The Senate met today at 11 a.m.

The State Senate memorialized the Honorable A. Keith Wagner today. The former 6th district Senator was a graduate of Bluefield State College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. His latest educational endeavors were spent at River View High School at Bradshaw, WV, where he was known as “The Voice of the Raiders.” There, he was honored to direct the WVU Mountaineer Marching Band during their performance at his school. Senators Maynard, Plymale and Kessler stood to speak about the Honorable A. Keith Wagner, mentioning that he was a great man and he will be deeply missed.

Four Senate Bills passed; 54, 293, 313 and 434. Senate Bill 313 relates to the school calendar and allows limited use of available accrued instructional time. Senate Bill 434 allows home-based micro-processed foods sold at farmer’s markets. These bills will now be sent to House of Delegates for further consideration.

House Bills 4148, 4158, 4244 and 4245 were also passed and have completed legislation. These bills now await the Governor’s final approval. House Bill 4148 updates the meaning of federal taxable income and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act.

Ten Senate Bills and one House Bill were read for the second time and have advanced to the third reading. House Bill 4145 was laid over on the second reading and will retain its place on the calendar. This bill relates to the carry or use of a handgun or deadly weapon.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary at 1:45 p.m. in 208W

Health & Human Resources at 2:30 p.m.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow, Saturday, February 20th at 11 a.m.

The following committees will meet tomorrow prior to session:

Judiciary at 9 a.m. in 208W

Finance at 9 a.m. in 451M

Education at 10 a.m. in 451M

The Senate met today at 11 a.m.

The Senate concurred with House amendments on Senate Bill 15 and the bill completed legislation. This regards the adoption of intermediary doctrine as defense to civil action due to lack of warnings or instructions and now awaits the Govenor’s final approval.

12 Senate Bills were passed, including Senate Bill 10, which creates an Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act, and Senate Bill 105 which establishes a Tim Tebow Act, allowing nonpublic school students to participate in SSAC member school athletics. Senate Bills 16, 267, 283, 351, 436, 439, 462, 504, 507 and 515 were also passed in the Senate and will be sent to the House of Delegates for further consideration. 

Senate Bill 356, which eliminates the consumer sales and service tax exemption for the 2016 fiscal year, was referred to the Rule Committee on the third reading. Senate Bill 400 was laid over on the third reading and will retain its place on the calendar.

Senate Bills 315, 424 and 529 were read for the second time and advanced to the third reading. Senate Bill 315 provides the construction of a statewide fiber optic broadband infrastructure network. Senate Bill 313 was laid over on the second reading and will retain its place on the calendar.

The following committees will meet today:

Pensions at 2 p.m. in 208W

Natural Resources at 2:15 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

The Judiciary Committee will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. prior to session.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The Senate met today at 11 a.m.

Senate Bill 123, which allows for expedited partner therapy treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, completed legislation and will now be sent to the Governor’s office for final approval.

Passed today were 16 Senate Bills. This includes Senate Bill 298 which allows restaurants, private clubs and wineries to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays and Senate Bill 510 which establishes an Adult Drug Court Participation Fund.

14 Senate Bills were read for the second time and advanced to the third reading. Senate Bill 14 creates the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act and Senate Bill 105 creates a Tim Tebow Act, which allows nonpublic school students to participate in SSAC member school athletics.

Senate Bill 313, relating to school calendars and allowing limited use of available instructional time, and Senate Bill 424, allowing fire departments to assess fees, were laid over on the second reading and will retain their places on the calendar.

The following committees will meet today:

Health & Human Resources at 1:15 p.m. in 451M

Energy, Industry and Mining at 1:30 p.m. in 208W

Education at 2:15 p.m. in 451M

Government Organizations at 2:15 p.m. in 208W

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3:15 p.m. in 451M

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The Senate passed nine bills and advanced 32 more during a Monday morning floor session.

Senate Bill 299 creates the the Library Facilities Improvement Fund while Senate Bill 328 creates the West Virginia Veterans Program Fund. These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration along with Senate bills 403, 404, 459, 483, 517, 524 and 558.

Sixteen bills advanced to third reading, including Senate Bill 298, which would allow restaurants, private clubs and wineries to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays. Sixteen bills also advanced to second reading, including Senate Bill 16, which would provide a tax credit for providing broadband service to unserved areas.

The Senate also refussed to concur in the House amendments for House Bill 2800, which would add  law-enforcement officers’ contact information and names of family members to the list of exemptions from public records requests. A conference committee was appointed.

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

Agriculture and Rural Develompent will meet at 1:30 p.m. todday in 451M

Banking and Insurance will meet at 2 p.m. today in 208W

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. today in 451M

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

Transportation and Infrastructure will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 451M