Monday, June 23, 2025
Monday, June 23, 2025
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Clean Air Act Bill Completed Legislative Action

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Today during the House floor session the House concurred with the Senate amendments to complete legislative action on House Bill 2004 . House Bill 2004 will provide a procedure for the development of a state plan under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.

Six bills were also passed this morning. The six passed bills included House Bill 2098 which would authorize  those health care professionals to provide services to patients or residents of state-run veterans’ facilities without obtaining an authorization to practice. House Bill 2099 which would extend the time of meetings of local levying bodies when meetings are delayed. House Bill 2100 which would create a Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act. House Bill 2535 which relates generally to suicide prevention training. House Bill 2586 which would allow  for an alternative form of service of process in actions against nonresident persons by petitioners seeking domestic violence or personal safety relief. House Bill 2607 which would relate to the violation of interfering with emergency services communications and clarifying penalties. 

Seven bills advanced to a third reading and 20 bills advanced to 2nd reading. 

 

The House Health committee will host a public hearing today at 2 pm in House Chamber regarding House Bill 2021

The House Industry and Labor committee will host a public hearing tomorrow at 7:30 am in 215E on House Bill 2752 with a committee meeting to follow

 

The following House committees will meet today:

Senior Issues will meet at 1:30 p.m. in 462M

Education Sub B will meet at 2:30 pm in 434M

Education Sub A on Public Financing will meet today at 4:30 pm in 252M

Health will meet at 3 p.m. in 215E

Energy will meet at 3:15 p.m. in 410M

Judiciary will meet at 4:30 p.m. in 410M

Banking and Insurance will meet following the evening floor session in 410M

 

The following House committees will meet tomorrow:

Government Organization will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in 215E

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

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

Finance will meet tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. in 460M 

 

The House is in recess until 6 p.m.

 

Following a recess, the House briefly met to receive messages from the Senate and committee reports.

 

The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. 

Senate Concurs with House and Completes Legislation on Senate Bill 389

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The Senate concurred with House amendments and passed Senate Bill 389 today during the floor session. The bill will change the time period for renewal from the fiscal year to the calendar year; to allow renewal notification by electronic means; to clarify that nonrenewed licenses must be reinstated; to allow biennial renewal periods; and to permit the Board to promulgate legislative rules and emergency rules related to renewal and reinstatement. 

THe Senate made amendments to House amendments and passed Senate Bill 6 would control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. 

Senate Bill 421 was reconsidered, amended and passed. It would clarify when punitive damages may be awarded in civil actions, and to limit the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded to comport with the due process rights of defendants. The amendment changed the cap on damages from three times the compensatory damages to four times or $500,000, whichever is greater.

The Senate also passed three additional bills. SB 42 would allow restaurants, private clubs and wineries to sell alcoholic beverages at 10 a.m. on Sundays. SB 294 would eliminates councils, committees and boards that are unnecessary, inactive or redundant, including the Council for Community and Economic Development; the Statewide Mutual Aid Committee; the Principals Standards Advisory Council; and the West Virginia Health Insurance Plan Board. SB 412 would establish reasonable time limits for the filing of complaints with the Real Estate Commission for potential disciplinary action against a licensee alleged to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

Seven bills were advanced to third reading. 

The Senate is adjurned untill 11 A.M. tomorrow.

THe following committees will meet tomorrow:

 Health 1 P.M. in 451M

Education at 2 P.M. in 451M

Govornment Organizations at 2 P.M. in 208W

Finance at 3 P.M. in 451M

Judiciary at 3:45 P.M. in 208W

the following committees will meet tomorrow:

Labor at 10 A.M. in 208W 

Senate Passes Three Bills, Advances Three to Third Reading

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The Senate passed three bills today during the floor session. Senate Bill 277 would require issuance of certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Senate Bill 286 would provide medical and religious exemptions from mandatory immunizations for school children. House Bill 2004 would provide a procedure for the development of a state plan under sections of the Clean Air Act.

Senate Bill 421 was rejected on the floor, it would have  clarified when punitive damages may be awarded in civil actions, and to limit the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded to comport with the due process rights of defendants.

Senate Bill 42, SB 294 and SB 412 were advanced to third reading and all bills on first were considered read and advanced to second. 

The Senate is adjurned till 11 A.M. tomorrow. 

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Natural Resources at 2 P.M. in 451M

Finance at 3 P.M. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 P.M. in 208W

The following Committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance at 9:30 A.M. in 451M

 

House Recognizes Marshall University, Completes Legislative Action on Two Bills

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During today’s floor session two bills completed legislative action along with five other bills being passed.

The first bill to complete legislative action was Senate Bill 13 which will reinstate open and obvious doctrine for premises liability. Second was Senate Bill 262 that will transfer CHIP and Children’s Health Insurance Agency from Department of Administration to DHHR.

