Land and Wildlife

How we treat our own property says a lot about us as individuals. How our government makes land use decisions and how it regulates what industry and developers are permitted to do speaks volumes about what kind of state we are and can be.

Preserving farmland and forests, as well as parks and recreation areas, is important for our lives now and for future generation. It is also critical for the habitat of birds, wildlife and fish.

Our public officials frequently make choices on our behalf that will shape the world we and all other creatures live in. By making our voices heard on land use issues, we plan to help them make the right choices.

Our Land and Wildlife Platform

We support hunting, fishing, rafting and other outdoor recreation activities that are compatible with wildlife habitat and create no lasting environmental damage.

We oppose commercial logging in state parks and forests.

We oppose mountaintop removal mining.

We support the right of local governments and municipalities to regulate consumer packaging within their jurisdictions, including plastic bags, straws, styrofoam containers, and the like.

2025 Land and Wildlife Bills – Coming Soon

HB 2421

Amending surface mining reclamation requirements

The purpose of this bill is to implement changes to the West Virginia Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act o ensure compliance with state and federal mining and reclamation laws.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/17/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works then the House Committee on Finance.

SB 21

Assessing wildlife impact fee on wind power projects

This bill allows the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to assess a Wildlife Impact Fee on any operator of a wind power project that injures or kills a protected species of animal.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources; and then to Senate Committee on Finance. The bill passed the Natural Resources Committee on 3/13/25 and was referred to the Finance Committee.

SB 295

Clarifying non-agricultural status of solar farms

This bill aims to distinguish solar energy production from traditional agricultural practices for taxation and regulatory purposes.

Sponsors: Patricia Rucker

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture; and then to Senate Committee on Finance. The bill passed the Agriculture Committee on 3/13/25 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

SB 34

Creating Community Solar Pilot Program

This bill creates a community solar program where subscribers can purchase an interest in a solar facility and use credits against their electric utility costs, helping West Virginia ratepayers save money. The bill also gives the Public Service Commission authority over the administration and rule making of a pilot program.

Sponsors: Mike Oliverio

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to Senate Committee on Finance

SB 754

Creating Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

This bill establishes the Outdoor West Virginians with Disabilities Act. It defines key terms, updates travel management and motor vehicle use plans, and clarifies the motor vehicle use maps. It also designates certain public lands as open, limited, or closed to off-road vehicles.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 3/13/25 and referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources; and then to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

SB 271

Natural Resources Anti-Commandeering Act

This bill prohibits State agencies and employees from participating in the enforcement of federal acts, laws, or regulations regarding extractive resources (such as coal, oil, gas, and timber) unless those laws exist under state law.

Sponsors: Patrick Martin

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to Senate Committee on Judiciary. The bill passed the Energy Committee on 3/11/25 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 11

Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act

This bill requires West Virginia oil and gas well operators to set aside money for future well plugging by mandating that newly drilled and transferred wells must either post a single well plugging bond or have the driller/operator begin depositing a small percentage of the well's revenue into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. For active wells, operators are required to pay 15¢ per MCF into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. Additionally, horizontal well operators must plug any "abandoned" conventional wells within the drainage area of their horizontal well and can recover the plugging costs from the operator of those conventional wells.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee

HB 2803

Relating to environmental clean-up for motor vehicle crashes

This bill is to provide for environmental cleanup for motor vehicle crashes.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced on 2/21/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works.

SB 711

Removing prohibition against establishing additional trail systems within state parks and state forests

This bill is removes the prohibition against establishing additional trail systems within state parks and state forests, opening up our state parks and forests to ATV/ORV use.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 3/6/25 and referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources

HB 3336

Well Plugging methods

This bill eliminates the requirement to use a four-and-a-half casing for modern or newer wells and removes the mandate to remove intermediate or surface casings for older wells, as long as other regulations are followed.

CWV Position:

Status: This bill was Introduced March 13, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works. It passed the House on 3/24/25 and was referred to the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee on 3/25/25. This bill passed out of committee on 4/2/25 and ultimately passed into law on 4/11/25 after passage out of the full Senate.