West Virginia Senate approves multiple bills, adopts awareness resolutions on Feb. 27

CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Senate on Feb. 27, 2025, approved several bills affecting municipal property sales, teen employment paperwork, planning commission residency and a new adopt-a-road volunteer program, and adopted two resolutions recognizing a health awareness week and dental-hygienists day.

The action came during a floor session in which senators moved dozens of measures through committee reports, readings and final votes. Key measures approved included an adopt-a-road program allowing volunteers to enter contracts with the Division of Highways for certain right-of-way maintenance, a change raising the value at which municipalities must sell property by public auction, and a revision to rules for hiring 14- and 15-year-olds that replaces county-issued work permits with parental consent and an age certificate from the commissioner of labor.

Supporters said the adopt-a-road program would let individuals, groups and political subdivisions volunteer labor, equipment and materials for tasks beyond litter control, subject to contracts and Division of Highways rules. "The committee substitute for Senate Bill 5 creates an adopt a road program similar but broader than the adopt a highway program for…