West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 8 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 941 — Clarifying authority regarding dams designed by US Conservation Service

Last action — Chapter 11, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 29, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on August 08, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

40 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 941 clarify that any changes or agreements regarding dams owned by local conservation districts will now fall under the sole authority of the Department of Environmental Protection. Previously, the bill referenced the U.S. Conservation Service in relation to these dams, which has been removed for clarity. This change matters because it streamlines the approval process and ensures that local actions related to dam management are directly governed by state regulations, without conflicting oversight. Additionally, it reassures that state or federal funding for the West Virginia Conservation Agency will remain unaffected.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Originating Senate Bill 941 BY SENATORS ROSE , UEEN, AZINGER, HARNOCK , FULLER, HART, ELTON, EFFRIES, HILLIP, AYLOR , AND GARCIA [Originating in the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Enrolled Senate Bill 941 BY SENATORS ROSE , UEEN, AZINGER, HARNOCK , FULLER, HART, ELTON, EFFRIES, HILLIP, AYLOR , AND GARCIA [Passed April 12, 2025;
reported March 29, 2025] Org SB 941 A BILL to amend and reenact §19-21A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying certain authority regarding dams designed by the U.S.
in effect from passage] Enr SB 941 AN ACT to amend and reenact §19-21A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying certain authority regarding dams owned or sponsored by local conservation districts;
Conservation Service.
providing that any alteration, improvement, or agreement related to a dam owned or sponsored by a local conservation district is subject solely to the authority of the Department of Environmental Protection;
and providing that the provisions of this subsection may not be construed to affect or alter any state or federal funding to the West Virginia Conservation Agency.
Provided, That in order to avoid duplication of research activities, no a district shall may not initiate any research program or publish the results except with the approval of the state committee and in cooperation with the government of this state or any of its agencies, or with the United States or any of its agencies:
Provided, That in order to avoid duplication of research activities, a district may not initiate any research program or publish the results except with the approval of the state committee and in cooperation with the government of this state or any of its agencies, or with the United States or any of its agencies:
(2) To conduct demonstrational projects within the district on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the consent and cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction thereof, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owner and occupier of the lands or the necessary rights or interests in the lands in Org SB 941 order to demonstrate by example the means, methods, and measures by which soil and soil resources may be conserved and soil erosion in the form of soil washing may be prevented and controlled, water quality may be improved, and works of improvement may be carried out;
Enr SB 941 (2) To conduct demonstrational projects within the district on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the consent and cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction thereof, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owner and occupier of the lands or the necessary rights or interests in the lands in order to demonstrate by example the means, methods, and measures by which soil and soil resources may be conserved and soil erosion in the form of soil washing may be prevented and controlled, water quality may be improved, and works of improvement may be carried out;
to maintain, administer, and improve any properties acquired, to receive income from such properties, and to expend such income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this article;
to maintain, Enr SB 941 administer, and improve any properties acquired, to receive income from such properties, and to expend such income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this article;
Org SB 941 (6) To accept and receive donations, gifts, contributions, grants, and appropriations in money, services, materials, or otherwise from the United States or any of its agencies, from the state of West Virginia, or from other sources and use or expend the money, services, materials, or other contributions in carrying out the policy and provisions of this article;
(6) To accept and receive donations, gifts, contributions, grants, and appropriations in money, services, materials, or otherwise from the United States or any of its agencies, from the state of West Virginia, or from other sources and use or expend the money, services, materials, or other contributions in carrying out the policy and provisions of this article;
(10) To take over, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and to administer any soil- conservation, flood-prevention, drainage, irrigation, water-management, erosion-control or erosion-prevention project, or combinations thereof, located within its boundaries, undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies, or by this state or any of its agencies;
Enr SB 941 (10) To take over, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and to administer any soil- conservation, flood-prevention, drainage, irrigation, water-management, erosion-control or erosion-prevention project, or combinations thereof, located within its boundaries, undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies, or by this state or any of its agencies;
to manage, as agent of the United States or any of its agencies, or of this state or any of its agencies, any soil- Org SB 941 conservation, flood-prevention, drainage, irrigation, water-management, erosion-control or erosion-prevention project, or combinations thereof, within its boundaries;
to manage, as agent of the United States or any of its agencies, or of this state or any of its agencies, any soil- conservation, flood-prevention, drainage, irrigation, water-management, erosion-control or erosion-prevention project, or combinations thereof, within its boundaries;
(13) No provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to a district organized hereunder in its acquisition, operation, and disposition of property unless the Legislature shall specifically so state;
Enr SB 941 (13) No provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to a district organized hereunder in its acquisition, operation, and disposition of property unless the Legislature shall specifically so state;
(14) To enter into contracts and other arrangements with agencies of the United States, with persons, firms, or corporations, including public and nonprofit corporations, with the state government of this state or other states, or any department or agency thereof, with governmental divisions, with soil conservation, drainage, flood control, soil erosion, or other improvement Org SB 941 districts in this state or other states, for cooperation or assistance in constructing, improving, operating, or maintaining works of improvement within the district, or in preventing floods, or in conserving, developing, utilizing, and disposing of water in the district, or for making surveys, investigations, or reports thereof;
(14) To enter into contracts and other arrangements with agencies of the United States, with persons, firms, or corporations, including public and nonprofit corporations, with the state government of this state or other states, or any department or agency thereof, with governmental divisions, with soil conservation, drainage, flood control, soil erosion, or other improvement districts in this state or other states, for cooperation or assistance in constructing, improving, operating, or maintaining works of improvement within the district, or in preventing floods, or in conserving, developing, utilizing, and disposing of water in the district, or for making surveys, investigations, or reports thereof;
Enr SB 941 The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate ...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate.
In effect from passage.
...............................................................
President of the Senate ...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2025.
.............................................................
Governor 7
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How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against the W. Va. Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill clarifies the authority concerning dams owned or sponsored by local conservation districts and emphasizes the exclusivity of the Department of Environmental Protection's authority over alterations related to those dams.

