Delegate Hansen speaks during an Energy & Public Works Committee meeting during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session. Photographed by Perry Bennett for the West Virginia Legislature.
Data Centers & Local Control
This week, our lobby team met with Senators to discuss data center legislation and rulemaking. Local control and water use remain a key concern. We are working with legislators and stakeholders to address these issues, particularly around the need for policy that provides transparency of water quantity and usage. The Legislative Rule-Making Committee will be considering the data center rules on January 28th at 5:30 pm, and we will be paying attention to what changes are made. Listen here.
‘Sound Science’ Legislation
The so-called ‘sound science’ bill is back, pushed by national business interests and potentially targeting PFAS protections. We are monitoring this closely and engaging the West Virginia business community, many of whom opposed this bill in prior sessions.
Air Quality & Community Monitoring
SB 88, a bill dealing with community air monitoring, has been introduced once again, this time by Senator Tarr. The lobby team met with the chairman and members of the Senate Government Organization Committee (where the bill has been referred), to outline our concerns. Delegate Hansen introduced a community air monitoring bill, HB 4194, in the House, and we will continue advocating for policies that strengthen community protections without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Flood Resiliency: Progress and Concerns
Several flood-related bills are moving, including HB 4018 and companion bill SB 390, which would invest $10 million in the SENTRY Initiative, an AI-driven flood warning system that alerts communities before floodwaters arrive. While we support innovative tools that save lives, early warning alone is not flood resiliency. We are urging lawmakers to fully fund the Flood Resiliency Office and ensure communities—especially low-income and flood-prone areas—have a real voice in planning and funding decisions.
We need investments in:
- Flood prevention and mitigation;
- Updated floodplain mapping;
- Stronger infrastructure and nature-based solutions that reduce flood impacts;
- Local planning and preparedness so communities can recover faster; and
- Saving taxpayer dollars in the long run by reducing disaster recovery costs.
Public Lands & Carbon Offset Bills
We are tracking multiple public lands bills. HB 4126 will be the subject of upcoming meetings with House leadership. Meanwhile, SB 118—a deeply concerning carbon offset bill—has resurfaced. The bill would weaken protections, incentivize timbering, and create an unnecessary state registry. We are working to stop this bill from advancing.
We are also following SB 487, the West Virginia Trails, Access, and Stewardship Act, introduced by Senator Woodrum, and working with him to reintroduce the River Access Bill.
