WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5174
By Delegates Eldridge, Gearheart, Leavitt, Parsons, D. Cannon, Masters, Watt, and Sheedy
[Introduced February 04, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §20-2-65, relating to permitting gold panning; and providing for the publishing of dates.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) The Division of Natural Resources shall authorize gold panning in West Virginia rivers and streams and shall designate times of year when gold panning is permissible depending in the spawning season on various rivers and streams in the state.
(b) A gold pan shall be used and a sluice that is no bigger than four inches wide.
(c) After the establishment of the dates when gold panning is permitted, the Division of Natural Resources shall publish these dates for the interested public.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize gold panning and have dates published showing when the season is open.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.