Sunday, June 29, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Home Blog Page 208

House Passes Bill to Increase Penalties relating to Controlled Substances

admin
-
0

Today in the House passed six bills, which will now go to the Senate for further consideration and sent one bill back to committee for further evaluation. 

HB 2364 prohibits electioneering during early voting periods in and around early voting locations to the same extent as is currently prohibited at polling places on election day. 

HB 2619 adopts the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Risk Management and Own Risk Solvency Assessment Model Act for implementation by West Virginia insurers so that they are better equipped to assess their financial condition and remain solvent. 

HB 2630 authorizes the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to share stag when efficient and practical to do so.

HB 2648 increases the minimum sentence by three years for individuals convicted of manufacturing, delivering, or transporting controlled substances in the presence of a minor.

HB 2651 requires nationally normed standardized achievement tests to be administered to nonpublic students the ages of seven and seventeen. It also requires that the test administrated be published or normed within ten years from the date of administration.

HB2684 imposes penalties for repeat violations of the prohibition on driving under the influence on a suspended license by persons under the age of 21. 

HB 2502 was referred to the Judiciary Committee. This bill would permit a licensed professional in another state to apply for licensure in West Virginia, if certain conditions are met.

Committee Meetings Today

 Judiciary: 2:15 p.m. in 410M

Committee Meetings Monday, March 6

Judiciary: 9 a.m. in 410M

Sub-Committee on Higher Education: 9:30 a.m. in 434M

Roads and Transportation: 1 p.m. in 215E

Finance: 2 p.m. in 460M

Education: 2:30 p.m. in 434M

Gov. Org.: 3 p.m. in 215E

Senate Passed Three Bills Today

admin
-
0

The Senate passed three bills today. The bills were SB 4, SB 410, and SB 439.

Senate Bill 4 would allow licensed professionals donate time to care of indigent and needy in a clinical setting. It was amended by Senator Takubo (R – Kanawha) on third reading and then passed as amended.

Senate Bill 410 would relate to marking traps with a DNR identification tag.

Senate Bill 439 would relate to venue for civil and criminal actions at Salem Correctional Center.

Bills on second reading were SB 209, SB 221, SB 224, SB 263, SB 400, SB 429, SB 436, and SB 445.

Senate Bill 224 was attempted to be amended by Senator Jeffries (D – Putnam). The amendment was not adopted after much discussion between Senator Trump (R – Morgan), Senator Ojeda (D – Logan), Senator Facemire (D – Braxton), and Senator Romano (D – Harrison).

Senate Bills 501-516 were introduced as well.

The following committees meet at the following times:

Judiciary at 1 p.m. in 208W.

Select Committee on Tax Reform at 9 a.m. in 451M on Monday.

Confirmations at 10 a.m. in 208W on Monday.

 

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

Senate Confirmations Hear from Former First Lady Manchin

admin
-
0

The Senate Confirmations Committee has heard from former first lady Gayle C. Manchin in a hearing relating to her appointment to serve as Secretary of the Department of Education and the Arts.

Manchin said she is ready to “streamline” the Department in order to meet budget demands by combining offices and reducing the number of employee positions.

She said she believes the Department plays a significant role in serving the citizens of the state by giving them a chance to engage in lifelong learning.

“I believe government is all about public service,” Machin said, “And providing them [citizens] the very best opportunities from birth to death.”

Manchin also said the arts should not be defunded in the proposed budget bill because they contribute to the economic growth of the state by encouraging its citizens to confront complex issues in creative ways, which she said the state needs now more than ever.

Manchin was First Lady from 2005 to 2010 during her husband’s first term as governor. Her husband is current U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.

The committee also heard from Cheryl Schreiber on her appointment to serve as a member on the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Governors for a term ending on June 30, 2020.

Confirmations will meet Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m.

House Gov. Org. Discussed Six Bills

admin
-
0

Today, House Gov. Org. met and discussed six bills. They included HB 2690, HB 2631, HB 2503, HB 2628, HB 2540, and HB 2554.

HB 2690 would terminate the West Virginia Board of Registration of Foresters while preserving essential protections against misrepresentations by unqualified persons in the commercial practice of forestry. Originally the bill stated that unexpended funds would be transferred to the General Revenue Fund, but there was an amendment that would transfer the funds into the State Road Funds in an effort to better West Virginia Roads.

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

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

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.

HB 2540 would permit a person to practice his or her profession for seven days for a charitable function. There would be a special license given to the person if certain qualifications were met. 

HB 2554 would transfer the West Virginia Contractor Act from administration and regulation by the Division of Labor to regulation under the provisions of professions and occupations in chapter 30 of code. 

Senate Finance Approves Two Bills

admin
-
0

The Senate Finance Committee has approved two bills to be reported to the floor with the recommendation that they pass.

SB 185 would allow spending units to designate the fund which the proceeds from the sale of surplus property must be deposited when the fund that was used to purchase the property is no longer in existence.

The bill was first reported from Senate Government Organization with the recommendation that it pass.

SB 365 would maintain the solvency of the Unemployment Compensation Fund and extend the time period for borrowing funds from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund for the Unemployment Compensation Fund to September 1, 2018.

The committee’s next meeting has not yet been announced.

Senate Judiciary Approves Three Bills

admin
-
0

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved three bills to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they pass.

SB 358 would permit a timeshare managing entity to foreclose upon its statutory lien for assessments in the manner of sales under trust deeds. It provides for the naming of a trustee by the managing entity to carry out the sale and require notice.

Tom O’Neill spoke on behalf of the Land of Canaan Vacation Resort in favor the bill’s passage.

SB 338 would amend the Medical Professional Liability Act by adding a definition for “occurrence,” provide for a preference of venue, establish an attorney’s fees schedule based upon the amount recovered, establish the effective date and provide for severability.

President of the West Virginia Association for Justice Jane Peak was present to answer questions from the committee.

SB 173 would provide exemptions that would differentiate autocycles from having to adhere to motorcycle requirements.

Senator Robert Karnes (R-Upshur) proposed an amendment to only apply certain requirements to those under the age of 18, which the committee adopted with 11 yeas and 4 nays.

DMV Director of Vehicle Services Michael Maggard was present to answer questions from members.

The bill was reported out of Senate Transportation and Infrastructure prior to appearing before the committee.

Five Bills passed in House today, one postponed one day

admin
-
0

Today, the House of Delegates passed five bills and postpone one for a day. Bills passed were HB 2740, SB 231, HB 2329, HB2620, and HB 2646. HB 2648 was postponed until tomorrow. 

HB 2740 is a supplemental appropriation bill; it draws funds from the surplus balance of the General Revenue to supplement funding for public defenders.

SB 231 provides that State Board of Education may delegate its Medicaid provider status and subsequent reimbursement to regional education service agencies or county boards subject to the county board determining that there is a net benefit and no detraction from the educational program of the county. 

HB 2329 makes it unlawful to produce, manufacture, or possess fentanyl. 

HB 2620 creates a central repository of drug overdose information in West Virginia; it establishes the reporting system requirements.

HB 2646 terminates the Women’s Commission and discontinues its functions. 

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

Committee Meetings Today

Senior Citizens Issues: Right after session in 215E

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

Prevention and Treatment: 4:30 p.m. in 215E

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Judiciary: 8:30 a.m. in 410M

Finance: 9 a.m. in 460M

Sub-Committee on K-12: 9 a.m. in 434M

Gov. Org.: 9 a.m. in 215E

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

Senate Government Organization Puts Three Bills on Layover, Passes One

admin
-
0

The Senate Committee on Government Organization has put three bills on layover until a future meeting and has approved one bill to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass.

