Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
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House Judiciary Amends Political Campaign Bill

Soleil Woolard
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House Judiciary Amends Political Campaign Bill

The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees met this morning.

Judiciary

House Bill 5066 would prohibit the release of the addresses and names of people who make contributions to political campaigns. If someone were to release said information, misdemeanor penalties are spelled out in the bill. This bill was reported to the floor.

Delegate Evan Hansen (D – Monongalia, 079) proposed an amendment to include the State treasurer in the protection outlined in the bill. This amendment was adopted.

House Bill 5105 would prohibit the financial exploitation of people recovering from addiction. Any individual who is in charge of a person in recovery’s finances that takes advantage of said finances is guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, shall be fined up to $1,000 or put in jail for up to a year, or both fined and confined.

House Bill 5198 would increase the penalty for crimes against people who have a mental disability.

House Bill 5203 would prohibit any municipality from issuing any municipal ID for voting in a municipal election. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 5214 would require parents with child abuse and/or child neglect claims against them to be drug tested before their children can be placed back into their care.

House Bill 4656 would address absenteeism in students and shift the focus from punitive to preventative. This bill would remove having 10 or more unexcused absences as a status offense. This bill would also provide different services to prevent chronic absenteeism, such as financial help, mental health support services, or transportation to school if needed.

House Bill 4799 would establish the cold case task force for the State of West Virginia. This task force would investigate and prosecute offenders in cold cases. The cold case task force would be authorized to cooperate with federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies.

House Bill 4842 would clarify the civil cause of action for people exposing intimate images. This civil action would be similar to the civil cause of action for people who commit sexual extortion.

House Bill 4850 would require online training to be provided for Executors/Executrixes of an Estate.

House Bill 5341 would create a domestic violence registry. This registry would include several pieces of information about the names of the people who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense of domestic violence. This information would include, but is not limited to, the address where the person will reside or resides at the time of registration, their Social Security number, a full-face photograph, a brief description of the crime or crimes for which the registrant was convicted, fingerprints and palm prints, and motor vehicle information.

Legal Services

House Bill 5401 would clarify how voting in West Virginia elections works while residing overseas. This bill would clearly state that any individual who is a United States citizen who is temporarily living abroad and was a West Virginian resident can vote in the state and federal elections. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5416 would give trustees and pastors the authority to make a deal with only one trustee and the pastor, whether it be for borrowing money or encumbering property. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5067 would clarify the authority to enter into agreements with law-enforcement agencies of the Department of Homeland Security to seek certain grant funds. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Homeland Security

House Bill 5444 would increase the amount of fees to be paid by parolees based on their ability to pay, which would be an increase from $40 to $50. This fee would be only for the supervision. This bill was sent to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5449 would repeal the Addiction Treatment Pilot Program since the pilot program no longer exists.

House Bill 5454 would change the authorities of the select committee’s oversight of the West Virginia Fusion Center. This bill would also direct the Legislative Auditor to conduct an annual audit of the Fusion Center.

House Bill 5206 would make certain acts of panhandling and solicitation illegal, fire departments, school organizations, and 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from this.

Courts

House Bill 5406 would make the WV State Police Forensic Laboratory responsible for certification, standards, and administration of secondary chemical tests. The bill also makes the forensic laboratory responsible for approval of the devices and methods of preliminary breath analysis.

In addition to these changes, this bill would also give the rule-making authority to the State Police, rather than the Bureau of Public Health.

House Bill 4604 would increase the compensation of all panel attorneys and guardians ad litem up to $100 an hour.  The bill also creates an assistant guardian ad litem position.

 

Human Smuggling and Trafficking Bill Clears Senate

Jaidyn Carter
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Human Smuggling and Trafficking Bill Clears Senate

On Tuesday morning, the Senate introduced Senate Bills 960-978, adopted Senate Resolution 43 regarding Local Food and Farm Day and Senate Resolution 44 regarding the St. Joseph Central High School Boys Soccer Team.

The Senate also passed several bills, including House Bill 4433, regarding human smuggling and trafficking.

House Bill 4433 would make human smuggling and human trafficking a felony and add a definition for the term “illegal alien”.