  • §19-21A-8

    any alteration, improvement, or agreement related to a dam owned or sponsored by a local conservation district is subject solely to the authority of the Department of Environmental Protection;

    This change specifies that only the Department of Environmental Protection has authority over alterations to dams owned by conservation districts.

  • §19-21A-8

    The provisions of this subdivision may not be construed to affect or alter any state or federal funding to the West Virginia Conservation Agency; → the provisions of this subsection may not be construed to affect or alter any state or federal funding to the West Virginia Conservation Agency.

    This ensures that funding to the West Virginia Conservation Agency remains unaffected by the specified provisions.

Action History

  1. Chapter 11, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

  4. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to House

  10. Effective from passage (Roll No. 560)

  11. Passed Senate (Roll No. 559)

  12. Senate concurred in House title amendment (Voice vote)

  13. House Message received

  14. Communicated to Senate

  15. Effective from passage (Roll No. 535)

  16. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  17. Passed House (Roll No. 534)

  18. Read 3rd time

  19. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  20. Read 2nd time

  21. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  22. Read 1st time

  23. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  24. Do pass

  25. Markup Discussion

  26. To House Energy and Public Works

  27. To Energy and Public Works

  28. Introduced in House

  29. House received Senate message

  30. Ordered to House

  31. Effective from passage (Roll No. 293)

  32. Passed Senate (Roll No. 292)

  33. Read 3rd time

  34. On 3rd reading with right to amend

  35. Read 2nd time

  36. On 2nd reading

  37. Read 1st time

  38. On 1st reading

  39. Reported do pass

  40. Originating in Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passage

Passed 33 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28100
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 33100
% of votes cast 97%3%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Bill Hamilton Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Nay
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

EFFECT FROM PASSAGE

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 82003
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 96004
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Not Voting
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Not Voting
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Not Voting
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Not Voting
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 83002
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 97003
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Not Voting
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Not Voting
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Not Voting
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 33 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28100
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 33100
% of votes cast 97%3%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Bill Hamilton Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Nay
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

energy
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 941?
SB 941 is sponsored by Chris Rose (Republican), Ben Queen (Republican), Mike Azinger (Republican), Anne B. Charnock (Republican), Scott Fuller (Republican), Craig A. Hart (Republican), Brian Helton (Republican), Jeffries, Phillips, Jay Taylor (Republican), and Joey Garcia (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 941?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 29, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 941?
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