local airports for airplane hangar construction in this state

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