WEST virginia legislature
FISCAL NOTE
2026 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 996
By Senators Taylor and Smith (Mr. President)
[Introduced February 19, 2026; referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance]
A BILL to amend and reenact §20-1-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend the code by adding a new section, designated §20-5-25, relating to creating the Jennings Randolph Lake State Park; providing legislative findings; providing for administration; authorizing cooperative agreements; providing for park development; authorizing rule-making authority; and providing an effective date.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) The state parks of West Virginia are:
(1) Audra; (2) Babcock; (3) Beartown; (4) Beech Fork; (5) Berkeley Springs; (6) Blackwater Falls; (7) Blennerhassett Island Historical; (8) Bluestone; (9) Cacapon Resort; (10) Camp Creek; (11) Canaan Valley Resort; (12) Carnifex Ferry Battlefield; (13) Cass Scenic Railroad; (14) Cathedral; (15) Cedar Creek; (16) Chief Logan; (17) Droop Mountain Battlefield; (18) Fairfax Stone Historical Monument; (19) Hawks Nest; (20) Holly River; (21) Jennings Randolph Lake State Park; (21) (22) Little Beaver; (22) (23) Lost River; (23) (24) Moncove Lake; (24) (25) North Bend; (25) (26) Pinnacle Rock; (26) (27) Pipestem Resort; (27) (28) Prickett’s Fort; (28) (29) Stonewall Resort; (29) (30) Summersville Lake; (30) (31) Tomlinson Run; (31) (32) Tu-Endie-Wei (Point Pleasant Battle Monument); (32) (33) Twin Falls Resort; (33) (34) Tygart Lake; (34) (35) Valley Falls; (35) (36) Watoga; and (36) (37) Watters Smith Memorial.
(b) The state forests of West Virginia are:
(1) Cabwaylingo; (2) Calvin Price; (3) Camp Creek; (4) Coopers Rock; (5) Greenbrier; (6) Kanawha; (7) Kumbrabow; (8) Panther Forest/WMA, consisting of approximately twenty-six acres containing park facilities; and (9) Seneca.
(c) Neither the director nor any officer, employee or agent of the Division of Natural Resources may close, change the name or the designated use of a state park or state forest without statutory authorization.
(a) Legislative findings. — The Legislature finds and declares that Jennings Randolph Lake is a significant recreational, economic, and environmental resource located in Mineral County, West Virginia, attracting visitors from across the state and surrounding region for boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The Legislature further finds that designation of Jennings Randolph Lake as an official state park will enhance tourism, outdoor recreation, conservation, and economic development in the Potomac Highlands region and strengthen the State’s ability to coordinate investment and long-term stewardship of the area.
(b) Creation of state park. — There is hereby created Jennings Randolph Lake State Park, located in Mineral County, West Virginia, to consist of those lands, waters, and recreational facilities associated with Jennings Randolph Lake that are owned by the State or made available to the State for park purposes.
(c) Administration. — The Division of Natural Resources shall include Jennings Randolph Lake State Park within the West Virginia State Park system and shall administer, manage, maintain, and improve the park pursuant to the authority granted under this chapter.
(d) Cooperative agreements authorized. — The Division of Natural Resources may enter into cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, leases, or other arrangements with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, local governmental entities, and other public or private partners as necessary to provide for the continued operation, maintenance, improvement, and public recreational use of Jennings Randolph Lake State Park.
(e) Federal jurisdiction not impaired. — Nothing in this section may be construed to impair or supersede federal jurisdiction or authority over Jennings Randolph Lake, the dam, reservoir project, or surrounding federally controlled lands.
(f) Development authority; rulemaking. — The Division of Natural Resources may propose rules, develop recreational facilities, improve public access, expand camping or lodging opportunities, and allocate park resources as necessary to enhance outdoor recreation and promote tourism and economic growth in the surrounding region.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Jennings Randolph Lake State Park.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.