Human Smuggling is defined in the bill as the act of knowingly transporting, transferring, receiving, isolating, enticing, or harboring an undocumented individual to avoid law enforcement. This does not include an immediate family member of the undocumented individual.

An illegal alien is defined in the bill as an individual who has entered the United States without authorization, has violated the terms of their admission, or is without a legal status and is subject to removal if apprehended. Further definitions from the bill can be found in code §61-14-1.

Senator Joey Gracia (D – Marion, 13) proposed an amendment to add language to the bill that would exempt good Samaritans from being threatened by a felony when attempting to lawfully help an illegal immigrant if it involves their immediate health, safety, and welfare.

The Senator also proposed within the same amendment to strike through language in the bill that allows immediate family members of an illegal immigrant to be an exception in terms of human smuggling. The Senator raised concerns regarding family involvement in human smuggling. Stating the International Organization for Migration has stated that 41 percent of the trafficking of illegal immigrants is done by immediate family members.

Those opposing the amendment raised concerns about the amendment potentially welcoming more undocumented immigrants into the country.

“If you would provide shelter or relief for people who entered this country illegally and are causing harm to this country, you should be prosecuted, and I think the gentlemen’s amendment would get us away from that,” stated Eric J. Tarr (R – Putnam, 04).

Following the discussion, the amendment was rejected.

Senator Ryan W. Weld (R – Brooke, 01) also proposed an amendment to add language to the bill stating the word “willfully” along with knowingly when regarding the definition of human smuggling.

The amendment was intended to clarify the intentions of human smuggling in hopes of not incriminating those who are doing a good deed without participating in a crime.

Following discussion, the amendment was adopted.

The bill, as amended, passed the full Senate and was sent to the House of Delegates for consideration.

House Bill 4474 would extend the Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Advisory Council’s sunset date, allowing the group to remain active beyond its original expiration.

The council advises the state on policies, programs, and resources for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their families. The council would continue to bring coordination, expertise, and accountability in how West Virginia responds to those with Alzheimer’s and other Dementias by bringing together advocates, health professionals, caregivers, and state agencies to advise on how to handle those directly and indirectly impacted by the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Advisory Council would be able to continue implementing the State Alzheimer’s Plan and supporting initiatives in the state of West Virginia.

The bill completed legislative action and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health and Human Resources at 1 p.m. in Room 451M

Economic Development at 2 p.m. in Room 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in Room 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in Room 208W

Morning Meetings for Feb. 18:

Natural Resources at 9:30 a.m. in Room 208W

The Senate is adjourned until Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.

Senate Education Advances School Calendar Reform Bill

Jaidyn Carter
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Senate Education Advances School Calendar Reform Bill

The Senate Education Committee advanced two key education bills Tuesday morning, addressing school calendar requirements and principal qualifications.

Senate Bill 899 modifies the requirements for becoming a school principal.

This bill would allow teachers with 15 years of experience at the elementary, middle, or high school level to be certified as principals at the same level for which they have taught for a minimum of 15 years.

The bill was reported to the Full Senate with a recommendation of passage.

Senate Bill 890 would change certain school calendar requirements from days, months, or hours.

This bill would change the minimum public school employment term from 200 days to 1,600 hours; and convert other public school calendar provisions from days or months to hours.

The time would be designated by the county board for employees to use for preparation for opening school.

This bill would also allow nonpublic schools to deliver instructions through alternative methods that count toward up to 25 hours of instructional time when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The hours of instruction can also count towards the 900-hour instructional time requirement.

Those opposing the bill raised concerns about a four-day work week becoming a possibility for schools, causing families to have to find childcare on weekdays. They expressed the importance of students attending school Monday through Friday in preparation for the workforce, mimicking the same schedule.

Supporters of the bill claim it provides a decrease in regulations for schools and allows counties to make decisions based on their area. They also expressed that schools could switch to a year-round schedule instead of a four-day week calendar, allowing families to plan vacations more and provide everyone with a break, including the staff.

Senator Eric J. Tarr (R – Putman, 04) proposed an amendment adding to the definition of the term “employment term” by further defining an employment term as a month being defined as 20 employment days or 160 employment hours, with the intention to address retirement concerns for teachers.