The bills that were passed included House Bill 2391, which would reduce early childhood education program requirements from five days per week to four days per week and imposing minimum instructional hours per week and minimum instructional days per year. House Bill 2523 , which would create a special revenue account to offset costs for the West Virginia State Police 100th Anniversary in 2019, and House Bill 2527, which would create a Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children; “Erin Merryn’s Law” were also passed during this afternoon’s floor session.

Six bills were advanced to third reading along with six bills being advanced to second reading.

The House also recognized Marshall University and the University’s late President Stephen Kopp who passed away in December. 

A citation was also presented during the afternoon floor session recognizing today as “Down Syndrome Awareness Day.”

The House reconvened at 6 p.m. this evening and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 74 which is a committee substitute for House Bill 2002.

House Government Organization will hold a public hearing tomorrow at 8 a.m. in House Chamber on SB 361.

The House Judiciary committee will hold a public hearing today at 2 p.m. in House Chamber on HB 2686.

House Health and Human Resources will hold a public hearing tomorrow at 2 p.m. in House Chamber regarding HB 2021.

House Industry and Labor committee will hold a public hearing Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. in 215E regarding HB 2752

 

The following House Committees will meet today:

Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet today at 1 p.m. in 434M.

Government Organization will meet today at 2 p.m. in 215E.

Finance will meet today at 2 p.m. in 460M.

Education will meet today at 3 p.m. in 434M.

Judiciary will meet today at 3 p.m. in 410M.

Industry and Labor will meet today at 7:00 p.m. in 215E.

 

The following House committees will meet tomorrow:

Pensions and Retirement will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in 460M.

Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development will meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in 215E.

Seniors Issues will meet tomorrow at 1 p.m. in 434M.

Health and Human Resources will meet tomorrow at 3 p.m. in 215E.

Energy will meet tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. in 410M.

Education subcommittee will meet tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in 252M.

Judiciary will meet at 4:30PM in 410M.

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

 

 

 

House Passes Senate Bill 6 and Senate Bill 389 with Amendment

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Today, the House passed six bills two of which passed with amendment, Senate Bills 6 and Senate Bill 389.

Senate Bill 6 relates to medical professional liablity. It will help to control the increase in price of medical insurance and help to place caps on damages for medical malpractice cases. Senate Bill 389 relates to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers license renewals and reinstatement. It would change the expiration dates of engineers liscences. 

Other bills that passed the House include House Bill 2157. It would change fraud to a felony when it concerns absentee ballots. House Bill 2160 would make WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind eligible for School Building Authority funding.

House Bill 2212 would change the amount of severance tax revenue annually dedicated to the West Virginia Infrastructure General Obligation Debt Service Fund. House Bill 2213 would reduce the distributions to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund.

House Bill 2387 would provide a framework for evaluating school leadership. House Bill 2606 would clarify the potential sentence for disorderly conduct. House Bill 2608 would clean up redundant language in the statute relating to misdemeanor offenses for violation of protective orders

Six bills were read for a second time and six bills were read for a first time.

 

The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow

 

The following committees will meet today:

Health & Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E

Energy will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 410M

Political Subdivsions will meet at 5:00 p.m. in Room 215E

 

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Industry & Labor will meet at 8:00 a.m. in Room 215E

Judiciary will meet at 9:00 a.m. in Room 410M

Government Organization will meet at 9:00 a.m. in Room 215E

Finance will meet at 9:00 a.m. in Room 460M

Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security will meet at 1:00 p.m. in Room 434M

Education will meet at 3:00 p.m. in Room 434M

Senate Completes Action on Two Bills, Passes Four Others

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The Senate passed six bills during today’s floor session, two of which completed legislation.

HB 2114 would update the meaning of “federal adjusted gross income” and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act, and HB 2115 would updated the meaning of “federal taxable income” and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act. Both bills have now completed legislation. 

Senate Bill 13 was passed and made effective after the Senate adopted a conference committee report. SB 13 would reinstate open and obvious doctrine for premises liability. The Senate now asks the House to concur in their amendments.

Three other bills to pass included SB 382, SB 429, and SB 274. SB 382 relates to declaring claims against the state. SB 429 would allow one-day special charitable event licenses to sell non-intoxicating beer. SB 274 relates to TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) program sanctions.

Four bills on second reading were advanced to third. SB 277 and SB 286 were advanced, SB 421 was advanced with the right to amend, and HB 2004 was advanced with the adoption of an amendment. 

Four bills on first reading were advanced to second including SB 266, SB 294, SB 412, and SB 42.

 

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

 

The following Senate committees will meet today:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M.

Education at 2 p.m. in 451M.

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

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W.

 

The following Senate committees will meet tomorrow:

Transportation and Infrastructure at 9 a.m. in 451M.

Interstate Cooperation at 10 a.m. in 208W.

Natural Resources at 2 p.m. in 451M.

Pensions at 2 p.m. in 208W.

 

 

House Honors Veterans Today During Session

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Today the House took up Senate messages regarding House Bills 2200 and House Bill 2201. They concurred with Senate amendments to these bills and passed them making them completed legislation.

The House also honored veterans today on Veterans Visability Day. They gave a citation to honor the sacrifices of those who fought to defend our country.

Several bills were read for a second time. One such bill is House Bill 2212 which would change the amount of severance tax revenue annually dedicated to the West Virginia Infrastructure General Obligation Debt Service Fund. Another bill read for a second time was House Bill 2387 which relates to a framework for intiating comprehensive transformation of school leadership.

Seven bills were read for a first time. House Bill 2523 would create a special revenue account to offset costs for the West Virginia State Police 100th Anniversary in 2019. Another bill is House Bill 2776 which relates to prescribing hydrocodone combination drugs for a duration of no more than three days.

 

The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow

 

The following House committees will meet today:

Roads & Transportation will meet today at 1 p.m. in 215E

Judiciary will meet today at 2 p.m. in 410M

Government Organization will meet today at 2 p.m. in 215E

Education will meet today at 3 p.m. in 434M

 

The following House committees will meet tomorrow:

Industry & Labor will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in 215E

Agriculture & Natural Resources will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 215E

Political Subdivisions will meet tomorrow at 1 p.m. in 434M

Energy will meet tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. in 410M

Health & Human Resources will meet tomorrow at 3 p.m. in 215E

Senate Passes Two Bills, Honors Veterans, Recognizes WVSU

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The Senate passed two bills, honored veterans and recognized West Virginia State University during Monday’s floor session.

Senate Bill 142 authorizes the  Department of Administration to promulgate legislative rules, while Senate Bill 378 would allow for relicensing of electricians without retesting under ceratin circumstances. These bills now go to the House of Delegates for further consderation.

The Senate also advanced five bills to third reading, including two measures, House Bill 2114 and House Bill 2115, that update certain terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act. Five bills were also read a first time.

The Senate honored veterans today, adopting Senate Resolution 31, which designates today as Veterans Visibility Day at the Capitol. West Virginia State University was also honored for its contributions to the state and the Kanawha Valley with the adoption of Senate Resolution 30

The following Senate Committees will meet today:

Education at 1 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

The following Senate Committees will meet tomorrow:

Education at 9 a.m. in 451M

Transportation and Infrastructure at 10 a.m. in 451M

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

Government Organization at 2 p.m. in 208W

 

 

House Bills Passed

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House Bill 2004
House Bill 2004 relates to the submission of West Virginia’s compliance plan with the EPA’s new emission standards. The EPA set forth new rules in June of 2014 for state’s carbon emissions and requires states to create a plan to reduce these emissions. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a compliance plan for both houses of the Legislature to approve of the plan. The bill also includes language for the plan to be rendered void should the EPA’s rules not be put into effect.

House Bill 2005
House Bill 2005 would reorganize and revise current laws controlling the certification of teachers through an alternative education program. The bill revises the process by which schools or school districts create and operate alternative education programs in which a person may receive a professional teacher certificate.

House Bill 2011
House Bill 2011 would change requirements of employee’s knowledge of danger to employees relating to Workmen’s Compensation payment. Currently violation of any safety statue for workers is viable for payout, even if one is not aware of the law. The bill seeks to change the doctrine of liability to deliberate intent. The bill would require proof in a legal case that employer is deliberately placing an employee in an unsafe working condition in order to claim Workmen’s Compensation. Evidence cannot be circumstantial in nature and precautions included in the equipment manuals may also not be presented before the court.

House Bill 2128
House Bill 2128 permits individuals who have been issued concealed weapons permits to keep their personal firearms in their vehicles on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex. With this bill, vehicles must be locked and the weapons should be out of normal view.

House Bill 2151
House Bill 2151 would make West Virginia’s teacher of the year a member of the Board of Education. They would be an ex officio, non-voting member of the Board. The bill also includes provisions for the governor to appoint a replacement for any vacant board member as well as compensate the teacher of the year for any expenses incurred in the duties of their membership on the Board of Education.

House Bill 2224
House Bill 2224 provides an exception for historical reenactors concerning the prohibition against a group of individuals associating themselves into a military organization. Because it is currently unlawful for any person to associate themselves into a military group or organization and reenactors technically meet that definition, this bill makes it lawful for them to associate themselves, drill, and parade with arms.

