CHARLESTON – Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, today announced that Senator Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, has been named Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. He replaces Senator Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, who has been named Chairman of the Committee on Government Organization.
Senator Hamilton was elected to the Senate in 2018. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Pensions Committee and serves as a member of the Banking and Insurance, Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Mining, Finance, Interstate Cooperation, Military, and Natural Resources committees. Senator Hamilton previously spent 16 years as a member of the House of Delegates, where he served as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee from 2015 to 2018.
“West Virginia is often referred to as a sportsman’s kingdom, and it’s easy to see why,” Senate President Carmichael said. “Our outdoor attractions are some of our strongest, and it’s critical we find ways to promote and protect those. With his experience from the House of Delegates and his lifelong passion for the outdoors, Bill was a natural fit to be the new chairman of this committee.”
Senator Hamilton is a retired independent insurance agent. He has been a Hunter Safety Instructor with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources since 1988. Senator Hamilton was named 2001 Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia and 2005 Citizen of the Year by the Southern-Upshur Business Association. He is also a lifetime member of the Upshur County Association of Retired School Employees.
“I’m very pleased Senate President Carmichael has appointed me as chairman of Natural Resources,” Senator Hamilton said. “I’m looking forward to working on building cooperation between sportsmen and the Department of Natural Resources to improve our recreational opportunities for all West Virginians. The outdoors is a major component of our state’s tourism industry, and I am always eager to grow that sector of our economy.”
Senator Hamilton represents the Eleventh Senatorial District, which includes Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur, and Webster counties, and part of Grant County.