The amendment was adopted.

The bill, as amended, was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.

Senate Finance Kicks Off Budget Negotiations

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Finance Kicks Off Budget Negotiations

The Senate Finance committee advanced it’s version of the Budget Bill Monday afternoon, marking the earliest lawmakers could recall the document being approved in committee.

Senate Bill 250 entails a $5.381 billion general revenue budget, which is a two percent decrease from the $5.493 billion budget presented to lawmakers by by Governor Patrick Morrisey during his State of the State address on Jan. 14.

The Senate’s version of the budget includes just over $270 million in cuts following general revenue adjustments, as well as nearly $160 million in enhancements. One major change involves lowering the investment in the Hope scholarship program from the Governor’s proposed $338 million to $300 million.

The bill also adjusts how Medicaid funding through the Bureau of Medical Services works. Morrisey’s budget funds Medicaid at just under $140 million in the general revenue budget and $170 million through the surplus section of the budget. The Senate version increases the Medicaid general revenue funding to just over $260 million, with roughly $5.5 million coming from sweeps of special revenue accounts, and $46 million in current fiscal year funding of Medicaid.

The Senate’s budget also incorporates Senate Bill 392 (also approved Monday), which would cut personal income tax rates by approximately 10 percent retroactive to Jan. 1, returning $250 million to taxpayers when fully implemented.

A portion of the tax cut would be paid for with increased taxes on vape and e-cigarette products, raising a projected $22 million in tax revenue.

Senate Bill 392 modifies the current excise tax of 7.5 cents per milliliter to a tiered system based on the type of vaping device. Closed system vapes, such as cartridge or pods, would be taxed at $1.20 per cartridge. Open system, or refillable vapes would be taxed at 25 cents per milliliter.

Senators acknowledged during discussion that their version of the budget will almost certainly change, and that the current document is simply a starting point for negotiations with the House of Delegates.

As of this writing, 26 days remain in the 2026 Regular Session.

House HHR Advances Insurance Coverage Bill of Dietary Supplements

Soleil Woolard
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0
House HHR Advances Insurance Coverage Bill of Dietary Supplements

The House Health and Human Resources committee advanced three bills this evening.

House Bill 4760 would require insurance to cover dietary supplements. This coverage would be for nutritional wellness and prevention that is beneficial to the enrollee and recommended by the enrollee’s physician. This includes, but is not limited to, vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, concentrates, metabolites, enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics. This bill was referred to Finance.

House Bill 4730 would develop services that support youth who are preparing to exit foster care. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 5430 would update the regulation for pharmacy benefit managers and state pharmacies, specifically in Medicaid and PEIA. This regulation includes, but is not limited to, requiring an annual pharmacy dispensing fee study and the implementation of a pharmacy cost containment tool, which would provide information on the lowest cost of a pharmaceutical drug. This bill would also require certain information to be able to be accessed by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Senate Bill 543 would require the Bureau for Social Services to file its complete policy manual as a legislative rule. This would give the West Virginia legislature complete power over the rulemaking process for the Bureau of Social Services.

Senate Bill 404 would allow the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to enter into agreements with child welfare providers, including faith-based organizations, to carry out the responsibilities of the Department of Human Services under Chapter 49. This chapter of code pertains to child welfare in the state.

House Judiciary Advances Electioneering Bill

Soleil Woolard
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0
House Judiciary Advances Electioneering Bill

The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees met this morning.

Judiciary

House Bill 4546 would require biennial reports for limited liability and foreign limited liability companies, instead of the annual reports they file now. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4712 would increase the criminal penalties for DUI causing death and DUI offenses for minors. The increase of these penalties will be called “Baylea’s Law.” This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 5197 would make any action brought against the state and its agencies to set aside a sale or deed may be instituted within one year following the date of the sale. This shortened period applies only to claims against state and local governments. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 5228 would change the definition of electioneering. Under this bill, electioneering is now defined as “visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or ballot question.” This bill was reported to the floor.

In addition to the change of definition, this bill describes prohibited activities, permitting election officials and county employees to enforce election laws, and permitting said people to seek assistance from law enforcement. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, displaying a candidate’s likeness, logo, committee name, a ballot question’s number, or paraphernalia in support of a candidate.

House Bill 5273 would require county and municipal campaign finance activities to be published online within 48 hours of the deadline and require municipal candidates file their campaign finance reports with their respective County Clerk. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 5066 would prohibit the release of the addresses and names of people who make contributions to political campaigns. If someone were to release said information, misdemeanor penalties are spelled out in the bill.

House Bill 5105 would prohibit the financial exploitation of people recovering from addiction.

House Bill 5198 would increase the penalty for crimes against people who have a mental disability.

House Bill 5203 would prohibit any municipality from issuing any municipal ID for voting in a municipal election.

Courts

House Bill 5341 would create a domestic violence registry. This registry would include several pieces of information about the names of the people who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense of domestic violence. This information would include, but is not limited to, the address where the person will reside or resides at the time of registration, their Social Security number, a full-face photograph, a brief description of the crime or crimes for which the registrant was convicted, fingerprints and palm prints, and motor vehicle information. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5406 would make the WV State Police Forensic Laboratory responsible for certification, standards, and administration of secondary chemical tests. The bill also makes the forensic laboratory responsible for approval of the devices and methods of preliminary breath analysis.

In addition to these changes, this bill would also give the rule-making authority to the State Police, rather than the Bureau of Public Health.

Homeland Security

House Bill 5444 would increase the amount of fees to be paid by parolees based on their ability to pay, which would be an increase from not to exceed $40 to not to exceed $50. This fee would be only for the supervision.

House Bill 5454 would change the authorities of the select committee’s oversight of the West Virginia Fusion Center. This bill would also direct the Legislative Auditor to conduct an annual audit of the Fusion Center.

House Bill 5449 would repeal the Addiction Treatment Pilot Program since the pilot program no longer exists.

Legal Services

House Bill 4799 would establish the cold case task force for the State of West Virginia. This task force would investigate and prosecute offenders in cold cases. The cold case task force would be authorized to cooperate with federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4842 would clarify the civil cause of action for people exposing intimate images. This civil action would be similar to the civil cause of action for people who commit sexual extortion.  This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5390 would establish that fiscal notes submitted to the Legislature are considered to be sworn testimony. If someone were to provide a fiscal note that they know is false or misleading, they would be convicted of perjury. Nobody would be subject to criminal liability for a fiscal note that is timely corrected or amended, as long as the note was prepared in good faith and the note was not trying to deceive the legislature.

House Bill 5401 would clarify how voting in West Virginia elections works while residing overseas. This bill would clearly state that any individual who is a United States citizen who is temporarily living abroad and was a West Virginian resident can vote in the state and federal elections.

House Bill 5416 would give the authority of trustees and pastors to only need one trustee and the pastor to make a deal, whether it be for borrowing money or encumbering property.

Senate Judiciary Approves Open Captioning Requirements for Movie Theaters

Jaidyn Carter
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0
Senate Judiciary Approves Open Captioning Requirements for Movie Theaters

The Senate Judiciary Committee met Monday afternoon advancing two bills regarding hearing impairment accessibility in movie theaters and conviction procedures in West Virginia.

Senate Bill 493 would require larger movie theaters in West Virginia to offer at least two open-captioned shows per week for films that are available with captions.

This bill would also require audio description to be provided upon request when available. Showings that are drive-ins, smaller, limited, or without compatible equipment are exempt from the legislation under this bill.

This bill is intended to expand access to entertainment for West Virginians with hearing or vision impairments while balancing concerns from smaller theater operators.

Supporters of the bill expressed that the bill promotes inclusion without placing an excessive burden on local businesses.

Following discussion,  the bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation for passage.

Senate Bill 799 would update eviction procedures in West Virginia.

This bill would require the court to schedule a hearing within 5 to 10 judicial days when a landlord files an eviction petition. Under the legislation, the landlord must properly serve the tenant with a notice of the hearing. The tenants would also be able to file and serve a written defense within five days of receiving notice of the petition.

Senator Ryan W. Weld (R – Brooke, 01) proposed an amendment by adding the phrase “by the petitioner” to clarify who is to file the receipt of return of service or return receipt to the court.

The amendment was adopted.

The bill, as amended, was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.

Public Education Focus of Committee Hearings

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Public Education Focus of Committee Hearings

The House Education Committee met this afternoon. Six bills were reported from subcommittees, then the committee continued with the agenda.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 4817 changes the name of the Charters School Stimulus Fund to the Charter Schools Startup Fund. The bill requires submitting an application to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board to receive funds from the Charter Schools Startup Fund. The bill requires specific information to be submitted with the application, expands the uses of the funds, and requires the distribution of funds to qualifying applicants. The bill allows the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board to establish a competitive process when the number of applicants exceeds funding.

House Bill 5212 updates the financial aid system for higher education to streamline the requirements for grants, scholarships, loans, and financial aid for postsecondary education programs, workforce development initiatives, and workforce grants.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 5012 allows in-year movement of school personnel to meet school needs.

House Bill 5089 allows for verifying content mastery through testing when a student enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school.

House Bill 5453 establishes a revised method of school aid funding. The bill clarifies that there is a base fund per student, a local share, and a school aid formula. The bill also establishes supplemental funding for students with special needs. Additional funding can be requested for transportation, vocational and technical education centers, alternative learning centers, and pilot programs.

House Honors Former Speaker Tim Armstead, Advances Poll Worker Bill

Soleil Woolard
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0
House Honors Former Speaker Tim Armstead, Advances Poll Worker Bill

The West Virginia House of Delegates honored former speaker and advanced six bills to the Senate.

The House adopted the House Concurrent Resolution 14 to honor the life and public service of former Speaker of the House Tim Armstead. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1998 to 2018. He served as minority leader from 2006 until 2014. In 2015, he was elected Speaker of the House and re-elected in 2017. On September 25, 2018, Armstead was appointed to be a Justice on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He was elected in a special election in 2018 to retain the seat for the remainder of the term. In 2020, he was elected to a 12-year term, which began in 2021.

House Bill 4865 would create a program allowing juniors and seniors, as well as homeschool students, to serve as poll workers.

The bill’s sponsor, Delegate Joe Funkhouser (R – Jefferson, 98), said the purpose of this bill is to increase civic engagement by allowing 16-to 17-year-olds to work as poll workers for elections.

These high school juniors and seniors would be tasked with checking signatures on ballots and deciding whether a provisional vote is needed, in addition to any other duties a poll worker might be assigned. Young poll workers who join this program would also have to establish a party affiliation.

In discussion, Delegate Evan Hansen (D – Monongalia, 079) shared concerns about the amount of responsibility being placed on 16-to 17-year-olds and the possibility of ill intent. Other delegates shared similar concerns.

Funkhouser said ill intent can happen regardless of age, and penalties are in place for anyone who attempts to tamper with an election. Upon being asked by Delegate Tresa Howell (R – Kanawha, 52) about the penalties a minor might face if they are found guilty of election tampering, Funkhouser said they would face the same penalties as an adult would with election tampering.

Delegate Daniel Linville (R – Cabell, 22) asked Funkhouser whether these poll workers would have adult supervision, and he said they would be under supervision, as current poll workers are.

House Bill 4996 would create mandatory bail conditions for people charged with making terrorist threats against a school. These bail conditions include, but are not limited to, establishing no contact with anyone associated with the school that was threatened, GPS monitoring, and home incarceration within 1000 feet of the school.

In discussion, Delegate Sean Hornbuckle (D – Cabell, 25) said he liked the intent of this bill but believes it needs work and that it isn’t perfect.

In response, Delegate Rick Hillenbrand (R-Hampshire, 88) said that “perfect is the enemy of good enough” and supported this bill.

Delegate Kayla Young (D – Kanawha, 056), following a couple of concerns with language about the bail order, said she was in favor of the bill but hopes it gets work in the Senate.

House Bill 5096 would remove personal care services and intellectual developmental disabilities services from the certificate-of-need requirement.

Delegate Mike Pushkin (D – Kanawha, 54) proposed an amendment to the bill that would remove the moratorium around methadone clinics.

Pushkin said his amendment does not change the bill’s original intent and addresses a moratorium enacted years ago by the legislature.

