Friday, May 2, 2025
Friday, May 2, 2025
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Senate Bill 163 Laid Over One Day on Third Reading

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The Senate convened today at 11 a.m. and passed Senate Bill 143. The bill will permit the use of DNR identification tags to be used while trapping.

The body also passed S.B. 67, S.B. 116, S.B. 311, and S.B. 351.

S.B. 163, a rules bundle relating to the Department of Environmental Protection waste management, underground storage tanks, surface mining, standards of performance for new stationary sources, air pollution and quality standards, voluntary remediation and redevelopment rule, the State Construction Grants Program, and the Freedom of Information Act requests, was laid over on third reading. It will be picked up again on Monday.

Bills on Second Reading:

S.B. 7

S.B. 51

S.B. 280

Bills on First Reading:

S.B. 165

S.B. 284

S.B. 285

S.B. 338

S.B. 393

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 18, declaring January 26 2018 as Human Resources Day.

Senate Concurent Resolution 4, designating the WV Army National Guard Sergeant Glenn F. Lough, P.E., Memorial Bridge, was adopted by a voice vote and sent to the House for further consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday at 11 a.m.

Committees meeting today:

Government Organization sub committee for Fire Departments and EMTs at 1:30 208W

HB 2916, 3004, 3005, 4150 pass House

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The House convened today at 11 a.m. and passed four bills – 2916, 3004, 3005, 4150 – that will now move to the Senate.

H.B. 2916 – authorizing certain first responders to carry firearms – passed unanimously in the House.

H.B. 3004 – relating to filling vacancies in offices of state officials, United States Senators, Justices, judges, and magistrates – was passed 62-34 in the House.

H.B. 3005 – relating to regulation of unmanned aircraft systems – was approved 78-18 by the House.

H.B. 4150 – prohibiting telecommunications and IP enabled voice services from displaying the name or telephone number of the recipient – was passed 94-2 in the House.

S.B. 263 – eliminating tax credits – was also on third reading but was postponed for one day for further deliberation.

Bills on second reading:

Bills on first reading:

Committees meeting today:

Senior Citizen Issues meets at 2 p.m. in 215E.

Energy meets at 2 p.m. in 418M.

Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse meets at 3 p.m. in 215E.

Health and Human Resources meets at 3:30 p.m. in 215E.

Redistricting will meet tomorrow at 8 a.m. in 410M.

Finance will meet tomorrow at 8:30 a.m 460M.

Government Organization will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m 215e. 

Education will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in 434M.

Judiciary will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in 410M.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Senate Reads Bills. Prepares for Voting Tomorrow

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 The Senate convened today at 11 a.m.

Senate Bill 285, establishing regional recreation authorities and areas, had its second committee reference dispensed.

S.B. 67, S.B. 116, S.B. 143, S.B. 163, S.B. 311, and S.B. 351 were on Second Reading today and advanced to third.

Bills that were read for the first time today are S.B. 7, S.B. 51, and S.B. 280.

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Committees meeting today:

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

Energy at 1 p.m. 208W

Education at 2 p.m. 451M

Government Organization at 2 p.m. 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. 208W.

 

Bills Passed by the House

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As of 4 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2018, the tenth day of the second regular session of the 83rd Legislature, 739 bills have been introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Of those bills, 3 have passed and have been sent to the Senate for further consideration. All of these bills have passed this week:

House Bill 2869 (providing for paid leave for certain state officers and employees during a declared state of emergency) provides that certain state employees may be granted a leave of absence with pay while providing assistance as an essential member of an emergency aid provider during a declared state of emergency. The bill states that any state employee who is designated an essential member of an emergency aid provider may be granted leave from his or her state employment with pay, for not more than fifteen work days in each year, to provide disaster relief or emergency services in areas of the state in which a state of emergency has been declared.

House Bill 4005 (clarifying that appeals to the Supreme Court are a matter of right) clarifies that appeals to the Supreme Court are a matter of right. The purpose of this bill is to clarify that appeals to the Supreme Court are a matter of right and that every party has an opportunity to be heard and to obtain a written decision on the merits of the appeal.

House Bill 4020 (making technical corrections in the code when referencing chapter 49) makes technical corrections in the code when referencing chapter 49. The purpose of this bill is to make technical corrections in the code when referencing chapter 49 of the code. Chapter 49 was reorganized and renumbered in 2015 and certain references to that chapter in other portions of the code are required to be changed to reflect the new code sections.

Additional House Bills

House Bill 3089 would relate to the adoption of instructional resources for use in the public schools. This bill will be on third reading Monday.

House Bill 4002 would provide that all delegates shall be elected from one hundred single districts following the United States Census in 2020. This bill will be on third reading Monday.

House Bill 4013 would clarify venue in West Virginia state courts as it applies to nonresidents of the state. This bill will be on third reading Monday.

