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SB 1023WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia creates "Responsible Recreation" special license plate and dedicated off-highway vehicle education fund

Original title: Creating "responsible recreation” special license plate

Last action · February 20, 2026: To Transportation and InfrastructureSponsor: Mark Maynard

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia establishes a new "Responsible Recreation" special license plate for , requiring a $50 initial fee and a $25 annual renewal fee to fund off-highway vehicle safety education, trail stewardship, and signage.

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.

Directly affected

Class A motor vehicle owners

Vehicle owners have the option to purchase the special license plate by paying the $50 initial fee and $25 annual renewal fee.

Directly affected

Off-highway vehicle operators

Operators are impacted by new safety education programs, trail signage, and volunteer stewardship activities funded by the plate proceeds.

Directly affected

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

The agency is tasked with administering the new fund, overseeing partner nonprofits, and submitting an annual legislative report.

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

How much does the Responsible Recreation license plate cost?
There is a $50 initial issuance fee and a $25 annual renewal fee, charged in addition to all other standard registration fees.
Who manages the money collected from the plate fees?
The Division of Natural Resources administers the Responsible Recreation Fund, subject to state audits and final agency approval over all projects and expenditures.
What can the fund money be spent on?
Moneys may be used for off-highway vehicle safety education, trail signage, volunteer-based trash removal and erosion prevention, educational outreach, and reasonable administrative costs.
Can the fund be used to build new roads or purchase land?
No, the bill explicitly prohibits using fund moneys for large-scale construction, land acquisition, or general marketing.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Feb 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Transportation and Infrastructure
  2. Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced in Senate
  3. Feb 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Transportation and Infrastructure then Finance
  4. Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Filed 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

Mark MaynardSenateRepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Bureau of Land Management, Joint Committee on Government and Finance, United States Forest Service and 3 more
OrganizationBureau of Land Management“Federal land management agency referenced in nonprofit partnership qualification”Map →
OrganizationJoint Committee on Government and Finance“Recipient of the annual report submitted by the Division of Natural Resources.”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Forest Service“Federal land management agency referenced in nonprofit partnership qualification”Map →
otherResponsible Recreation Fund“Special revenue fund created in the State Treasury to hold plate proceeds.”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles“Responsible for issuing the special plate and covering administrative costs from”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources“Administers the Responsible Recreation Fund and submits annual reports.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 35)
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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