New Bill Seeks to Fund Flood Emergencies

Flooding is a chronic problem in West Virginia. We know this. The Legislature also knows this. Unfortunately, the Legislature has been unwilling to put any money into the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to address the flooding problem. Now HB 3502, introduced on March 18, 2025 by a number of Democratic Delegates, offers a way to do this. The bill is pending before the House Government Organization Committee.

In 2023, the West Virginia Legislature unanimously passed SB 672, which created the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to prioritize nature-based flood protection and prevention for low-income areas. But the Legislature hasn’t put any money into the Trust Fund, even though Governor Justice’s 2024 budget proposed $50 million for it. Various excuses have been offered for this, but all the while our exposure to devastating floods continues.

HB 3502 makes the following findings:

Whereas the reoccurring and severe flooding events that have and will continue to occur in the state require that a proactive approach to reduce what have become regular and foreseeable flood events can only be obtained by preventive measures to mitigate and reduce these events.

The bill then offers a solution. It declares that a one-time allocation of $100 million from the state’s revenue shortfall fund “may be deposited” into the flood fund. It also authorizes a one-time $150 million allocation from the state’s income tax revenue fund to jump-start the flood resiliency initiative.

It is puzzling why the language of the bill creates discretion for the Legislature to deposit (or not) the money into the Flood Resiliency Fund rather than requiring it. Nevertheless, HB 3502 is a needed step in protecting West Virginia from chronic flooding.

A list of the Delegates on the Government Organization Committee can be seen here.