House Bill 2234
House Bill 2234 would allow a court to permit a party involved in a divorce proceeding to continue to use the name he or she used prior to the marriage without having to file a separate petition in a separate action.

House Bill 2266
House Bill 2266 would repeal sections of the state code regarding the publication requirements of administration of states. The new language would require appraisement of a property to be filed and a public notice of appraisement to be filed within thirty days of the appraisal or within 120 days of the estate opening. The estate must be filed within ninety days of the first date of publication of the appraisal. All notices must be filed as legal advertisements in the appropriate news outlet.

House Bill 2444
House Bill 2444 would provide assistance to small businesses from the West Virginia Development office. The bill provides for the assignment of economic development officers to serve as Small Business Allies to act as facilitators to assist small businesses. The bill lays outs the duties and services to be provided by the officers including assisting individuals seeking to establish and maintain a small business.

House Bill 2568
House Bill 2568 creates the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, prohibiting abortions when the gestational age of a fetus has reached a pain capable gestational age. The bill prohibits abortion past this stage except for in cases where the fetus is not medically viable or there is a medical emergency.

Senate Bills Passed

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Senate Bill 250
Senate Bill 250 would require that if an elected conservation district supervisor applies or intends to apply to participate in a W.Va. Conservation agency financial assistance program then all the applications for that program be evaluated and approved by another conservation district. This bill transfers that authority to the state agency. The bill also precludes supervisors from voting on contractor in which he or she or immediate family members has an interest.

Senate Bill 255
Senate Bill 255 would seek to eliminate unnecessary, inactive or redundant boards, councils, committees, panels task forces and commissions. Such as, West Virginia Sheriffs’ Bureau; Clinical Laboratories Quality Assurance Advisory Board; Care Home Advisory Board and Comprehensive Behavioral Health Commission.

Senate Bill 261
Senate Bill 261 would refine the definition of “owner” of a dam to exclude the owner of the land upon which a dam is maintained by a sponsoring agency from responsibility for repairs, maintenance or damage arising from regular operation of the dam. The bill also further protect the owner of the land on which a dam is located from liabilities for any of the deficiencies of the dam, as long as the owner of the dam does not intentionally damage or interfere with the regular operation of the same.

Senate Bill 238
Senate Bill 238 would limit the liability of County boards of education for loss or injury as a result of the use of school property made available for unorganized recreation. County boards would remain liable for acts or omissions which constitute gross negligence or willful and wanton conduct.

Senate Bill 242
Senate Bill 242 would create a misdemeanor offense for disseminating false misleading or deceptive information with the intent to create panic, violence or cause harm during a state of emergency or state of preparedness. This offense would be punishable by up to one year in prison, $5000.00 fine or both.

Senate Bill 280
Senate Bill 280 would permit the transfer of well work permits, such as in the case of an asset purchase, upon approval of the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. Under current law, well work permits are nontransferable and purchasers of assets must begin the application process over upon transfer of title.

Senate Bill 287
Senate Bill 287 would be known as “Todd’s Law” and provide for the awarding of a posthumous diploma to the parents of a student who died while enrolled in a school district in grade 12. The student must have been academically eligible for graduation at the time of death and shall not have been convicted of a criminal offense or engaged in a felony.

Senate Bill 318
Senate Bill 318 would change the frequency with which employers must pay employees. The bill requires employers to pay employees twice every month. The current requirement is that employees be paid once in every two weeks. The bill would still permit payroll to be processed once in every two weeks but requires employees be paid at least twice every month.

Senate Bill 357
Senate Bill 357 would abolish the Diesel Equipment Commission, transferring its duties and powers to the director of the Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. Directs the state DEP to circulate rules, considering the adoption of federal standards, for contemporaneous reclamation and the granting of inactive status. The bill would extend the Clean Water Act safe harbor for compliance with NPDES permits to Section 303 of the Clean Water Act, and with all applicable state and federal permit conditions with certain limitations. Directs DEP to promulgate an emergency rule revising aluminum water quality values using a hardness-based equation. Requires NPDES permit water quality standards be based upon the qualities of the individual discharge point and the receiving stream, and not a wholesale incorporation of state and federal water quality standards; Provides for civil penalties and many other workers safety regulations.

Senate Bill 374
Senate Bill 374 would create an exception to the statutory requirement that an inmate attend his or her parole hearing. The bill would waive the requirement where a terminal condition debilitates an inmate to the point he or she will not be able to appear.

Senate Bill 389
Senate Bill 389 would provide statutory authority for a rules bill pertaining to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. This bill Changes the time period for renewal from fiscal year to calendar year, authorizes renewal notification by mail or electronically, requires reinstatement of non-renewed licenses, authorizes annual or biennial renewal periods and authorizes legislative rules and emergency rules related to renewal and reinstatement.