HR 15 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Expressing support for I-68 Energy Manufacturing Corridor

This is a non-binding House Resolution (HR 15), not a bill with legislative effect. It expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for extending Interstate 68 from Morgantown, West Virginia, to Kent, West Virginia, then crossing into Ohio toward I-77 and I-75. The resolution urges federal, state, and local government bodies to secure funding for this corridor, which is framed as a project to boost economic growth and job creation in the Shale Crescent energy manufacturing region. It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Feb 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → hr15 sub1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from an introduced version to a committee substitute, removing specific sponsors and dates while adding the Committee on Energy and Public Works as the originator. The text was updated to remove references to 'AI' from the corridor's name and to clarify the geographic scope of the project, specifically narrowing the starting point to Marshall County and emphasizing the need to address infrastructure stress from rising gas extraction.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed regarding the project's specific route description and broadened in its justification by explicitly linking the corridor to infrastructure stress caused by increased natural gas production.

DEFINITION

Removed the term 'AI' from the project title, changing it from 'I-68 Energy Manufacturing AI Corridor' to 'I-68 Energy Manufacturing Corridor'.

SCOPE

Refined the project description to specify the route starts in Marshall County and crosses the Ohio River 'where most practical', replacing the previous specific endpoint of 'Kent, West Virginia'.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the justification to explicitly state that the project is crucial due to unanticipated stress on highway infrastructure caused by rising natural gas extraction in the Shale Crescent region.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill metadata to reflect that it originated in the Committee on Energy and Public Works rather than being referred to the committee, and updated the list of sponsors.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House of Delegates by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

To House Rules

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

By substitute, be adopted, but first to Rules

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors