Bill > SB708

This bill, known as the "West Virginia River Access and Bridge Modernization Act," aims to improve public safety and recreational access along the state's navigable waterways, which are defined as rivers or streams suitable for recreational activities for a significant part of the year. The West Virginia Division of Highways (the "Division") is authorized to evaluate and, where safe and practical, create or improve public river access facilities, such as pull-offs or parking areas, especially when undertaking substantial bridge projects (construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of bridges over navigable waterways). The bill emphasizes that these improvements should prioritize public safety, reduce the need for emergency rescues, and mitigate hazardous river conditions, but it explicitly prohibits the use of eminent domain (the government's power to take private property for public use) for acquiring land for these facilities, instead allowing for voluntary acquisition from willing sellers. The Division is also tasked with installing informational signage to guide users and advise on safety, though this does not create new liability for the Division or private property owners. The bill allows for inter-agency coordination and the acceptance of grants and donations from both governmental and non-governmental sources to fund these projects, with a requirement for the Division to report on its implementation and outcomes within five years.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=708&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill