Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Natural Resources Committee Membership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves change to Natural Resources Committee membership and ENE representation
Summary
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee passed a bill to reduce the Natural Resources Committee membership from nine to seven and consolidate the Department of Energy and Environment's three seats into one, placing notice and appointment authority with the secretary or designee.
A bill to modify membership of the Natural Resources Committee — the advisory body that handles requests to lease mineral rights on state lands — passed the Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee by voice vote.
Senator Missy Irvin, R-District 24, told the committee the measure was developed in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Environment and the commissioner of state lands. Irvin said the bill reduces the committee’s membership from nine to seven and consolidates the department’s three current positions into a single seat for the secretary of Energy and Environment or the secretary’s designee.
Irvin said the bill also clarifies that members may appoint designees to the committee and that the notification previously required to three separate Energy and Environment seats would be changed to a single notice to the secretary. The presenter said the commissioner of state lands approves the proposal and that it was intended as a cleanup and efficiency change.
A committee member expressed concern about legislative oversight of appointed designees, noting that the Senate confirms secretaries but does not typically confirm designees and suggesting the bill could require Senate approval of designees. Irvin and the committee did not adopt such an amendment during the hearing; no public commenters were recorded.
The committee recorded a motion to pass the bill, a second, and a voice vote in favor; the chair announced the bill passed. The transcript does not include a recorded vote tally or an effective date.
