Blog – Page 223

Senate Passes Budget with Tobacco Tax Increase

House Floor Session

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June 11, 2016

The Senate suspended the constitutional rules requiring a bill be read on three separate days to quickly pass a tobacco increase, along with the Budget Bill, during a morning floor session on Saturday.

Senate Bill 1012 raises the tobacoo tax by 65 cents per pack on cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarettes and vaping products. The bill is expected to generate roughly $100 million per year for the general revenue fund. Following the passage of the tobacco tax increase, the body quickly passed Senate Bill 1013 , the Budget Bill. The revamped budget measure is a balanced approach that includes rouhgly $100 million in additional revenue, $110 million in cuts and $70 million from the Rainy Day Fund.

The Senate began the day by passing Senate Bill 1011, which reduces distributions to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund by an additional $10 million.

All three bills now move on for consideration in the House of Delegates.

Senate Finance met at 12:50 p.m. in 451M

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Senate Passes Budget, Adjourns To Date Certain

Senate Floor Session

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June 2, 2016

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This evening the Senate amended and passed House Bill 101, the Budget Bill. The legislation went on to complete legislative action in the House of Delegates.

Earlier in the day, the Senate suspended the constitutional rules and completed action on House Bill 117 and House Bill 118, both of which are rules bills dealing with the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Senate has adjourned until June 12th at 2:00 p.m.

House Adjourns Until June 12

House Floor Session

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June 2, 2016

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The House of Delegates met Thursday morning, passing two bills and introducing one.

The House passed House Bill 117 and House Bill 118 – both rules bills dealing with the Department of Environmental Protection taken up during the regular session.

The House introduced House Bill 119 which would give emergency funds to the Boone County educational system. The House sent the bill to the Finance committee.

UPDATE:

The House completed legislation on House Bill 101 – the Budget Bill – the bill goes to the Governor for action.

The House adjourned from the Extraordinary Session until 2 p.m. June 12.

House, Senate Work Toward Passing Budget

Senate Floor Session

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June 1, 2016

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The Legislature convened for the 12th day of the Extraordinary session.

The House of Delegates took up two bills placed on the Governor’s call. House Bill 117 was read a first time in the second session on Tuesday. House Bill 116 was double referenced and refered to the Finance committee after Judiciary.

The House also completed legislation on SB 1002 – Expiring funds from various accounts to unappropriated balance in State Fund, General Revenue. The bill goes to Gov. Tomblin for his signature.

The Senate referred Senate Bill 1001, the budget bill, to the rules committee. The Senate also advanced HB 101 – the budget bill – to third reading with the right to amend.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow. The Senate is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

House Judiciary will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

House Finance will meet at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Senate Finance will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

House Gov. Org. will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Senate Takes Up House Budget Bill

Senate Floor Session

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May 31, 2016

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The Senate took up House Bill 101, the House’s version of the budget bill, for immediate consideration and read it a first time today during a brief afternoon floor session. The body again laid over its own budget measure and plans to amend Senate Bill 1001 into the House’s version tomorrow.

The House gaveled in briefly before adjourning.

The Senate and the House are both adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Senate Finance met this afternoon and will meet again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in 451M

House Finance will meet tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in 215E

House Passes Version of Budget Bill

House Floor Session

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May 27, 2016

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The House of Delegates discussed the budget bill several hours on Friday before passing the legislation.

House Bill 101 – the budget bill – borrows about $140 million from the Rainy Day Fund and make some across-the-board cuts totaling $200 million.

The bill passed 61-37, and would now go to the Senate for consideration.

The House is adjourned until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31.

Senate Completes Action on Bill to Fill 2016 Budget

Senate Floor Session

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May 27, 2016

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The Senate concurred in the House amendments and completed action on Senate Bill 1002 during a brief morning floor session. The legislation fills the deficit in the current, 2016 state budget.

Work continues to complete action on a budget for 2017.

The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, May 31 at 1 p.m.

House Moves Its Version of Budget Bill to Third Reading

House Floor Session

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May 26, 2016

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The House of Delegates discussed the budget bill, moving it to third reading late Thursday night.

HB 101 – the budget bill – was discussed on second reading on the House floor for several hours. Delegates offered amendments, all but one were either withdrawn or rejected.

Delegate Denise Campbell’s amendment to borrow $500,000 from the Rainy Day Fund was accepted.

In the previous session, the House passed SB 1002 – Expiring funds from various accounts to unappropriated balance in State Fund, General Revenue. The House also passed HB 105 – transfering funds from the Licensed Racetrack Modernation Fund.

The Senate met briefly two times on Thursday, with no legislation to take up.

Both houses adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Legislature Meets Briefly

Senate Floor Session

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May 25, 2016

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The Legislature convened briefly before both houses recessed until this evening.

The House of Delegates postponed action on HB 106 – Reducing the distributions to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund. The Hosue also read SB 1002 and HB 105 a second time. HB 101 – the Budget Bill – was moved to second reading.

The Senate met briefly before recessing until 4 p.m.

The House is in recess until 5 p.m.

UPDATE:

The Senate laid over SB 1001 – the Budget Bill – before gaveling out in an evening session.

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

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

House Rejects Cigarette Tax Hike

House Floor Session

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May 24, 2016

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The House of Delegates met over three hours continuing discussion on a bill that would have increased the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products.

The legislation failed on a vote of 44-55.

The House introduced nine bills.

The House read HB 106 – Reducing the distributions to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund a second time. SB 1002 and HB 105 were read a first time.

The House adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The Senate met briefly to held the budget bill on second reading one day. The Senate also introduced SB 1007 and adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.