SPONSOR: Sharpe (4)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Local Government by a vote of 14 to 0.
Currently, there are two different types of boards of directors for industrial development corporations. In the majority of counties, the board can have any number of directors, not less than five, that are appointed by the County Commission. Certain other counties, including Lewis County, must have a board of directors with the number of directors not less than the number of townships in the county. Each township within the county must elect one director to the board.
After August 28, 2026, this bill repeals the requirement that the board of directors be elected.
This bill is similar to HB 241 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that it is very difficult to elect one member from each township in Lewis County. These are volunteer positions and very sparsely-populated areas. Members of the county want to be treated like every other county in the State, as they were before this carve out was created.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Sharpe; and Craig Redmon, Lewis County Commissioner.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: