The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would exempt certain sensitive documents from public release.

Senate Bill 103 exempts certain military and National Guard documents from public release. Any classified information would be exempt to protect state and national security. Specific intelligence information, and deployment plans to respond to certain threats would also be exempt under the bill.

The legislation now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Also on Thursday, Ralph Coleman was elected as Senate Doorkeeper, replacing Jeff Branham, who resigned the position earlier in the session.

Senate Bills 614-626 were introduced during the floor session.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

The Judiciary Committee met this morning.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 2360 clarifies crimes against law-enforcement officers to include chief executives and pre-certified law-enforcement officers.

House Bill 2434, the Stop Squatters Act, provides a limited alternative remedy to remove unauthorized persons from residential and commercial real properties. The bill allows for the removal by law enforcement and establishes a criminal offense and penalties.

House Bill 2437 removes knowingly distributing fentanyl. The bill provides an enhanced penalty for fentanyl distribution regardless of an individual’s knowledge of whether it is fentanyl or not.

House Bill 2511 allows for alcoholic beverages to be dispensed in areas where bingo is being conducted on the premises of Veteran Service Organizations.  

Committee Hearing

House Bill 2441 removes eligibility for unemployment when an individual in a safety-sensitive job fails a drug test and is fired.

House Bill 2653 changes membership requirements for the West Virginia Law Institute.

House Bill 2683 prohibits ranked choice voting in West Virginia. The bill defines rank choice voting as a method for casting votes in which voters rank candidates for an office in order of preference. Then a tabulation occurs in rounds, with the candidate with at least support drops from each round and then reallocating the votes to the second-choice candidate.

Rank-choice voting is not taking place in WV. Some are concerned with the uncertainty of rank-choice voting because there are several variations of it.

House Bill 2702 allows the Governor to appoint an interim state official for the 20 days it can take for the nomination process of a new official.

House Bill 2709 permits a voter who has moved within the same county to vote in a new precinct without casting a provisional ballot.

The Economic Development Subcommittee met this evening.

House Bill 2393 requires reporting from the Mountaineer Trail Network Authority to the Joint Committee on Economic Development annually, beginning December 1, 2025.

House Bill 2451 defines home-based businesses. The bill also establishes the permitted use of residential dwellings for a home-based business but allows municipalities to establish reasonable regulations.

Following the hearing on bills, the committee heard presentations from the WV Real Estate Division and the Department of Highways about surplus property.

Two of Health’s subcommittees met this afternoon to consider two bills each.

The Subcommittee on Health Care Regulation met at 3 p.m.

House Bill 2133 deals with Black Lung Disease. The bill removes the time limits for filing a claimant for evaluation from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board.

House Bill 2172 adds an athletic trainer to the Physical Therapist Board.

The Subcommittee on Public Health met at 4 p.m.

House Bill 2135 provides an incentive for employers to hire individuals who are attending formal recovery programs. The incentive is a tax credit with limits.

House Bill 2358 requires autopsies requested by a prosecuting attorney or judge to be completed within 72 hours. Within 24 hours of the autopsy completion, a copy of the reports shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the prosecuting attorney.

All bills advanced to markup.

The Subcommittee on Government Administration met this afternoon.

House Bill 2693 provides for the management of personal service appropriations for vacant positions. The bill allows for the transfer of appropriations for vacant positions to a special fund. Funds can be used in a state of emergency. The bill also requires annual reporting.

House Bill 2373 creates the Equipment Right to Repair Act, which requires a manufacturer to provide the information required to repair farm equipment once the warranty is complete.

The Senate passed the Glucagon for Schools Act during floor session on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 92 would create a new section of state code designed to create uniform standards for Glucagon in West Virginia schools.

The bill would allow schools to maintain a supply of undesignated glucagon and for trained school personnel to administer the glucagon if the student’s prescribed glucagon is not available on site or has expired. The legislation would provide for the necessary training for school personnel.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Judic. Sub B at 2:30 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for Feb. 27:

Gov. Org at 9:30 a.m. in 208W

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

The House of Delegates met this morning for Day 15 of the 87th Legislative Session.

No bills were up for passage today.

Three bills were on second reading today. Two bills advanced; House Bill 2354 had action postponed again.

House Bill 2123 increases the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust in child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse or neglect creating a risk of injury.

• Abuse causing bodily harm imprisonment increased from 1-5 years to 2-10 years
• Abuse causing serious bodily harm imprisonment increased from 2-10 years to 5-15 years
• Abuse creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury imprisonment increased from 1-5 years to 2-10 years
• Second offense imprisonment increased from 1-3 years to 1-5 years
• Neglect creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury imprisonment increased from 1-5 years to 1-10 years
• Subsequent felony offenses can result in twice the imprisonment and fine amount

House Bill 2047 prohibits cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms of foster homes. The bill allows for a few exceptions. Baby monitors are allowed when age-appropriate or the child has a medical diagnosis of severe physical disabilities or behavior, cognitive, or psychological disorders. Medical equipment with or without cameras is allowed for a child who has a medical diagnosis of severe physical disabilities or behavior, cognitive, or psychological disorders. Any exempted equipment must be in clear view and not in a hidden location.

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

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, February 27, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today February 25

• The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Appropriations Subcommittee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for a budget hearing.
• The Subcommittee on Educational Choice will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Government Administration will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Health Care Regulation will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Subcommittee on Public Health will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Economic Development will meet at 6 p.m. in Room 432M.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow February 26

• The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460, and a budget hearing will follow the meeting.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Courts will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Legal Services will meet at 10:15 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Homeland Security will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Banking and Insurance will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Public Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Higher Education will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Revenue will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Subcommittee on Human Services will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 432M.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill on Tuesday evening that would allow for the collection and storage, in a national database, of DNA from anyone arrested on a felony charge.

Senate Bill 31 would permit the collection and storage of DNA samples for individuals charged with any felony offense and those charged with certain misdemeanors, such involuntary manslaughter, domestic violence and sexual offenses.

Under the bill, the DNA would only be collected from alleged offenders over the age of 18, and only after the person is indicted by a grand jury.

Current law in West Virginia dictates that DNA samples are collected and stored from any person convicted of specified felonies or certain misdemeanors, such as crimes against individuals and property, felony drug offenses, sexual offenses, burglary, arson, the use of destructive devices and counterfeiting.

Current law does not allow for DNA collections prior to conviction.

Proponents of the bill argued in committee that the legislation is important to help solve cold cases and other unsolved crimes, as well as to aid in exonerating potentially innocent people.

Opponents of the bill argued that it goes too far, violating the person’s right to privacy at a stage in the criminal process where they are afforded the presumption of innocence.

The legislation sets up a process to allow the individual to request their DNA be taken out of the database and disposed of in the event they are found not guilty or the charges are dropped.

The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

The Subcommittee on Human Services met this afternoon. Two bills were heard in committee.

House Bill 2027 changes how a child may be removed from a foster home. It reduces the period when a foster care arrangement can be terminated from 18 consecutive months to six months unless it is in the best interest of the child. The bill removes termination due to the child being united or reunited with a sibling(s).

House Bill 2542 mandates Child Protective Services to audio record interactions during visits and investigations.

Both moved to the markup stage.

The House convened for the session this morning. Three bills were up for up for passage. Action on House Bill 2354 was postponed one day, leaving it on second reading.

House Bill 2354 bans certain food dyes from food sold in West Virginia.

House Bill 2363 clarifies the provisions of the code related to child pornography do not apply to law enforcement, attorneys, judges, jurors, and support personnel while performing their official duties.

House Bill 2066 creates a felony offense for damaging, destroying, or stealing equipment used by first responders in their duties.

House Bill 2042 allows for guardian ad litem to request a court-appointed special advocate for children in abuse and neglect cases.

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

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, February 26, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today February 25

• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Government Administration will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 215E
• The Subcommittee on Human Services will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Subcommittee on Public Health will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology will meet at 6 p.m. in Room 432M.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow February 26

• The Appropriations Subcommittee and the Banking & Insurance Subcommittee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460 for a budget hearing.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Courts will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Legal Services will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Appropriations Subcommittee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for a budget hearing.
• The Subcommittee on Educational Choice will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Government Administration will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Health Care Regulation will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Subcommittee on Economic Development will meet at 6 p.m. in Room 432M.