FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: February 05, 2026
Time Requested: 04:39 PM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 3728 |
Introduced |
SB746 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Natural Resources |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
0265, 3200
Sources of Revenue:
Other Fund N/A
Legislation creates:
Creates New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of the proposed legislation is to allow resident and nonresident Class Q hunting permit holders vehicular access for the purpose of wildlife viewing on all state-owned property, via roads, fire roads, access roads, and roads normally gated. Access would be permitted by regularly licensed motorized vehicles, excluding ATVs or UTVs, to travel said roads. This privilege is proposed as a stamp that is purchased in addition to a hunting or fishing license or Class Q permit [sic]. This privilege would be extended to all state-owned land except those "prohibited by rules of the director". All revenue from this stamp would be dedicated exclusively to wildlife resources program expenses. Coopers Rock and Kanawha state forests would be excluded.
If this activity were allowed on Wildlife Management Areas, there would be potential interference with wildlife reproduction and hunter use. This could lead to a federal audit finding that West Virginia had diverted real property from its intended use and West Virginia would be required to pay back the purchase price of the land plus be ineligible to participate in federal grant programs which bring $12-16 million per year to the state. Therefore, by rules of the Director, Wildlife Management Areas would be limited seasonally and 5 miles included on a trial basis.
In order to estimate the costs of such a program, a pilot study was conceived to improve 46 miles of unimproved roads on State Park property and 5 miles on Wildlife Management Areas. This resulted in an initial cost of $14,513,553 ($284,579 per mile) and a yearly maintenance cost of $291,970.
In order to estimate revenue, the stamp was arbitrarily set at $10. Purchase rate was set for 22% for already licensed Class Q wildlife viewers and 1% for unlicensed wildlife viewers that may take part in the program.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
14,513,553 |
281,970 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
249,118 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
13,382,553 |
42,852 |
| Assets |
0 |
1,131 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
116,136 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Estimated costs are based on a pilot project bringing 46 miles of unimproved State Park roads and 5 miles of Wildlife Management Area roads up to West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) standards for gravel roads. First year costs include the purchase of heavy equipment to make the road improvements and conduct future maintenance. Equipment costs include: 750 class bulldozer ($375,000), 130 class excavator ($240,000), a mulcher head for excavator ($50,000), tri-axle dump truck ($220,000), dual-axle dump truck ($200,000), and 2 trailers to haul the equipment ($23,000 each).
Repairs and alterations costs are estimated from a per mile cost provided by WVDOH of $262,403 per mile (adjusted for inflation to 2026 prices). This is a reasonable estimate, considering the approximate 59 truckloads of gravel needed to provide a 4-inch by 12-foot layer per mile, in addition to the costs for transportation, installation labor, filter fabric, culverts, ditching, and other necessary materials.
Continued maintenance costs are based on hiring 4 individuals at $22.50 per hour plus benefits to run the equipment/program plus a $840.23 per mile cost of yearly maintenance for a gravel road as provided by WVDOH (adjusted for inflation to 2026 prices).
Revenue is estimated from 849 currently licensed Class Q participants ($10 per person) and 3262 unlicensed participants that may potentially take part in the program purchasing a base license plus stamp ($33 per person). Participation is based on estimates of "Wildlife Viewing Away From Home" as provided in the 2022 and 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and information pulled from the WVDNR Electronic Licensing System.
Memorandum
Since Class Q hunters are already permitted behind gates for hunting, there would be no way to determine their activity during hunting season, so they would need to have the wildlife viewing stamp, regardless.
For additional information concerning this fiscal note, please contact:
Wendy Greene, Deputy Director
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
112 California Avenue
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
304-558-2754
Wendy.L.Greene@wv.gov
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Benjamin P King
Email Address: benjamin.p.king@wv.gov