West Virginia Senate Bill SB 380

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/26
• Refer: 1/15/26

Caption

Division of Natural Resources rule relating to special boating

Summary

SB 380 is a rule-related bill concerning the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and its authority over special boating. Based on the caption, the measure appears to address administrative rules governing boating activities that are treated differently from general recreational boating, likely including special-use or regulated boating categories. Because the bill text was not available in the provided materials, the specific regulatory changes cannot be identified from the record here. The bill’s practical effect would be to modify or authorize state rules administered by the Division of Natural Resources, which could affect boaters, marina operators, enforcement personnel, and other users of state waterways. If enacted as a rule bill, it would likely operate by approving, updating, or clarifying the agency’s boating regulations rather than creating a broad new statutory program.

Impact

SB 380 appears to affect the state’s administrative rulemaking framework for boating by dealing with a Division of Natural Resources rule on special boating. In West Virginia, rule bills can give legislative approval to agency regulations, so the measure likely has the effect of validating, revising, or continuing existing boating rules under the agency’s authority. The direct parties affected would be boat owners and operators, commercial or special-use boating interests, and DNR enforcement and permitting staff.

Sentiment

There is no committee transcript or recorded vote information in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from debate or floor action. The available status suggests it was reported from committee as part of a committee substitute process, which indicates at least some legislative movement and likely procedural support, but not enough information to characterize broader agreement or opposition.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. In bills of this type, disputes typically center on the scope of boating restrictions, safety requirements, enforcement authority, permit or registration burdens, and impacts on recreational versus commercial users, but none of those issues are confirmed here. Without the bill text or discussion transcript, it is not possible to attribute any particular objection to a legislator, agency, or stakeholder group.