Thursday, June 26, 2025
Thursday, June 26, 2025
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House Passes 17 Bills on Third Reading

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The House of Delegates met today and passed 17 bills that were on third reading.

Senate Bill 134 would authorize the Bureau of Commerce to promulgate legislative rules.

Senate Bill 240 would create the crime of nonconsensual distribution of sexual images. The first offence would me a misdemeanor and punishable with a fine of up to $5,000 and incarceration. The second offense would be a felony and punishable with a fine of up to $10,000 and incarceration. The telecommunication services of which the images were distributed would be protected.

Senate Bill 255 relates generally to filling vacancies in elected office. The bill would implement that these offices be filled within 15 days.

Senate Bill 299 relates to the supplementing, amending, decreasing and increasing items of appropriations from State Road Fund to DOH. This would make certain that appropriate funds are used to help fix the damage to bridges and roads caused by last summer’s flooding.

Senate Bill 339 would create the Legislative Coalition on Chronic Pain Management.

Senate Bill 345 would allow certain hunting and trapping on private lands on Sundays.

Senate Bill 360 would create the Legislative Coalition on Diabetes Management.

Senate Bill 402 relates to covenants not to compete between physicians and hospitals.

Delegate Shott (R-Mercer) said the bill would make contracts between employers and physicians enforceable.

Senate Bill 441 would establish the Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program.

Senate Bill 490 would clarify the standard of liability for officers of corporation.

Senate Bill 578 relates generally to copies of health care records furnished to patients.

Senate Bill 602 would create a uniform system of recording and indexing fictitious names used by sole proprietors. The bill would standardize business partnership procedure and make it the Secretary of State’s responsibility instead of the county clerk’s.

Senate Bill 606 relates to minimum wage and maximum hours for employees.

Senate Bill 621 would provide certain rules inapplicable after county board of education notifies state board of possible closing or consolidations.

Senate Bill 631 would prosecute violations of municipal building code.

Senate Bill 636 would authorize the State Fire Commission to establish a program to address problems facing Volunteer Fire Departments.

Senate Bill 690 would authorize the WV State Police to impose and collect fees for agencies and entities using their facilities.

The House also passed many concurrent resolutions.

 

The House is in recess until 12:30 p.m.

Drug Overdose Database Bill Approved in Senate Judiciary

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The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved eight bills and three originating concurrent resolutions to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they pass.

HB 2704 would prohibit persons convicted of sexual offenses against children with whom they hold positions of trust from holding certification or license valid in public schools.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

The bill was previously reported out of Senate Education with the recommendation that it pass.

HB 2781 would require voters to provide a photo identification when voting.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2684 would impose penalties for repeat violations of the prohibition on driving under the influence on a suspended license by persons under the age of twenty-one.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2648 would increase the minimum sentence for individuals convicted of manufacturing, delivering or transporting controlled substances in the presence of a minor.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2675 would designate the placement of nonpartisan judicial offices on the primary election ballot.

Senator Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, made an amendment to allow members of a party to indicate their preference for none of the presidential candidates in a primary election.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2674 would provide access to and receipt of certain information regarding protected persons by certain relatives of the protected person.

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2620 would create a central repository of drug overdose information in West Virginia.

DHHR Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta was available to answer questions from committee members and said he supported the bill’s potential for informing public policy and improving state programs.

“This is the single best thing we can do right now to combat this drug epidemic,” said Gupta. “This is an all-hands-on-deck approach.”

Committee counsel made an amendment to correct technical problems and clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2359 would align the criminal penalties of practicing osteopathic medicine with those of practicing allopathic medicine.

Senator Ronald Miller, D-Greenbrier, amended the bill to incorporate the provisions of HB 2630 into the bill.

The bill was previously reported out of Senate Government Organization with the recommendation that it pass.

Originating Concurrent Resolution 4 would request the Joint Committee to study the need for a medical malpractice peer review panel by the Board of Medicine.