The passed bill, SB 280, would move the association of the Civil Air Patrol from the Aeronautics Commission and realign it under the Military Forces of the state, because one of the Civil Air Patrol’s primary missions is the provision of emergency services, including aerial and ground search and rescue operations, homeland security operations and disaster relief operations.

The Senate Committees on Military and Judiciary have already approved the bill for passage.

The three bills put on layover are SB 350, SB 253 and SB 441.

SB 350 would allow certain licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist applicants to be issued a temporary permit for six months so the applicant can practice during the application and testing process.

According to counsel, the bill was created to help solve the state’s “shortage” of licensed counselors and therapists.

Those who came to voice their support for the bill included Marshall University Counseling Board Chairwoman Lori Ellison, NECCO Executive Director Amy Rickman and Executive Director of the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling Roxanne Clay.

The bill was put on layover for counsel to solve issues with the language of the bill and give time for senators to draft amendments.

SB 253 would clarify the English language requirement used when evaluating an individual applicant for medical licensing in the state.

SB 441 would establish the municipal home rule pilot program as a permanent program, allow all municipalities to participate in the program, and allow municipalities who institute a sales and use tax pursuant to the program to administer and collect the tax through their own municipal collector’s offices.

Both SB 253 and SB 441 were not able to be discussed within the timeframe of the meeting.

Senate Health and Human Resources Committee Refers Five Bills

admin
-
0

The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee referred five bills out of the committee today. The bills were SB 486, SB 198, SB 339, SB 360, and SB 193.

Senate Bill 486 would relate to health care provider tax increases. This tax would be paid by the hospitals and matched by the federal government in order to gain more federal funding via a three to one match. The bill was then reported with the recommendation that it pass but first referred to the Committee on Finance.

Senate Bill 198 would expand the Health Sciences Program to allow certain medical practitioners in underserved areas, in particular those who specialize in emergency care. The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation to pass.

Senate Bill 339 would create a legislative coalition on chronic pain management. It also sets forth the duties and organization of the coalition. The bill would cease effect in 2020. Senator Plymale (D-Wayne) amended the bill to secure representation from all of the state’s congressional districts. The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Organization with the recommendation that it pass.

Senate Bill 360 would create a legislative coalition on Diabetes Management. Senator Plymale (D-Wayne) amended this bill also to secure representation from all of the state’s congressional districts. Senator Stollings (D-Boone) amended the bill to have a Pharmacist certified in Diabetic Management added to the coalition. The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Organization with the recommendation that it pass.

Senate Bill 193 would prohibit smoking of tobacco products in motor vehicles when a person 16 years old or younger is present. This would be a secondary offense and add a fine of up to $250 to the original charge. Senator Palumbo (D-Kanawha) amended the bill to make it clear that there is not a separate charge by how many children are in the car. Senator Stollings (D-Boone) amended the bill to drop the fine down to $25. The bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary with the recommendation that it pass. 

Senate Moves Three Bills to Third Reading

admin
-
0

Today the Senate met and moved three bills to third reading. These bills were SB 190, SB 410, and SB 439.

Senate Bill 190 would eliminate preferences for vendors bidding on state contracts for commodities or printing.

Senate Bill 410 would relate to marking traps with a DNR identification tag.

Senate Bill 439 would relate to venue for civil and criminal actions at Salem Correctional Center.

Senate bills 495-500 were introduced today.

Senate Resolution 28 was adopted designating March 2, 2017 as All Kinds Are Welcome Here Day at the capital.

Senate Resolution 29 was adopted as well recognizing West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees for their dedicated public service.

The following committees meet today:

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M and at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Education at 2 p.m. in 451M.

Government Organization at 2 p.m. in 208W.

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

Confirmations will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 208W.

 

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

1...207208209...403Page 208 of 403

House Social Media

Wrap Up: Blog of the West Virginia Legislature

Contact us: webmaster@wvlegislature.gov

Legislature Social Media

Senate Social Media

© West Virginia Legislature 2023