4x4Voice

As the dust settles over the State Senate vote on SB 249, a few things are becoming clear.  First, that the bill passed with basic minimum votes (3 - NO and 3 - Abstain from the Democrats) indicates this a noted issue and some elected representatives listened to their constituents.  This is the OHMVR program praised by former Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell as 'world class'.  The same program praised by Department of Parks Director Lisa Mangat as 'world class'.

On behalf of other OHV reps engaged in fight for the renewal of the program, thank-you for your contributions, calls and letters to your elected representatives.  They made a difference.

Many have never watched a Senate Floor vote. This segment of Senate Floor Discussion prior to a vote on a bill features Senator Joel Anderson’s comments in opposition to SB-249.  EVERY OHV organization in the State is FIGHTING to kill SB-249, a very punitive bill that will effectively kill the state OHMVR program.

Thank-you, Senator Anderson, for your support. 

The video is about 7 minutes long and worth viewing to stay informed. This is YOUR OHV program.

Please tell your friends in OHV to watch this video…………..

Save the California OHV Program has been a high level topic for several months.  Competing legislation has been introduced with State Senate and Assembly hearing held and more to come.

SB-249 was introduced.  The legislation (as introduced) is very punitive towards OHV recreation and would basically destroy the program.

AB-1077 was introduced.  This legislation seeks to renew the program, as is, making no substantial changes to a program that has functioned for more the 40 years.  With the periodic re-authorizations required (last one SB-742 in 2007), the program is well managed and always within its budget.

Your assistance is needed to help save the California OHV Program.  Assembly Bill 1077 has been introduced and is scheduled for its first hearing before the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on April 4, 2017.  This proposed bill is supported by state OHV groups and would keep the OHV program as it now exists.

The immediate need is for people that live within the districts of Members of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife to send letters asking them to SUPPORT AB-1077.  A list of those members is provided below.

Your assistance is needed to help save the California OHV Program.  Senate Bill 249 has been introduced and is scheduled for its first hearing before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on March 14, 2017.  This proposed bill would eliminate the OHV program as it now exists.

The immediate need is for people that live within the districts of Members of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee to send letters asking them to OPPOSE SB-249.  A list of those members is provided below.

You can either write and mail a letter, send an email with the below text (about 1670 characters) or leave a posting on the Member’s Facebook Wall.

For a letter:

The members are addressed as Honorable (first name) (last name)
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
California State Capitol, Room _____
Sacramento, CA 95814 

At a public meeting in Sacramento on July 19, 2016, State Parks Director Mangat stated: "This OHV program is the national model. It's not just the great program in the State of California, it is the national model, and we recognize that."

The current California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program (OHMVR) has been in existence since 1971 (Chappi-Z’Berg Act), is a great success, and hailed as a national model providing for a statewide system of managed OHV recreational opportunities. The OHMVR Program assures that quality recreational opportunities remain available for future generations by providing education, conservation, and enforcement efforts that balance OHV recreation impact with programs that conserve and protect cultural and natural resources.