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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Restricts State Use of Community Air Monitoring Data for Penalties or Permits
Last action · January 14, 2026: To Government OrganizationSponsors: Eric Tarr and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia SB 88 prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection from using community-collected air monitoring data to issue fines, penalties, or permits, or to take enforcement actions against s. The bill establishes qualifying standards and rule-making authority for community air monitoring programs while excluding certain state, federal, and permitted systems from these specific definitions.
The measure determines whether grassroots or independent air pollution measurements can trigger state regulatory penalties, enforcement proceedings, or permit denials for industrial facilities.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
owners or operators of sources of air emissions
Stationary sources are protected from having community-collected air monitoring data used as evidence in enforcement actions, permit decisions, or fines.
Department of Environmental Protection
The department is restricted from using community air monitoring data for regulatory enforcement under the Clean Air Act, issuing fines, or denying permits, and is granted new rule-making authority.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can community air monitoring data be used to issue a fine against an industrial facility?
What information must be provided when requesting an investigation based on community air monitoring data?
Are EPA-operated monitoring systems classified as community air monitoring programs under this bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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