The Senate Energy Industry and Mining Committee met Monday afternoon and advanced four bills relating to coal mining, electricity utility rates, public water systems, and the Creating Natural Resources Anti-Commandeering Act.
Senate Bill 48 relates to the powers and duties of the Public Service Commission.
The bill would grant commissioners the power to enforce, establish, and change tariffs, rates, joint rates, tolls, and schedules for all public utilities. This bill is intended to prevent electricity utility rates from being increased during the winter.
The legislation was reported to the full Senate with the recommendation of passage, but first reported to the committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 586 relates to modifying requirements for public water systems.
The bill would prohibit the Secretary of the Department of Health from promulgating rules that would cause public water systems or businesses to have backflow preventers.
Low-hazard backflow prevention assemblies may not be inspected more frequently than once in three years by the Secretary of the Department of Health.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with the recommendation of passage.
Senate Bill 685 would implement the Creating Natural Resources Anti- Commandeering Act.
This bill would prohibit agencies in the state of West Virginia and political subdivisions from knowingly and willingly participating in the enforcement of any federal act relating to coal, oil, gas, timber, or other extractive resources that do not exist under current law.
According to the bill’s legislation, it’s intended to protect West Virginia employees, including law enforcement officers, from being directed to violate their oaths of office and rights affirmed under the Tenth Amendment.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Judiciary.
Senate Bill 686 would provide exceptions to waste and trespassing for certain coal estates to encourage safe and efficient mining, extraction, and production of coal.
The bill would require tenants in common and joint tenants to be liable for their cotenants, jointly or severally, for damages.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Judiciary.
