West Virginia House Bill HB2335

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

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

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Division of Natural Resources to promulgate a legislative rule relating to public use of campgrounds in West Virginia State Parks and State Forests and campsites in State Rail Trails

Summary

HB2335 is a rule-authorization bill that approves a legislative rule for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources governing public use of campgrounds in state parks and state forests, as well as campsites located on state rail trails. The bill does not itself create a new campground policy in statute; instead, it gives legislative approval to an already filed and revised administrative rule, identified as 58 CSR 32, after the rule was modified to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. In practical terms, the bill allows the Division of Natural Resources to implement and enforce its campground and campsite use rules under existing statutory authority. The measure is part of the Legislature’s oversight process for agency rulemaking and confirms that the agency’s updated rule may take effect as a valid legislative rule. The bill’s effect is therefore primarily administrative, affecting how camping facilities on public lands are managed rather than changing broad state policy directly.

Impact

HB2335 amends §64-10-1 of the West Virginia Code to authorize a specific legislative rule of the Division of Natural Resources. The rule concerns public use of campgrounds in state parks and state forests and campsites in state rail trails, and its authorization gives the rule legal force under state law. The bill affects the Division of Natural Resources, visitors and campers using state-managed recreation areas, and the administration of public camping facilities, but it does not itself establish detailed operational standards in the statute text.

Sentiment

The available record suggests the bill is routine and largely noncontroversial, with no recorded committee transcript or vote history indicating significant opposition or debate. Because the measure simply authorizes a revised administrative rule after review by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, the overall sentiment appears procedural and supportive of allowing the agency’s campground management rule to proceed.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is not the bill’s statutory authorization itself, but the underlying administrative rule and any objections that prompted revisions before refiled approval. Those concerns were addressed through modification of the rule to meet the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee’s objections, suggesting the Legislature’s role was to confirm the revised version rather than reopen substantive policy disputes. No specific opposing stakeholders or disputed provisions are identified in the available materials.