House Bill 4026 would exempt cashiers from licensure under the Larry W. Border Pharmacy Practice Act. This bill will be on third reading Monday.

House Bill 2028 would relate to the venue for suits and other actions against the state. This bill will be on second reading Monday.

House Bill 2607 would extend the maximum period of confinement a judge may impose for certain, first-time probationary violations. This bill will be read the first time on Monday.

House Bill 2822 would allow honorably discharged veterans who possess certain military ratings to qualify to take an examination for licensing as a plumber, electrician, and sprinkler fitter. This bill will be read the first time on Monday.

House Bill 2838 would allow military veterans who meet certain qualifications to qualify for examination for license as an emergency medical technician. This bill will be read the first time on Monday.

House Bill 2096 would exempt commercial airlines the licensing requirements of the state to serve liquor, beer or wine on flights.

House Bill 2104 would provide that the State Board of Education require that public schools provide facilities for students of all faiths and religions to have a place of fellowship, prayer and worship.

House Bill 2106 would create a domestic violence registry.

House Bill 2108 would require school bus aides, who are trained in preventing bullying and providing a safe environment for students while being transported on a school bus, to be present on school buses.

House Bill 2614 would prohibit health care practitioners from knowingly and in bad faith prescribing or administering drugs.

House Bill 2713 would permit the carrying of concealed weapons on the campus of a state institution of higher education.

House Bill 2756 would make Promise scholarships available for students pursuing certificates or degrees through an accredited community and technical college.

Bills Passed by the Senate

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As of 4 p.m. Friday, January 19, 2018, the 10th day of the regular session of the 83rd legislature 333 bills have been introduced to the senate. Of those bills, seven have passed and have been sent on to the House for further consideration.

Senate Bill 73 would modify crime of fleeing from scene of an accident. The bill adds penalties for drivers responsible for accidents and fleeing the scene if the other person involved has potential for a serious bodily injury.

Senate Bill 154 bundles two rules for the Department of Administration relating to parking and state owned vehicles.

Senate Bill 296 would allow state agencies to choose where the money made from the sale of surplus property is deposited when the funds used to purchase the property no longer exist.

Senate Bill 297 would eliminate taxation on annuity considerations collected by a life insurer

Senate Bill 298 adds two new categories of property listings for the Tax Commission’s landbook. The categories are the organization is exempt and the property is exclusively used for a purpose that is exempt under §11-3-9 and the organization is exempt and the property is not exclusively used for a purpose that is exempt under §11-3-9.

Senate Bill 301 removes limitations on the amount collected by county via hotel occupancy tax used for medical or emergency services.

Additional Senate Bills

Senate Bill 37 would eliminate the distinction between daytime and nighttime burglary and equalize the penalty for general burglary 1 to 15 years.

Senate Bill 39 would create the Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights.

Senate Bill 53 will correct an incorrect code reference.

Senate Bill 62 would allow counties to hire an attendance director with professional administrative certificates and five years of experience.

Senate Bill 71 would define the term “veteran” to also include active members of the Guard and Reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Senate Bill 75 would allow some video lottery retailers to transfer or sell the retailer’s location where limited video lottery is offered.

Senate Bill 98 would create incentives for consolidation at the municipal, county and metro government level.

Senate Bill 110 would require vendors selling alcoholic beverages to report any life-threatening medical emergencies that happen on their property to emergency medical services and law enforcement, along with the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration within 48 hours of the incident occurring.

Senate Bill 133 would exempt renewal of certain contracts entered into during a declared state of emergency.

Senate Bill 134 would authorize the Division for Homeland Security and Emergency Management to engage individuals for emergency response and recovery.

Senate Bill 146 would correct a technical error in the Solid Waste Management Act.

Senate Bill 263 would eliminate the film tax credit.

Senate Bill 270 would authorize the Director of Natural Resources to implement a management for plan for state parks that would include the harvesting and sale of timber on state park land, provide requirements for the deposit and expenditure of proceeds, and authorize emergency rule making.

Senate Bill 292 would specify that the President and Speaker of the Senate and the House respectively must be members of the Commission on Special Investigations, requires a quorum vote to enter an executive session, allows the Commission to request instead of subpoena records for state, county, and local government entities, allows the Commission to award duty weapons to retiring members, creates the felony to impersonate a Commission member or staff, and removes the requirements that the Joint Committee must approve expense report and that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance approve payment of the Commissions Expenses.

Senate Bill 300 would create a tax credit for businesses that locate on post coal mining sites. Business would be eligible for the tax credit for the first five years after moving to the site.

Legislature Seeks Ways to Expand Access to Community/Technical Schools

Emerging Job Markets Require Innovation in Education

During his State of the State address, Governor Jim Justice touted a plan to make a student’s first year of college more accessible in West Virginia.

Justice’s proposed plan would include a $7 million to subsidize education for the state’s Community and Technical College (CTC) students. He said he wanted to find a way to make CTC’s in the state free.

Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, is eager to get to work on passing Senate Bill 284 creating the West Virginia Invests grant program, expanding access to the state’s Career and Technical Colleges. The bill would be a way to subsidize an extra year of schooling for students who wish to further their education in one of the state’s community and technical institutions.

Although the bill has bipartisan support in the Senate, some House Republicans haven’t made up their minds about the legislation.

House Majority Leader Daryl Cowles said he would be more interested in expanding the access to technical colleges, rather than giving tuition away. Cowles said he would be interested in busing students to the CTC’s in their area, allowing them the ability to earn college credit while in high school.

“I believe college is changing, it won’t just be brick and mortar buildings,” he said.

Cowles said with the ability for online classes, and busing students, there is no reason they can’t have the opportunity to expand education – but that giving it away for free might not be the best solution. Cowles would also like to hear from professors and facility at the CTC’s, he said that discussion of how to utilize the millions of dollars has not been addressed.

Carmichael said, on the Senate floor, the true path to progress is through education.

“If we properly manage our resources we can provide, essentially, scholarships to everyone – everyone – that wants to attend community and technical college, to further their education, to gain a stackable skill set, to allow them to take that trade or that education to the workforce, and to the job market, and better themselves,” he said.

Other legislation making progress includes a bill that would make for single member districts in the House of Delegates. The bill will be up for passage in the House on Monday.

Three Bills Move Through House

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The House convened at 11 a.m. during the fifteenth day of session.

Three bills were passed by the House – H.B. 2607, H.B.2822, and H.B. 2838.

House bill 2607 – extending the maximum period of confinement a judge may impose for certain, first-time probationary violations – was approved, 79-17, and will now be sent to the Senate.

House bill 2822 – allowing honorably discharged veterans who possess certain military ratings to qualify to take an examination for licensing as a plumber, electrician, and sprinkler fitter  – and House bill 2838 – allowing military veterans who meet certain qualifications to qualify for examination for license as an emergency medical technician – were passed unanimously, moving to the Senate for further consideration.

SB 263, H.B. 2916, H.B. 3004, H.B. 3005, and H.B. 4150 were all read a second time and advanced to third reading.

Bills on first reading:

Committees meeting today:

Finance will meet at 2 p.m. in 464M.

Judiciary will resume at 2:15 p.m. in 418M.

Education will meet at 2 p.m. in 434M.

Government organization will meet at 3 p.m. in 215E.

Banking and Insurance will meet at 10 a.m. in 215E.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Senate Continues Passing Bills, Honors School Counselors and Marshall University

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The Senate convened today at 11 a.m.

Senate Bills 352-369 were introduced today.

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 15, SR 16, and SR 17. SR 15 designated January 24, 2018 as School Counselors Day while SR 16 designated January 24, 2018 as Marshall University Day as well. SR 17 recognized the Marshall University football team.

The Senate passed five bills today. Of those bills SB 37 equalized the penalty for entering without breaking regardless of time of day and SB 39 created the Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights.

There were six bills on the first reading today.

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Committees meeting today:

Economic Development at 1 p.m. 208W

Pensions at 2 p.m. 451M

Agriculture and Rural Development at 2 p.m. 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. 208W

Senate Bill 284 Moves Through Senate Education Committee

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The Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 284 with amendments to be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Some amendments to the bill include allowing students enrolled in home schooling or private instututions to be permitted into the grant program along with students in public West Virginia schools.

Senator Michael Romano (D – Harrison) spoke to the committee about lowering the required age to 18 years old or who hold a high school diploma or the equivalent of.

High school student Elizabeth Ours spoke to the committee about the importance of agriculture classes in high schools. Ours proposed to the committee that high schools should offer agriculture classes as an option for a science course instead of just an elective.

Senator Robert Beach (D – Monongalia) referenced House Bill 2855 – The Robert C. Beach Vocational Agriculture Credit – from 1999 that gave counties the option to allow for two semesters of agriculture classes to be made into one science credit. The committee adopted a study Resolution to look into the matter further to see if the code has been required and how to enable it any further.

Senate Bill 146 Passes Through to the House

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The Senate convened today at 11 a.m.

Senate Bill 146 correcting a technical error within the Solid Waste Management Act was passed.

Five bills were on the floor for second reading. SB 292, relating to Commission on Special Investigations, was amended on the floor.

SB 339-350 were introduced for the first time today.

The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 14 designating January 23, 2018, as Higher Education Day.

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Committees meeting today:

Education at 2 p.m. 451M

Government Organization at 2 p.m. 208W

Finance Sub Committee A at 3 p.m. 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. 451M

Sub Committee for SB 111 at 5 p.m. 208W

Special Announcement:

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. – Medal of Honor Recipient Woody Williams will address members of the House and Senate in the Senate Chambers