This bill aims to amend and clarify the registration terms for tax-abandoned land auctions and sales conducted by the Auditor in West Virginia. Key changes include the requirement for potential bidders to register in advance or submit a notarized affidavit affirming their eligibility on the day of the auction. The bill specifies that bidders must not have any outstanding payments from previous auctions within the last five years, must not be delinquent on real property taxes, and must not have a history of noncompliance with code enforcement violations. Additionally, the Auditor is granted the authority to refuse registration based on these criteria.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the process for selling unsold lands without further auction or advertising, prioritizing sales to adjacent landowners, municipalities, and other interested parties. The Auditor may engage a licensed attorney for title examinations and can refuse to sell to buyers who do not meet the specified eligibility criteria. The amendments include various insertions and deletions to ensure clarity and compliance with existing laws, particularly regarding the conditions under which potential bidders may be disqualified from participating in the auction process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11A-3-45, 11A-3-48