On February 9th, the House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing at the Capitol on HB 4268 (Forced Pooling/”Cotenancy”). Later that day, the committee voted on an altered and amended committee substitute for the bill. Read more about the Hearing, the vote, and how to take action here.

The bill will now head to a vote on the House Floor. It may be on second reading as soon as Tuesday, February 13th.

On January 30th…

Forced Pooling is on the agenda for House Energy today at 2:00 pm.

The lead Swamp Mastermind of the bill, Bill Anderson, is Chair of that committee, and several Swampy Cosponsors serve on the committee under him. Anderson intends to keep the committee members in meetings today until they vote.

Remember that the sponsors of this legislation are trying to mask its true nature by calling it “Cotenancy,” but it has been clear from day one that this is the same Forced Pooling property grab that lobbyists push for year after year. This legislation will allow large out-of-state gas and oil companies to seize and develop unwilling West Virginians’ property, with no right to appeal. That is theft!

This page will be updated as soon as we see a vote on HB 4268/Forced Pooling in the House Energy Committee. In the meantime, if you want to give committee members advice or feedback on Forced Pooling, you can find contact information for the House Energy Committee here.

In the event the HB 4268 attack on property rights moves forward, it will go to the House Judiciary Committee. Take a few minutes to contact House Judiciary Committee members and ask them to oppose Forced Pooling and the theft of West Virginians’ property. Tell them to stay out of the Swamp!

Update: Forced Pooling was amended and passed out of the House Energy Committee on a 14-10 vote; this post will be updated once the text of the amendment and the results of the roll call vote are published.

The next stop for HB 4268 is the House Judiciary Committee. See contact information for House Judiciary Committee below.

 

House Judiciary Committee Members

(Swamp Dwellers Indicated in Bold)

Chair John Shott (Chair): (304) 340-3252; (304) 325-7534; (304) 327-0573

Roger Hanshaw (Vice Chair): (304) 340-3252 (note, this is the same number as the Chair); (304) 587-9947; (304) 347-2115

Barbara Evans Fleischauer (Minority Chair): (304) 340-3127; (no home number given); (304) 296-7035

Shawn Fluharty (Minority Vice-Chair): (304) 340-3270; (304) 281-8195; (304) 340-3270

Andrew Byrd: (304) 340-3362; (304) 741-3083

Joe Canestraro: (304) 340-3151; (304) 280-5400

Moore Capito: (304) 340-3340; (304) 552-8986

Frank Deem:  (304) 340-3137; (304)-295-6593

Forced Pooling Sponsor Tom Fast: (304) 340-3170; (304) 574-0777

Forced Pooling Sponsor Geoff Foster: (304) 340-3121; (304) 561-4229; (304) 561-4229

Jason Harshbarger: (304) 340-3195; (304) 659-2203; (304) 669-5007

Forced Pooling Sponsor Ray Hollen:  (304) 340-3136; (681) 236-2090

Phil Isner: (304) 340-3145; (304) 636-7681

Kayla Kessinger: (304) 340-3197; (304) 719-7636

Forced Pooling Sponsor Charlotte Lane: (304) 340-3183; (304) 964-1159

Chad Lovejoy: (304) 340-3280; (304) 638-7415

Rodney Miller: (304) 340-3184; (304) 369-6022; (304) 345-2232

Riley Moore: (304) 340-3248; (304) 707-5838

John Overington: (304) 340-3148; (304) 274-1791; (304) 274-1791

Mike Pushkin: (304) 340-3106; (304) 344-4339; (304) 989-6856

Ben Queen: (304) 340-3171; (304) 709-2013

Andrew Robinson: (304) 340-3156; (304) 545-7378

Kelli Sobonya: (304) 340-3175; (no home number given); (304)-417-0869

Amy Summers: (304) 340-3139; (304) 842-7958

Forced Pooling Sponsor Mark Zatezalo: (304) 340-3120; (304) 748-1624; (304) 491-0937

 

House Judiciary emails

john.shott@wvhouse.gov

roger.hanshaw@wvhouse.gov

barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

shawn.fluharty@wvhouse.gov

andrew.byrd@wvhouse.gov

joe.canestraro@wvhouse.gov

moore.capito@wvhouse.gov

frank.deem@wvhouse.gov

tom.fast@wvhouse.gov

geoff.foster@wvhouse.gov

jason.harshbarger@wvhouse.gov

ray.hollen@wvhouse.gov

phil.isner@wvhouse.gov

kayla.kessinger@wvhouse.gov

charlotte.lane@wvhouse.gov

chad.lovejoy@wvhouse.gov

rodney.miller@wvhouse.gov

riley.moore@wvhouse.gov

john@overington.com

mike.pushkin@wvhouse.gov

ben.queen@wvhouse.gov

andrew.robinson@wvhouse.gov

kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

amy.summers@wvhouse.gov

mark.zatezalo@wvhouse.gov