GREEN, Volume 32 Issue 7

Just two more weeks to go in the legislative session!

A few of the bills we are following hit committee agendas and were voted on in both chambers this week. Monday was the last day to introduce bills in the Senate. Wednesday, March 2, is Crossover Day, the last day to consider bills on 3rd reading in their house of origin. March 12 is the last day of the session.

Read on to see what’s happening and please keep reaching out to your legislators! Click here for links to committees and info on how to contact your delegates and senators! Here is a directory of legislators.

As we near the end of the session, please take a moment to renew your membership or make a donation to support our lobby team. Thank you!

Click an article title or thumbnail image to read the full article (text below is only an excerpt).

Legislative Update – Week #7
WVEC
Bills we are watching: Aboveground Storage Tank Act, WV DEP Office of Oil and Gas Funding Bills, Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training, Carbon Capture & Sequestration, Zoning, Recycling, Waste Management. With crossover day approaching, we expect things to really start moving next week. Keep an eye out for action alerts! The session ends on Saturday, March 12 at midnight.
Tagged: Legislation

Take Action for Voting Rights
WV Citizens for Clean Elections
End Voter Disenfranchisement. SB 488, which would restore voting rights to thousands of West Virginians on probation and parole, was to be voted on in the Senate this past Tuesday but was put into the Rules Committee.  The bill has tremendous bi-partisan support in the Senate but we need your help to ensure it gets to the floor for a vote.
Tagged: Clean elections, Voting Rights

A Casino at Watoga State Park? NO! Act Now
WV Rivers Coalition
HB 4408, will be on third reading in the House on Monday, February 28 and would expand and extend private leasing in all state parks and forests. Read our fact sheet.
Tagged: Legislation, State parks

Off-Road Vehicle Recreation on West Virginia Public Lands
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, in partnership with the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance’s (ABRA), has just released a new project page about the harmful effects of Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs, aka Off-Highway Vehicles/OHVs) on our public lands. It is one of many projects on the Conservation Hub. The new project page contains detailed information on the negative effects to soil, plants, water, air, animals, etc., and also has a statewide interactive map that shows trails on public lands, sensitive habitats, slip potential on different soil types, and stream crossings.
Tagged: Legislation, State parks