Delegate Evan Worrell (R – Cabell, 023) said he urged rejection of this amendment, which would allow more methadone clinics to open quickly, and he believed the moratorium should remain in place.

This amendment failed.

In addition to passing bills, the House engaged in a lengthy discussion on data center water usage, with two proposed amendments.

House Bill 4983 would allow the Department of Commerce to adopt a legislative rule for the certification of a microgrid or a high-impact data center.

Two conflicting amendments were proposed.

Delegates Henry C. Dillon (R – Wayne, 29) and Chris Anders (R – Berkeley, 97) proposed an amendment that would include provisions that would regulate the certification process for high-impact data centers. Some of these provisions include a 500ft buffer zone between a data center and a school, home, or church, prohibit the transportation of groundwater in a tanker, require a hydrogeologic study, and many others.

Multiple delegates shared concerns about this amendment, specifically regarding the number of provisions and denials imposed on high-impact data centers. In addition, delegates worried about the number of changes it would make and whether it pertained to the bill. Some delegates also shared concerns about unnecessary burdens being placed on economic development.

Delegate Hansen et al. proposed an amendment that would require data centers, before approval, to report where they obtain their water, the current use of that water, and how these withdrawals will affect communities.

This amendment failed with a vote of 6 to 87.

In discussing this amendment, Delegates said they understood the concerns and intent, but some believed it did not pertain to the rules bill. Delegates also said that, currently, our laws permit water withdrawal and quantity.

This amendment failed with a vote of 23 to 70.

Bills introduced can be found here.
Resolutions introduced can be found here.

Committee Meetings, Today February 16

Committee Meetings, Tuesday February 17

The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2026. 

WV Small Business Growth Act Clears Senate, Becomes Session’s First Completed Bill

Jaidyn Carter
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0
WV Small Business Growth Act Clears Senate, Becomes Session’s First Completed Bill

The Senate met on Monday morning and passed several bills, introduced Senate Bills 944-959, and passed Senate Resolutions, including Senate Resolution 42, which memorializes the life of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick.

Senate Bill 1 is the first bill from the 2026 West Virginia Legislature Session that has completed legislative action. The Legislation now heads to the Governor’s desk.

This bill would establish the Small Business Growth Act, which would be administered by the Department of Commerce.

The Small Business Growth Act is a program that would provide private investments into small businesses across West Virginia. Growth Funds would apply to the state for approval to qualify and must complete the following:

  • Have major prior investment experience of at least $100 million in rural or small company investments.
  • Submit a 10-year economic impact study.
  • Pay a $5,000 application fee.

Funds must invest 100 percent of their money into eligible West Virginia businesses within three years and maintain those investments for six years. The program would track job creation, salaries, and economic impact, with the state able to recapture credits if the rules aren’t followed. The bill would take effect January 1, 2027.

Senator Eric J. Tarr (R – Putman, 04) proposed an amendment that would change the title of the bill to “WV First Small Business Growth Act” and allow small business owners to receive tax credits for investing directly into their own companies, not just through growth funds. It also updates definitions, uses the 2020 census for eligibility, and delays when credits can first be claimed until 2029.

Following a discussion, the amendment was rejected.

The bill was passed by the Senate and has now completed legislative action.

The Senate also honored Walter Dolph Helmick who was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1988; and was appointed to the West Virginia Senate on September 13, 1989, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Larry A. Tucker; and whereas, following his appointment to the Senate, the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was elected to six terms: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010.

Senate Resolution 42: Memorializing the life of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick states, “The Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick, coal miner, welder, teacher, businessman, Mason, former West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, former member of the West Virginia Senate, statesman, and dedicated public servant. The Senate extends its sympathies to the family of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick on his passing”.

Afternoon Meetings:

Transportation and Infrastructure at 2 p.m. in Room 451M

Workforce at 2 p.m. in Room 208W

Pensions at 2:45 p.m. in Room 451M

Energy, Industry, and Mining at 2:45 p.m. in Room 208W

Finance at 3:15 p.m. in Room 451M

Judiciary at 3:15 p.m. in Room 208W

Morning Meetings for Feb. 17:

Education at 9:30 a.m. in Room 451M

Government Organization at 9:30 a.m. in Room 208W

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m.

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