Friday, November 14, 2025
Friday, November 14, 2025
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Life of Former Governor, Hulett C. Smith, Honored in House

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During today’s morning floor session, the House adopted House Resolution 126 in celebration of the life and long career of West Virginia’s 27th governor, Hulett C. Smith. Smith was born in Beckley, West Virginia and recently passed away at the age of 93 in his home in Arizona. Smith was active in banking, insurance, and the arts throughout the duration of his life and was also instrumental in establishing West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A total of 11 bills completed legislation in the House. Among those was Senate Bill 204 , which relates to the removal of vehicles from the highway in an emergency situation, and Senate Bill 166 , which would make it a felony to disarm or attempt to disarm a correctional officer.

Six bills were reported from committee and read for the first time including Senate Bill 676 which would extend the grant funding application date for Chesapeake Bay watershed compliance projects, and Senate Bill 493 , which would exempt certain unmarked law-enforcement vehicles from sun-screening restrictions.

The House is in recess until 2 p.m. today.

The House met again this afternoon to advance 4 bills to third reading and continue bills on first reading. Bills being advanced to third reading include Senate Bill 408, which would make it a criminal offense to deface public and private property, and Senate Bill 211, which restricts texting while driving. The floor also adopted an amendment that would make both texting and talking on the phone while driving a primary offense.

Near the conclusion of today’s afternoon session, House Clerk Greg Gray honored members who have served from between five to 25 years in the House of Delegates with pins. The Speaker also announced members who will not be returning to serve next year including Delegates Butcher, T. Campbell, Carmichael, Crosier, Doyle, Frazier, Givens, Hall, Mahan, MIchael, J. Miller, Rodighiero, Savilla, Sigler, Snuffer, and Varner.

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

Completed Legislation

As of 4 p.m., Wednesday March 7, 2012, the 57th day of the 80th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 2,029 bills have been introduced in the House, 157 of which have passed the House, 180 in the Senate. Of those bills, 52 have completed legislation in both chambers and either have or await the Governor’s signature. A sampling of these completed bills include:

Senate Bill 30 applies to salvage certificates for vehicles that are scraped, compressed, dismantled or destroyed. It will bring the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles into compliance with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) language. It will also provide a form to expedite the processing of salvage vehicles.

Senate Bill 165 will prohibit sexual acts between those who are incarcerated, on probation or parole with state and local jail, correctional, probation and parole employees or contractors, with or without consent. Criminal penalties have not been changed.

Senate Bill 205 updates language in West Virginia Code to reflect current standards used by the Division of Highways and identified in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The bill provides that signs and other traffic control devices be posted and include the location of the work, the speed limit and any other traffic restrictions.

Senate Bill 209 updates the meaning of “federal adjusted gross income” and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act for the 2011 tax year to coincide with federal statutes.

Senate Bill 214 clarifies that a sunrise review is required for the establishment, revision or expansion of a professional scope of practice, removing the requirement that a change in scope of practice be substantial to activate the sunrise process.

Senate Bill 221 creates the Jason Flatt Act of 2012, which would require the Center for Professional Development to provide for the routine education of all professional educators and certain service personnel on warning signs and resources to assist in suicide prevention.

Senate Bill 343 provides for a three-month grace period for volunteer fire departments to submit data to the State Fire Marshal to be eligible to receive funding from the municipal pensions and protection fund or the fire protection fund. It requires the state fire marshal to notify each department of the due date and the grace period to ensure timely compliance. Additionally, the bill provides that when the records of a department are destroyed by means beyond the department’s control, the department is exempt from filing information for three months after destruction of the records.

Senate Bill 365 increases the number of members on the Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board from 9 to 11 by adding one representative of a political subdivision and one additional representative of the public having experience in the financing, development or management of employee benefit programs.

Senate Bill 379 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses to designate nurse health programs for licensees and applicants for treatment and recovery for alcohol abuse, chemical dependency or major mental illness. The bill specifies those applicants not being subject to disciplinary action if the person complies with the goals and restrictions of the program and enrolls on a voluntary basis.

Senate Bill 382 generally relates to sex offender registration. The bill requires sex offenders to register with the State Police in the county of his or her residence and inform the police of any changes to their registration information. The sex offenders no longer have to register in every county they visit, work or attend school as the registry is now computerized.

Senate Bill 385 expands and updates the definitions of “computer” in the Computer Crimes and Abuse Act and in the statute, which prohibits providing obscene matter to minors.

Senate Bill 429 redefines Class A vehicles by increasing the maximum weight from 8,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds to include some vehicles currently defined as “Class B.” Additionally, it redefines farm vehicles as “Class X.”

Senate Bill 434 would require that only the last four digits of the social security number be provided when a judgment creditor files a suggestion against a judgment debtor as a means of protection for the judgment debtor and to aid proper identification. The bill also adds the requirement, when possible, to include the judgment debtor’s date of birth.

Senate Bill 536 specifies that the State Auditor must use the State Treasurer’s contracts and system for receiving payments by credit card for all charges collected by the Auditor.

Senate Bill 564 terminates the fund travel management special fund, into which aviation fees and monthly vehicle fees are deposited. The bill also creates two separate special revenue accounts to be known as the “Fleet Management Office Fund” and the “Aviation Fund.” The money from the terminated fund will be transferred to the appropriate new fund.

House Bill 2521 will remove the requirement that domestic violence orders are to be served by certified mail. This will expedite service and eliminate delays in conducting final hearings.

House Bill 3128 will allow a person who has been acquitted or charges dismissed, to file a civil petition to expunge all records relating to the arrest, charges or other matters arising out of the arrest or charge.

House Bill 4037 will consider military training, experience and education towards qualification for professional or occupational licensure. The bill will also automatically extend and renew professional licenses of persons on active military duty.

