WV Rivers 2024 Policy News
WV Rivers’ Public Lands Coordinator Mike Jones grabs a coffee at a local shop in Morgantown to talk updates on the WV Legislature.
Checking in with WV Rivers’ Public Lands Coordinator Mike Jones
Hi, everyone!
Crossover Day has come and gone, meaning at this point in session, a bill must have passed its ‘Chamber of Origin’ to advance to the other chamber.
We can now catch you up on what bills are still in play – that could still pass both Chambers of the Legislature by the last day of the session, midnight on March 9.
Read below for updates on the bills that did not ‘crossover’ and therefore are ‘dead’ for this session. We will keep advocating for the good bills, and others we are happy did not go forward.
Remember, it is your advocacy that helps us work for a better West Virginia for all.
For clean water, conserved public lands, and healthy communities,
Mike
Ask the House Committee on Government Organization to Reject SB 688
Image of Sen. Stover speaking on the Senate Floor regarding his amendment to SB 688.
You stepped up and sent over 800 messages trying to amend SB 688 to protect our State Parks and Rail Trails. Thank you! The Senate passed SB 688 with three Senators voting NO because of the concerns for our public lands. If you haven’t already – take a moment to thank Senator Stover, Senator Caputo, and Senator Woelfel for voting NO on SB 688 and standing up for your public lands.
The wording of SB 688 potentially opens our public lands to extensive timbering and undefined “economic development.” The bill also allows secret insider contracts without public input or a competitive bidding process. Proponents of the bill say that only dead trees, underbrush, and invasive species would be removed. However, the vague language leaves our state lands at risk.
The bill is currently in the House Committee on Government Organization. Act now to tell members of the House Committee on Government Organization to reject SB 688!
Tell them West Virginians like our public lands just the way they are.
Bills on the Move!
These bills have crossed over and still could pass:
- Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 196: This bill defines matters about Rail Trails and limits use to nature-based, non-motorized recreation. The bill has passed the Senate and is referred to the House Committee on Government Organization.
- Senate Bill 426: This bill, which aims to enact the West Virginia Recreational Trails Development Act, has passed the Senate and is referred to the House Committee on Government Organization.
- Senate Bill 618: The bill requires the Department of Forestry to set up a West Virginia Carbon Market that all programs for carbon credits must use. This bill passed the Senate and now is in the House Finance Committee.
- Senate Bill 688: Read the article above and take action.
- House Bill 4967: This bill, which streamlines the Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act (“VRRA”), provides new liability protections for persons and companies who wish to purchase and redevelop former industrial properties that are or may be contaminated by historical use. This bill passed the House; and has been double referenced: first to Senate Judiciary and then to Senate Finance.
- House Bill 5013: This bill amends the definition of managed timberland to include certain parcels of land that are within a subdivision as long as they are managed for timber production and harvesting. This bill was passed the House and is referred to the Senate Committee on Government Organization.
These bills completed legislative action and have been sent to the Governor:
- Senate Bill 171: This bill will prohibit county commissions from adopting laws that exceed state laws regarding agricultural operations. This bill is concerning in that it strips away local governing authority. This bill has been passed by both Chambers and sent to the Governor to sign.
- Committee Substitute for House Bill 5045: This bill provides further assurances to the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding the State of West Virginia’s application for primary enforcement authority over underground carbon dioxide sequestration programs in the State of West Virginia. This bill has passed both Chambers.
Bills that Did Not Cross Over
- Senate Bill 532: (Similar to HB5414) The Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act of 2024 would have prevented oil and gas wells from being orphaned on surface owner’s land with no responsible driller or operator with the resources to plug the well.
- Senate Bill 638: (similar to HB 5626) – The “Community Solar Pilot Program” would have allowed subscribers to purchase an interest in a solar facility and use credits againstt their electric utility costs.
- Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 822: (similar to HB 5013 which is still moving). This bill redefined managed timberlands, required registration and taxation of conservation easements, and limited easements to 20 years.
- House Bill 4834: (Similar to SB 638) Established a community solar program for subscribers to gain credits on their utility bills.
- House Bill 4966: This bill allowed for the plugging of oil and gas wells using subsurface monuments, meaning that people would not know where underground wells have been plugged.
- House Bill 5048: This bill removed the cap on the number of gas and other types of wells for which operators are required to pay annual oversight fees.
- House Bill 5076: This bill, “Relating to Well Plugging Authority,” added conditions for wells that were not plugged promptly.
- House Bill 5422: This bill required the Public Service Commission to adopt a rule mandating electric utilities to provide full retail credit to customer generators for electricity delivered to the utility under net metering arrangement and required the commission to consider increasing allowed kilowatt capacity for commercial customer-generators.
Advocacy is a year-round project: Get Involved!
WV Rivers’ Angie Rosser (left) and Public Lands Campaign Coordinator Mike Jones (right) joined advocates and partners at Environmental Day to rally around clean water and public lands priorities.
During this session, lobbyists from West Virginia Environmental Council, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, and others have been working non-stop to keep up with bills and committees meetings and talk to lawmakers.
Advocates visited the Capitol on Black Policy Day, E-Day, and Flood Resiliency Day to meet with their Delegate and Senators. Special days at the Capitol focus attention on issues; however, advocacy must happen year-round. These hard-working lobbyists and advocacy groups cannot do it alone.
Your advocacy helps pass good bills – and helps stop or amend bills that are not good for clean water, healthy ecosystems, conserved public lands, and healthy West Virginians.
Want to be an advocate for clean water, a healthy climate, watershed-scale restoration, or our wild and wonderful public lands? Sign up to be a District Advocate.
We’ll make sure you have the resources to talk with your Delegate or Senator. Check out these resources from WV Rivers, WVEC, or WV Trails.
