Sunday, May 4, 2025
Sunday, May 4, 2025
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Senate Takes Up House Budget Bill

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

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

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

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 Delegates offered amendments, all but one were either withdrawn or rejected.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

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

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.

House Amends Cigarette Tax Bill

The House of Delegates met to discuss a bill that would seek to raise the cigarette tax $.45 per pack.

Senate Bill 1005 was amended in the House to exclude the tax of e-cigerattes and vapor products. The bill was originally a tax on those types of products as well as cigarettes. The bill was read a second time, amended, and moved to third reading.

House Bill 106 – Reducing the distributions of the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund – was moved to second reading and read a first time during today’s session.

House Finance will meet at 5 p.m. tonight for budget discussions.

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

Senate gavels in, out

The West Virginia Senate met briefly this morning to go over when budget discussions will proceed.

Senate Finance will meet in the chamber to allow all members to attend, asking questions of the budget bill. Senate Bill 1001, the budget bill, can be viewed here.

Finance convenes at 1 p.m. today. The Senate is in recess until 4 p.m.

UPDATE:

The Senate gaveled in and back out in an afternoon session.

Legislators advanced SB 1001, the budget bill, to second reading.

The Senate is adjourned until 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Legislature Adjourns for Weekend

The Legislature convened for the fifth day of the 2016 Extraordinary Session.

The House of Delegates read Senate Bill 1005  – Increasing tax rate on cigarettes and tobacco products – a first time, moving it to second reading on Monday. House Finance will meet at 1 p.m. today in 460M and 9 a.m. Monday in 460M.

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

The Senate gaveled in and back out. They will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Senate Passes Tobacco Tax Increase

The Senate passed the Governor’s tobacco tax increase during a brief floor session Wednesday afternoon. Senate Bill 1005 would increase the state’s cigarette tax by 45 cents per pack, increase taxes on smokless tobacco products, and create a new tax on e-cigarette liquids.

The legislation is projected to raise over $70 million in revenue. The first $1 million generated would be dedicated to state’s smoking cessation fund. The next $43 million would be allocated to fund PEIA. The remainder of the revenue would be placed in the state’s general revenue budget. The bill now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

Senate Finance will meet at 2 p.m. in 451M

Senate Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W