Updates from the Capitol and What You Can Do Now!
We were at the Capitol today for Environmental Day, and we wanted to say thank YOU for all your hard work! Because of your advocacy, SB 711, the bill that would have allowed ATVs on public lands, was pulled from today’s agenda.
Breaking from the Capitol today: The 2025 WV Legislature is considering a bill deceptively named the “Sound Science in Regulations Act” (HB2493; SB599), but in fact, this bill undercuts science to protect public health and the environment. Here’s what it does:
- Prevents state agencies from using public health research because it creates an impossible standard for public health research to be used in regulations.
- Prohibits state agencies from using the best available science because it bans research published in top-tier scientific journals. This bill amounts to scientific censorship!
- Impact nearly every aspect of state agency regulations, including all advisories, rules, and standards that protect public health and the environment because it is overly broad.
From left to right, Than Hitt, Mike Jones, Maria Russo, Jennie Smith, Maggie Stange, Charlise Robinson, and Autumn Crowe at E-Day at the Capitol. Photo by WV Legislature, Perry Bennett.
We’re not done yet — here are some more actions we need you to take this week:
- Tell the House Energy & Public Works to Reject the Above Ground Storage Act: Tell legislators to protect our drinking water. Above-ground storage tanks hold hazardous chemicals, and this bill weakens the rules, putting our water at risk.
- Urge Senate Judiciary lawmakers to Safeguard our Drinking Water: HB 2233 will remove certain streams from receiving Category A drinking water protections, allowing more toxic pollutants to flow into our rivers and streams.
- Tell Senate Government Organization Committee to Protect Community Air Monitoring: Senate Bill 575 limits the use of data, making it harder for communities to raise concerns about their air.
You might be thinking: WV Rivers, did you already send us this action? Yes! But now, we need you to write our leaders in the other chamber. Quick refresher below!
How does a bill become law? A bill can start in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. Once introduced, it must pass in that chamber before moving to the other. If both chambers approve the bill, it then heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law — or vetoed.
Your voice is critical at every step. Thanks for standing with us!
For clean water & healthy communities,
WV Rivers Coalition
