CHARLESTON – Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-4) has announced that Sen. Bill Hamilton (R-11) was selected to serve as the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. Hamilton will replace Sen. Mark Maynard (R-6), who has a new role serving as the Chairman of the Committee on Government Organization.
Currently, Hamilton serves as the Vice Chairman of the Pensions Committee and is a member of the Banking and Insurance, Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Mining, Finance, Interstate Cooperation, Military, and Natural Resources committees. According to the Member’s Press Release, Hamilton previously spent 16 years as a member of the House of Delegates, serving as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee from 2015 to 2018.
“West Virginia is often referred to as a sportsman’s kingdom, and it’s easy to see why,” Senate President Carmichael said. “Our outdoor attractions are some of our strongest, and it’s critical we find ways to promote and protect those. With his experience from the House of Delegates and his lifelong passion for the outdoors, Bill was a natural fit to be the new chairman of this committee.”
Since 1988, Hamilton has been a Hunter Safety Instructor with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
“I’m very pleased Senate President Carmichael has appointed me as chairman of Natural Resources,” Senator Hamilton said. “I’m looking forward to working on building cooperation between sportsmen and the Department of Natural Resources to improve our recreational opportunities for all West Virginians. The outdoors is a major component of our state’s tourism industry, and I am always eager to grow that sector of our economy.”
Hamilton was elected to the State Senate in 2018, after defeating his Democratic challenger Laura Finch.
