West VirginiaWest Virginia authorizes agency rules and specifies Stonecoal boating limits
Commerce agencies can adopt specific filed rules for workers, natural resources, and personal assistance programs, including a boating rule limiting wakes at Stonecoal.
What it does
Commerce agencies can adopt specific filed rules covering work, natural resources, and personal assistance programs. Some approved versions include revisions made after legislative review.
The approved Stonecoal boating rule requires motorboats to obey marked no-wake zones. Boats over 10 horsepower may operate only without leaving waves behind them anywhere there.
Argument forRequiring larger motorboats to avoid making wakes could reduce disturbance for other people using Stonecoal.
Argument againstThe approved no-wake requirement could limit how quickly people with motorboats over 10 horsepower travel across Stonecoal.
More detail
The law authorizes Department of Commerce agencies to adopt specific filed rules. The rules cover tourism districts, certification of forest land managed for timber, child labor, coal mine safety, hunting and trapping, boating, wildlife rehabilitation, and the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Act Board. The timberland, child labor, and wildlife rehabilitation rules include revisions made to meet the legislative review committee's objections. The boating rule includes the Stonecoal wording specified in the law. The law's authorization took effect from passage on March 2, 2026.
The approved boating rule requires motorboat operators to follow no-wake zones, where boats must avoid leaving waves behind them. The rule covers motorboats at Stonecoal in Lewis and Upshur counties. The zones must be marked by buoys or posted signs approved by the Director of the Division of Natural Resources. The restriction on boats over 10 horsepower also applies outside marked zones. The law authorizing this rule took effect from passage on March 2, 2026; the rule's separate start date is not stated.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 217, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 11Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/9/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Mar 11Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/9/2026 - Senate JournalMajor
- Mar 9Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/9/2026Became Law
- Mar 4To Governor 3/4/2026To Governor
- Mar 3House Message received
- Mar 2Completed legislative action
- Vote recorded EFFECT FROM PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Communicated to Senate
- Mar 2Effective from passage (Roll No. 233)
- Mar 2Passed House (Roll No. 232)Passed House
- Mar 2Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 2On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 27Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 27On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 26Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 26On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 25Do pass
- Feb 3To House Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 3To Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 3Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 3House received Senate message
- Feb 2Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Effective from passage (Roll No. 31)
- Feb 2Passed Senate (Roll No. 30)Passed Senate
- Feb 2Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 2On 3rd reading
- Jan 30Read 2nd timeMinor
- Jan 30On 2nd reading
- Jan 29Read 1st timeMinor
- Jan 29On 1st reading
- Jan 28Committee substitute reported
- Jan 15To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 15Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 15To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 15Filed for introductionIntroduced
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