West Virginia House Bill HB2283

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Department of Agriculture to promulgate a legislative rule relating to state aid for fairs and festivals

Summary

HB2283 is a rule-authorization bill that approves a legislative rule filed by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture concerning state aid for fairs and festivals. The bill amends the state code section governing authorization of miscellaneous agency rules to specifically authorize the Department’s rule, identified as 61 CSR 03, which was filed in the State Register on July 25, 2024. The measure does not itself create a new grant program or change the underlying policy framework for fairs and festivals; instead, it gives legislative approval to the Department of Agriculture’s administrative rule so it can take effect or remain in effect under state rulemaking procedures. In practical terms, it affects the Department of Agriculture, fair and festival organizers, and any entities that receive or administer state aid under the rule.

Impact

HB2283 would amend West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to authorize a specific Department of Agriculture legislative rule on state aid for fairs and festivals. Its legal effect is to validate the administrative rulemaking action already taken by the agency, allowing the rule to operate within the state’s statutory framework for legislative review of agency rules. The bill primarily impacts the Department of Agriculture and recipients or applicants for state aid connected to fairs and festivals.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a routine, noncontroversial administrative measure. The language is narrow and technical, focused on rule authorization rather than substantive policy change, which typically suggests limited public controversy. No opposing viewpoints or amendments are reflected in the available context.

Contention

No specific points of contention are shown in the provided transcripts or voting history because none were included. If any concerns were raised, they would likely center on the details of the Department of Agriculture’s state-aid rule itself—such as eligibility, funding distribution, or administrative discretion—but those issues are not documented in the materials provided. The bill’s narrow purpose suggests that any disagreement would be about the underlying rule rather than the authorization bill itself.