Senator Mike Romano, D-Harrison, amended the resolution to require the committee to study the benefits and detriments of a peer review panel and allow parties affected by the panel to be involved in the study process.

Originating Concurrent Resolution 5 would request the Joint Committee to study the need for a Sentencing Commission.

Senator Miller amended the resolution to include a study of incarceration and prison operation costs and to seek outside study from the Council of State Governments.

Originating Concurrent Resolution 2 would request the Joint Committee to study the feasibility and benefits of repealing sections of the WV Constitution relating to property taxes.

At the adjournment of the meeting, Senator Charles Trump, R-Morgan, Chair, thanked the committee members for their dilligent work and said this could possibly be the committee’s last meeting for the session.

Extended Budget Session Issued by Governor Justice

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Governor Jim Justice has issued an extended budget session for the 83rd Legislature to provide one extra day after the completion of the Regular Session for the Legislature to pass a budget.

During that day, April 9, the Legislature is only allowed to consider a budget and no other bills.

The Senate also passed a bill that would increase the penalties for exposing children to methamphetamine manufacturing.

The bill, HB 2083, will now be sent back to the House for concurrence.

The bill was passed earlier today, but the bill was brought back up for reconsideration of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s amendment to the bill. Senator Charles Trump, R-Morgan, Judiciary Chair, re-amended the bill with an identical amendment that fixes technical issues present in the original Judiciary amendment.

The Senate then advanced 35 bills from second reading.

HB 2129 would state the legal right and authority of state or local law enforcement to enter public areas on or adjacent to any private club, or take other appropriate police action to enforce the underage drinking laws of this state.

Senator Trump amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Judiciary Committee to make several modifications to the bill’s provisions.

HB 2195 would require county boards of education to implement comprehensive drug awareness and prevention programs for all student in grades K through 12.

HB 2348 would eliminate any requirement that class hours of students be consecutive when studying professions regulated by the board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

HB 2402 would create a special procedure for a person in possession of an abandoned antique vehicle to apply for and receive title to the vehicle

Senator Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee, on which he serves as Chair, to conform to the language of SB 382, which has been passed by the Senate.

HB 2494 would provide that statewide school report cards are only to be made available to custodial parents and guardians of students upon request instead of automatically being sent to the parents and guardians.

HB 2503 would update the rulemaking authority of the Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

HB 2555 would remove the requirement that programs be jointly administered by labor and management trustees in order to qualify for tax credits for apprenticeship training in construction trades.

Senator Mike Hall, R-Berkeley, amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Finance Committee, on which he serves as Chair, to require that apprentices be legal residents.

Senator Glenn Jeffries, D-Putnam, made an amendment to the bill to keep employers from paying $2 below the state minimum wage for apprentices.

HB 2579 would increase the penalties for transportation of narcotics and certain controlled substances into the state.

Senator Trump amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Judiciary Committee to make several modifications.

HB 2585 would create criminal offenses relating to money laundering.

Senator Trump amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Judiciary Committee to make several modifications.

HB 2589 would require county boards of education to permit students who are homeschooled or attend private schools to enroll and take classes at the county’s vocational school.

Senator Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Education Committee, on which he serves as Chair, relating to county boards of education and a career and technical education pilot program for middle school students.

HB 2603 would allow municipal plans that are funded at 125% or more to stop paying certain costs while it is so funded.

HB 2628 would clarify and strengthen the duties and powers of the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine with regard to evidence of serious misconduct by licensees and applicants for license under their respective jurisdictions.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to make technical corrections.

HB 2631 would prevent dismissal of complaints that exceed time standards for disposition when the accused causes delay that results in the time overage.

Senator Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, made an amendment to the bill related to the time period for final rulings.

HB 2646 would terminate the Women’s Commission and discontinue its functions.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to make technical corrections.

HB 2691 would allow persons qualified by training to be a barber and a cosmetologist to elect to practice solely as a barber and maintain licensure by taking continuing education solely in subjects related to barbering.

HB 2702 would limit excused absences for personal illness or injury in the family to those of student’s parent, guardian or custodian and require a confirming statement from a medical provider to be given to the school no later than three days after the absence.

Senator Mann amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Education Committee to clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2709 would authorize the City of South Charleston to levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of the South Charleston Park Place Economic Opportunity Development District.

HB 2771 would provide for teaching certificates for teachers whose spouses are married to a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty stationed in this state.

Senator Mann amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Education Committee to clarify certain language in the bill.

HB 2792 would require the Library Commission to survey libraries in this state in order to provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the status of libraries and to propose a ten-year maintenance and construction plan based on the needs of libraries in this state.

HB 2797 would clarify that there is statutory immunity for government agencies and officials from actions of third-parties using documents or records of governmental agencies for unlawful acts.

HB 2805 would declare certain claims against the state to be moral obligations of the state and to authorize payments from certain related funds.

Senator Hall amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in a subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee to strike three payments to certain claims as detailed in the bill.

HB 2815 would alter public education higher education governance and change the powers of the Higher Education Policy Commission, Council for Community and Technical College Education and other institutions of higher education.

Senator Mann amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Education Committee to make several modifications to the bill’s provisions and language.

Senator Trump made an amendment to Senator Mann’s amendment to rewrite a particular subsection to create a study and request a report from the Higher Education Policy Commission related to General Revenue appropriations.

Senator Ed Gaunch, R-Kanawha, made another amendment to Senator Mann’s amendment to include West Virginia State University in certain provisions of the bill.

HB 2833 would describe specific categories of information that must be included in the annual report of each professional licensing authority established in Chapter 30 of the West Virginia Code.

HB 2839 would update the schedules for legislative review of state departments and regulatory boards, and to outline the procedures and scope of reviews of departments, regulatory boards, agencies and programs.

Senator Blair amended the bill to make technical corrections and reorganize a section for clarity.

HB 2869 would provide 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.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to repeal certain code sections.

HB 2897 would raise the amount required for competitive bidding of construction contracts by the state and its subdivisions, public service districts, and sanitary boards to $50,000, and except public service districts from competitive bidding for emergency repairs.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to add a new subsection the clarifies a certain situation in which a contracting public entity shall not award a contract.

HB 2941 would make clear that the DOH shall utilize the Attorney General for legal assistance and services.

HB 2961 would amend the procedure by which a charitable gaming licensee may appeal the Tax Commissioner’s sanctions against the licensee for violations of the charitable gaming laws, by allowing the licensee to petition the Office of Tax Appeals for an administrative hearing rather than the Tax Commissioner.

HB 2962 would enlarge the authority of the Tax Commissioner to perform background investigations of employees and contractors to make it possible for the Tax Commissioner to receive federal tax information for the Internal Revenue Service.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to make technical corrections.

HB 2967 would remove the requirements for the State Tax Commissioner to administer the fiduciary supervisor/fiduciary commissioner qualifying test and annual training seminar, and transfer those responsibilities to the respective county commissions.

Senator Trump amended the bill to move certain training responsibilities to the State Auditor from the Tax Commissioner and insert the provisions of SB 259 into the bill.

HB 3022 would require the reporting of fraud and misappropriation of funds to the Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations.

Senator Mike Romano, D-Harrison, amended the bill to require counties and cities to report fraud to their County Prosecutor instead of to the Special Investigations Commission.

HB 3037 would remove the Division of Energy as an independent agency and redesignate the Division of Energy as the Office of Energy within the Development Office of the Department of Commerce, and designate the Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee, as Chair of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority Board.

Senator Blair amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Government Organization Committee to make technical corrections and clarify certain language.

HB 3048 would increase the cap mandated on the collection of Tier II fees for chemical inventories.

HB 3053 would clarify when a vehicle lighting unit is functional, permit additional lighting to be uncovered if such devices are dimmable and allow two auxiliary lights.

HB 3080 would institute a “Celebrate Freedom Week” for public schools and require the instruction in the study of the Declaration of Independence and other founding American historical documents, including the Bill of Rights, during this week.

Senator Mann amended the bill on behalf of decisions made in committee by the Senate Education Committee to remove the three-hour instruction minimum.

Of those bills on second reading, HB 2546 was requested to lie over for one day. This bill would allow uniform costs to be deducted from an employee’s final paycheck if the uniform is not returned.

All bills on first reading were advanced to second reading.

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Government Organization: 8 a.m. in 208W

Education: 8 a.m. in 451M

Judiciary: 9:30 a.m. in 208W

Finance: 9:30 a.m. in 451M

Transportation and Infrastructure: at the first recess of tomorrow’s floor session in 451M

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

Bill Related to Parental Notification for Abortions Approved in Senate Health

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The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee has approved a bill that would modify the law requiring parental notification of abortions performed on unemancipated minors.

The bill, HB 2002 would more specifically provide a judicial waiver process for bypassing parental notification.

Margaret Chapman Pomponio of WV Free said four women used a physician waiver in 2015. She added that the number of waivers is always low, since this state has one of the highest parental involvement rates in abortions.

Over 30 states require parental involvement in some form.

Senator Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, made a strike-and-insert amendment to make several adjustments to the bill to remove maturity evaluation provisions, restore the original notification requirement of within 48 hours from the proposed 24 hours, change the definition of “unempancipated minor,” among other modifications.

The bill will be referenced to Senate Judiciary once reported.

Modified Hunting License Training Bill Approved in Senate Natural Resources

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The Senate Natural Resources Committee has approved two House bills and one House concurrent resolution to be reported to the floor with the recommendation that they pass.

HB 2708 would allow persons with developmental disabilities to receive a base hunting license and to satisfy the training requirements through a modified training course.

This bill also authorizes person with developmental disabilities to lawfully hunt while accompanied and directly supervised by another hunter, and makes criminal penalties for violating those provisions.

The provisions of Senate Bills 325, 474 and 380 were incorporated into the bill.

DNR Law Enforcement Chief Jerry Jenkins said there could be some fiscal cost involved, but he had no objections to the bill itself.

Natural Resources Chair Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, will consult with the Judiciary Chair to request that the bill’s second reference to the Senate Judiciary Committee be waived.

HB 3020 would provide that the penalty for hunting, trapping or fishing on the lands of another, entering upon posted lands, or destroying posted land signs shall be equivalent to the penalty for criminal trespass.

The provisions of Senate Bills 471, 472 and 536 were incorporated into the bill.

Gary Foster, assistant chief of game management for the DNR, was available to answer questions from members of the committee related to the inclusion of SB 536‘s provisions for guided bear hunts and how those hunts could affect elk populations.

HCR 15 would request Congress to fully support the National Park Service’s recommendations to extend the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to include additional sites along the Expedition’s Eastern Legacy.

The committee also passed four originating resolutions from the committee to be adopted by the Senate.

The first Originating Resolution would relate to the Great Eastern Trail.

The second Originating Resolution would relate to the establishment of a non-employee workforce to improve state parks and forests.

The third Originating Resolution would request a study of the economic impact of bicycle and pedestrian activity programs.

Senator Robert Beach, D-Monongalia, made an amendment to include the term “recreation commission” into the language of the resolution.

The fourth Originating Resolution would relate to converting idle railway property into Rails to Trails bike trails.

The Senate will resume their session at 6:30 p.m., where the bills and resolutions will be reported.

Senate Passes Budget Bill SB 199

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The Senate reconvened to pass bills on third reading.

Senate Bill 199 is the Budget Bill.

Senator Hall (R-Putnam) explained some things about the bill. The Governor is allowed to come back and recommend to change it. The legislature is not allowed to build a budget with a deficit. The legislature cannot also raise revenue without consent of the Governor. The bill won’t be acted upon until both houses agree. The Governor raised the liquor tax, school funding changes, and retirement funding changes have all helped get the budget down. Higher Education was cut fifteen percent across the board in the bill and DHHR was also cut. The Promise scholarship, senior services, lunch programs and other important services aren’t cut.

Senator Hall said, “The patient is not quite dead, it is still spending $13,000,000.”

Senator Prezioso (D-Marion) said, “This is not the Senate’s budget, but rather the Senate Majority Leader’s budget. This budget contains $160,000,000 dollars in cuts. Public education with no teacher pay raises, higher education, and 3.68 percent cut from DHHR which is money that is matched with federal dollars. Reductions of the magnitude will hurt this state in the future.”

Senator Hall said, “These are not things that I want to see happen. But we are under the rule of the numbers. You can ask me about any myriad of cuts that we’ve described and I don’t agree with them of all. This is not the final destination and it is not a pretty picture, it is just the numbers.”

Senator Ojeda (D-Logan) said, “We either raise taxes or cut programs, I got that. But when I see this budget, I can’t support it.”

Senator Trump (R-Morgan) said, “Are we to believe that three percent cut will make the sky fall? I get that there is an advocate for every dollar spent in this budget. But we have to live within our means. This bill doesn’t take a dollar from the rainy day from. We aren’t kicking the can down the road.”

Senator Miller (D-Greenbrier) said, “We do need to live within our means. But even today we fail to do that. We are just passing legislation that will bring costs up. When we are blindly making decisions that will affect the future, then we are making a big mistake on the budget.”

Senator Blair (R-Berkeley) said, “I like this budget. We are trying to get the budget done earlier this year than other years. We aren’t following tradition these days. To heck with tradition, we are here to get the job done. We are trying to make West Virginia the most successful state it can be and to live up to its potential. This budget will take us there!”

Senator Palumbo (D-Kanawha) said, “To suggest this budget doesn’t put more burden on our people is a joke.”

Senator Carmichael (R-Jackson) said, “Certainly we could raise more taxes or dip into the rainy day fund, but that is not the right path. We haven’t done things like this in the past. You’re right, we are trying to do things in a different way. What we have done in the past has not worked. The true measure of compassion is not whether we spend more in government but rather if we help people off the welfare and to grow and find success on the economic ladder.”

The bill passed with a vote of 20 yeas and 14 nays.

House Bill 2006 would increase the penalties for violating the Whistle-blower Law. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2083 would increase the felony criminal penalties for exposing children to methamphetamine manufacturing. If a child would suffer a bodily injury in the presence of the manufacturing, then the felony would be punished more. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2119 would repeal the West Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Act. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2219 would authorize miscellaneous boards and agencies to promulgate legislative rules. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2303 would increase the criminal penalty for littering. $2,500 would be the maximum fine for dumping litter not exceeding 100 pounds in weight.

Senator Ojeda (D-Logan) said, “I rise in support of this bill. This bill will help tourism. People don’t want to kayak in our rivers and creeks if they have to dodge tires and garbage. This bill is a good bill that will make West Virginia even more beautiful.”

The bill was passed.

House Bill 2319 relates to candidates or candidate committees for legislative office disclose contributions in a receipt within five business days after a fundraising event. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2367 would establish a criminal offense of organized retail crime. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2373 would authorize school bus drivers trained in administration of epinephrine auto injectors to administer auto-injectors. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2427 would require agencies listed in the online state phone directory to update certain employee information. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2446 relates to the requirement that all executive branch agencies maintain a website that contains specific information. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2453 would expand the list of persons the Commissioner of Agriculture may license to grow or cultivate industrial hemp. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2475 would authorize the Tax Commissioner to collect tax, interest and penalties due and owing from payments to vendors and contractors from the Auditor and other state, county, district or municipal officers and agents. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2548 relates to the use of outside speakers by persons licensed to manufacture, sell, possess for sale, transport or distribute nonintoxicating beer. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2619 would create the Risk Management and Own Risk Solvency Assessment Act. There was a strike and insert amendment. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2676 would transfer the Security office under the Division of Culture and History to the Division of Protective Services. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2683 relates to the West Virginia Insurance Guaranty Association Act. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2726 would authorize home incarceration officers to arrest participants for violating the terms and conditions of his or her supervision with or without court order. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2734 would authorize a method for the collection and remittance of property taxes related to dealers’ heavy equipment inventory. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2767 would authorize the Secretary of State to transmit electronic versions of undeliverable mail to the circuit clerks. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2898 would authorize the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to request and obtain criminal background checks of employees of the legislature. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2939 relates to the sale of items in the State Police Academy post exchange to the public. This would let certain items be sold such as T shirts and ball caps.  Senator Unger (D-Berkeley) asked if the bill would help the budget cut to the police and if bake sales and yard ales were included in the bill too. Senator Smith (R-Tucker) yielded to the question and said it may help and no it does not. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2949 would exempt specified Division of Natural Resources’ contracts for some replacement, repair or design for repairs to facilities from review and approval requirements. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2963 would eliminate the tax lien waiver requirement for estates of nonresidents. The bill was passed.

House Bill 2980 relates to civil lawsuit filing fees for multiple defendant civil action. The bill was passed.

The Senate then refused to concur to the House amendment to SB 221.

Senate Bill 386 was reported back to the Senate and the Senate amended the House amendments. The amendments were technical in nature. The bill was passed as the Senate concurred with the amendment as amended.

Senate Bill 588 was concurred with the House amendments and passed.

The following committees meet:

Natural Resources at 5 p.m. in 208W.

Transportation and Infrastructure at the fist recess of tomorrow’s floor session.

 

 

The Senate is in recess until 6:30 p.m. 

Bill to Eliminate Tax Exemptions Passes in House

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The Rules Committee moved SB 239 and SB 412 to the House Calendar from the Special Calendar.

SB 4 would allow certain licensed professionals to donate their time to the care of the indigent and the needy and to allow them to gain credit for their time against continuing education requirements needed to maintain their license. The bill passed the House 100-0

SB 300, SB 301, and SB 305 are supplemental appropriation.

SB 337 would allow the Division of Corrections to hire a person as a Correctional Officer no matter their placement on the correctional officer register. The bill passed the House 100-0

SB 484 would eliminate the exemption from sales tax for certain sales of materials acquired for use in state highway projects.

Delegate Eric Householder (R-Berkeley) said we’ve been studying this for a couple years not. He said it would tax cell phones, just like 42 other states. He said this bill is broadening the sales tax base and lower the rates. He said this is a plan to save our taxpayers. He said the bill is a well laid out and deliberate means. He believes it will put us back to the path of prosperity.

Delegate Isaac Sponaugle (D-Pendleton) said “This is a tax bill and going to raise $140 million. I guarantee if you do this and go home, you’re going to lose all creditability.”

Delegate Tony Lewis (R-Preston) said, “When I ran I told people, we might have to raise some taxes and do somethings to get out of this hole.” He said this a fair deal.

Majority Leader Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan) said, “It’s tax relief for the people.”

Delegate Larry Rowe (D-Kanawha) said he doesn’t understand why we are just taxing the people, not the businesses. He said, you can call it a tax rate decrease but not a tax break.

Minority Leader Tim Miley (D-Harrison) said he thinks why his side of the isle is confused is because the majority get elected running on not wanting to raise taxes and wanting to live within the state’s means. He said he believes in choice taxes on things that could harm West Virginia, such as cigarette taxes, alcohol tax, and the soda tax. He said these are taxes to help reduce the healthcare cost in the future. He said he doesn’t see anything in the bill that helps the State.

The bill passed the House 72-48.

SB 493 would increase the pay for conservation officers.

The House is in recess until 3:30 p.m.

Update:

The House reconvened at 4:30 p.m. to discuss HB 2018 (the Budget Bill) and finish the agenda.

