[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6107365,"mediaKeyId","2776515-177ed60a36d9989c0aac3dc759d2e3be","parentId",2776515,"title","Senate committee amends, advances bill to allow public river access from state rights-of-way","audioSeconds",909,"startMs",912000,"endMs",2521,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776515-177ed60a36d9989c0aac3dc759d2e3be&start=912&end=2","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776515-177ed60a36d9989c0aac3dc759d2e3be/thumbnail_912000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107365/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-amends-advances-bill-to-allow-public-river-access-from-state-rights-of-way","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107365-1653eace0354cffe553eae059f837bf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148626&Signature=lKOr44srdzoR1gclgrbDFFrpfyBw70yO7~2DTgttVkceGcxaoiVO2hBY5JWKsz7Qf1Y2eMUH6Kyh8B~iw2IBkqTRtL2jwuCzGFfCXKmXOsfooXMxZZnElNsb6EAS~vJPzhbc3Ilvk4rZ0Xi5U15ZNYRh6c1XpTk5sYdskRWz-nQriJjQneoGoJ8OoR~vkNR-lqM98fXCmo6Jd9TqmduGeTb3qQE6IdAALUpzxg~HH5OY78elczDWsA~jpUUJYlc-u9vz6EPlLRfCfF2BgfPLbowp1Wuo9qUf-MjoOoaNTjbzZjbfj0PhcKHgiztYU8wX9GlufgrRo1E0KF3OZnbrow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Natural Resources Committee on an unnamed date agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 801, which would create the West Virginia Public Waterways Act and direct the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Division of Natural Resources, to develop guidelines for designing and siting public access points to rivers and streams on existing state rights-of-way.

The committee adopted a conceptual amendment inserting the word \"reasonable\" after \"practical,\" so the bill would allow an access point only \"if it is safe, practical, and reasonable to do so.\" Counsel explained the bill: \"This bill creates the West Virginia, Public Waterways Act to provide the public with access to the state's rivers and streams. The bill recognizes access to, to a river or stream on the related, state right of way, so long as, the access is safe and reasonable.\"

Why it matters: supporters said the measure could expand recreational access and support outdoor tourism while reducing informal trespass. Senator Baker, the bill sponsor identified from Summers County, said the bill was intended to capture opportunities that already exist where roads or temporary approaches were built as part of bridge projects and to make adding access points part of ordinary project planning.

Department of Transportation and Division of Natural Resources officials told the committee they did not oppose the bill’s intent but raised implementation questions. A Department of Transportation representative said, \"I'm not here to, fight this bill. I understand the intention and think it's good. I just think there's probably some things that would help, in terms of implementation,\" and flagged ownership and long-term maintenance of ramps, the limited width of many state rights-of-way, and whether parking or other adjacent improvements would require additional land acquisition or funding. The representative also noted the agency’s road-fund responsibilities are statutorily focused on road construction and maintenance, not necessarily boat-ramp facilities.

Committee members asked about eminent domain. Counsel said the bill limits access points to existing state right-of-way and that eminent domain would only arise where property acquisition for a bridge or road project otherwise requires it. The sponsor and the DOT representative said they were not seeking new eminent-domain authority for ramp construction; a committee exchange concluded a willing-seller approach was preferred.

The West Virginia Farm Bureau, represented by Dwayne O'Dell, urged caution on trespass, liability and fencing, and said: \"Our concern is that, there would be expanded right of way that would have to be taken to facilitate these boat ramps, and the possible use of the eminent domain to do that.\" He also flagged parking needs and signage as items the committee and agencies should address.

Committee action: the committee adopted the amendment (inserting \"and reasonable\" after \"practical\"), agreed to the committee substitute as amended, and voted to report the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass while first referring it to the Committee on Governmental Organization under the bill’s original double-reference. Votes were taken by voice; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

The committee discussion concluded with members directing staff and agencies to coordinate on implementation details such as ownership, maintenance responsibilities, parking and signage. The bill was advanced to the full Senate for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Natural Resources Committee Mar 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Natural Resources Committee on an unnamed date agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 801, which would create the West Virginia Public Waterways Act and direct the Department of Transportation and the Division of Natural Resources to develop guidelines for public access points to rivers and streams on existing state rights-of-way.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107360,"Committee repeals requirement for Class A‑1 small-arms hunting stamp; House Bill 2387 reported to full Senate",0,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776515-177ed60a36d9989c0aac3dc759d2e3be&start=2355&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776515-177ed60a36d9989c0aac3dc759d2e3be/thumbnail_2355000.jpg","/articles/6107360/West-Virginia/Committee-repeals-requirement-for-Class-A1-small-arms-hunting-stamp-House-Bill-2387-reported-to-full-Senate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107360-e1b89a6132ea163cbaf77618261f0d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148626&Signature=Bt0Z7JiwLeRsQpYJP8N3jgt4QYlLymjFrO0xC9-YOg7nDI5PP8V2BvHxYGOaayX2xT6ZZUpTsnHt-gySVv4I8al9xWSC1V7x2cdkUq1x66jRfyPX1bCtO-YnUNCgUhuxFSlZfzwfvSSk7bH2b7BEARhChuiP6t3UiE2n5zeIvBhQ3sF-N2OYxYro9rzCTckhnkNltm4E4Deuwg2DhXusiK2PwHF4hjGK2oczyKIEjIL2GvIiYWmdEKUXuJ9zIR9riEIWgTlqEXf~Y1uN-UI-O5omXxMUjpSgsJ4FK5p6B0p8Y2mqtWf~kPzhfC~wi3Q1Iaw2Hd36uLxXlGajC8sYzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee counsel explained a committee substitute for a bill that would repeal the code requirement that hunters purchase a Class A‑1 small-arms hunting stamp, a stamp that currently authorizes use of a revolver or pistol with a barrel at least four inches long for hunting.

Counsel summarized the measure: \"This bill repeals a section in the code, requiring a hunter to purchase a class a 1 small arms hunting stamp. A class a 1 stamp entitles the licensee to hunt with either a revolver or pistol, which has a barrel of at least 4 inches in length. And that's the bill.\" When asked whether the change affects other rules for hunting with a pistol, counsel replied, \"Correct. It just eliminates the need to buy a stamp.\" The committee record shows no further debate.

Committee action: the vice chair moved that the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 2387 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass; the motion was adopted by voice vote and the bill will be placed on the Senate calendar. The transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies.","The committee agreed to a committee substitute that would repeal a code section requiring purchase of a Class A‑1 small-arms hunting stamp and voted to report the engrossed substitute for House Bill 2387 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; counsel said the repeal does not change other hunting rules.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee amends, advances bill to allow public river access from state rights-of-way

Committee repeals requirement for Class A‑1 small-arms hunting stamp; House Bill 2387 reported to full Senate