WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5584

By Delegates Dean, Horst, Vance, Dillon, Bridges, Smith, Foster, and Kirby

[Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-2-6a, relating to hunting bag limits and fishing creel limits statewide for the taking of game animals and fish shall be determined solely by biologists from the Division of Wildlife Resources; legislative rules shall be based on this determination.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.

§20-2-6a. Equalizing hunting bag limits and fishing creel limits statewide.

Notwithstanding any provision in this code to the contrary, the director, based solely upon determinations made by biologists from the Division of Wildlife Resources, shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, setting hunting bag limits and fishing creel limits statewide for the taking of game animals and fish.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that hunting bag limits and fishing creel limits statewide for the taking of game animals and fish shall be determined solely by biologists from the Division Of Wildlife Resources, and that legislative rules shall be based on this determination.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.