HB 2018 was amended by Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha) and Finance Chairman Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha). The amendment took $1 million from the House funds and $1 million from the Senate funds to give to the volunteer fire department funds. The amendment was adopted.

Nelson explained the bill. He said it’s a budget of $4.24 billion general revenue to spend; $105 million less than the Governor’s plan. It continues with the two percent mid-year cuts Toblin had offered in the previous budget. He said our state is lacking economic diversity. He said the largest source of revenue is personal income tax and the second largest source is sales tax. He said it’s a balanced budget and reduces spending from last year by $60 million. He said there’s a little hurt for everyone. There were difficult decisions that had to be made, he said.

Many delegates opposed the budget bill due to higher education cuts and other issues. Delegate Andrew Byrd (D-Kanawha) wanted to send the bill back to finance committee to address the constitutionality of the bill. The motion failed 36-63.

Delegate Rodney Miller (D-Boone) said he feels the bill hits different parts of the state disproportionately. He said, “We can’t cut our way out of this. We can’t tax our way out of this.” He said we’ve got to meet somewhere in the middle.  

The bill passed the House 58-42 and now will go to the Senate for more consideration.

The House is in recess for 15 minutes.

Update:

The House reconvened to amend bills on second reading and hear first reading. 

SB 76, SB 288, SB 220, and SB 694 were read a first time.

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Rules: 8:45 a.m. behind the Chamber

The House is adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow. 

Senate Concurs with 10 House Amendments in Morning Floor Session

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The Senate met today and passed 10 House amended Senate bills.

Upon commencement, the Senate concurred and passed the House amendments to SB 28, SB 186, SB 280, SB 321, SB 344, SB 358, SB 362, SB 398, SB 564 and SB 581.

The Senate then received committee reports.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 60 designating 2017 as Robert C. Byrd Centennial Legacy Year was adopted with a vote of 33 yeas and 1 nay.

Senate Resolution 68 was adopted designating April 5, 2017, as Nurses Unity Day.

Senate Resolution 69 was adopted congratulating Mingo Central Miners high school football team for winning the 2016 Class AA football championship.

Senate Resolution 70 was adopted designating April as Autism Awareness Month.

 

The Senate is in recess until 1 p.m.

Senate Government Organization Reports House Bill 3093 Back to the Floor

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The Senate Committee on Government Organization be this morning to discuss one bill.

House Bill 3093 would establish Broadband Enhancement and Expansion Policies. The bill was voted to be reconsidered by the committee as there was no abstract attached to the bill at the time of the first vote due to a strike and insert amendment. The bill would allow Internet Service Providers to create co-ops to extend their broadband to rural areas. The co-ops would use their own money to upgrade the services. There were representatives from the telecommunications industry to explain the bill’s relation to the owners of power poles, the upgrading process, and the way lines are put on the poles by different companies.

Senator Boso (R-Nicholas) found in questioning that as long as there was space on the pose there is no reason that the service shouldn’t be provided.

Council informed the committee of the changes in the current bill from the previous version of it.

The strike and insert amendment was adopted.

The bill was reported to the Senate floor with the recommendation that it pass as amended.

Study Resolutions Move from House Education

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House Education met today and discussed study resolutions, which will be set to the floor for adoption.

HCR Originating is a study resolution to determine operating expenses for the education system.

HCR 31 is a study resolution based off of a bill introduced by Delegate Ron Walters (R-Kanawha) this session. The resolution would study the effects of reducing the number of county boards of educations to a smaller number of district boards of education. It would study the most cost efficient way to fund public education to be consistent across all school districts. This study is a way to sort through the issues of this possibility before consideration of an expensive bill.

 

Walter’s bill, HB 3008, was introduced last month and referred to House Education. The drafted bill is 809 pages long. His bill would eliminate the county educational system and would create a 10 district system all about the size of Kanawha. He said this system would allow money to be appropriated more equally to all districts. The bill did not move in Education; however, the study resolution would explore the possibility of making this change. 

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