House Bill 4086 will allow certain real or personal property to be assessed at salvage value for the 25 year period following when it was placed in service.

House Bill 4087 will extend the moratorium on the regular severance tax on the privilege of severing timber until the additional Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Act tax on the privilege of serving timber expires.

House Bill 4097 will authorize the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists’ to create a hair stylist license.

House Bill 4122 will establish agreements between teacher education programs and county boards to use intensively supervised “teacher-in-residence” programs in substitute of student teaching programs. This would allow college students pursuing education degrees greater flexibility when fulfilling the state student teaching requirements.

House Bill 4125 will allow for each school to begin sending an annual notice to parents and guardians of students at schools alerting them of school’s crisis response plan and of their ability to review a redacted copy at the offices of the county board.

House Bill 4220 will authorize the Division of Natural Resources to promulgate a legislative rule relating to Prohibitions when hunting and trapping.

House Bill 4238 will further protect a program participant’s location information by establishing procedures for the inclusion of Address Confidentially Program participants on the special absentee voting list and the method of application and ballot provision for the program participants.

House Bill 4299 will permit a county board of education to use bus operations regularly employed by the county board of a different county to operate buses leased by the county if buses from the owning county are unavailable.

House Bill 4330 will provide that driver’s licenses may contain information designating the licensee as a person who is an honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

House Bill 4320 will provide alternatives to instituting a civil action in the circuit courts of the state by authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection to propose legislative rules to settle violations of the hazardous waste management act.

House Bill 4351 will allow miners to submit anonymous tips about safety issues, require that ventilation plans be submitted, and allow families to be part of the interview process should another mining disaster occur among other things.

House Bill 4493 establishes three new veteran holidays: March 30 will be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day; August 7 will be known as Purple Heart Recognition Day; and July 27 will be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition Day.

House Bill 4583 will move the deadline associated with the termination, resignation and transfer of school personnel and rehiring of probationary employees from February 1 to March 1. The bill requires a twenty-day notice before employed teachers can leave one position for another within the system.

Full Access in 140 Characters

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Since its inception in the Summer of 2006, Twitter has grown to become an important social media sharing site, able to disseminate information among its 300 million or more users across the world, breaking stories ranging from sports, politics and natural disasters.

Seizing upon the site’s popularity in recent years, the West Virginia Legislature has taken strides to increase constituent accessibility and legislative transparency by maintaining three separate Twitter feeds, one each for the House of Delegates and the state Senate as well as one for the West Virginia Legislature as a whole.

Coupled with the audio feeds offered on the legislative website, following the Legislature’s Twitter feeds, as well as those of lawmakers and statehouse reporters can give West Virginia citizens a real time, up to the minute view of what is happening in Charleston at the Capitol.

“Twitter’s an effective way to quickly distribute information of what issues are being debated and discussed at the Legislature at a moments notice,” said Senator Richard Browning (@SenatorBrowning) “It allows information to freely pass to our constituents further broadening the reach and transparency of the Legislature.”

The Legislature’s Twitter feeds (@WVHouse, @WVSenate and @WVLegislature) provide up to the minute updates of floor proceedings, action on the daily calendars and updated information regarding committee and floor meetings.

As an example, just this week the House Judiciary Committee worked well into the night discussing and debating legislation. To borrow a phrase, state residents from Matewan to Martinsburg and Wheeling to Welch, could all be tuned into what was going on in that particular committee by following along with the reporters covering it as well as the lawmakers assigned to that committee twitter feeds.

“Twitter helps us give play-by-play coverage of the Legislature in a way we haven’t been able to before,” Jared Hunt (@jaredwv) of the Daily Mail said. “As little as five years ago, all newspaper writers could do was give a postmortem analysis of what happened the day before, often times forcing us to sacrifice intricate details of the debate leading up to a decision. Now we can put our followers in the committee room or chamber floor as members ask questions or say what’s on their mind, giving our readers a chance to be better informed about the process and react to it in near-real time.”

Many lawmakers have also made efforts to become more accessible to their constituency by becoming active users of the popular social media website. Members tweet what meetings they are attending, how they vote on a particular issue or responding to inquiries by media or citizens who follow their feeds.

Delegates Troy Andes (@TroyAndes) and Meshea Poore (@MesheaPoore) both use Twitter to connect and inform their constituents. “Being able to use Twitter in my service to the 31st district allows me to inform and educate on matters of the district, and be accessible,” said Delegate Poore. “It is something that is real time and allows those that follow me to really be a part of the process.”

Delegate Andes concurred.

“Posting roll call votes on Twitter gives my constituents a way to see how I’m voting in real-time. This year, I’ve expanded my efforts by tweeting the roll call vote of each member upon passage of a bill,” said Delegate Andes. “ Social media lets me connect with constituents and immediately address their concerns, answer questions about pending legislation, and improve transparency in the legislative process all at no cost to the state’s taxpayers. The legislative process only works when citizens are actively involved and Twitter empowers anyone to become involved from anywhere.”

Twitter also allows a user to group Twitter accounts into lists, making following the action at the Capitol even easier. You could group together all statehouse reporters, West Virginia lawmakers and West Virginia Legislature accounts into one list making accessing legislative action even easier and more manageable to follow.

For a more complete accounting of the Legislature, please use all available outlets to your advantage. This includes the Twitter feeds mentioned as well as the streaming audio of committee and floor meetings and the West Virginia Legislature’s Facebook page.

Senate Honors Fanning

During the morning floor session, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 54 honored retiring Sen. John Pat Fanning (D- McDowell).

Two bills completed legislative action during the Senate floor session this morning. The Senate concurred with House amendments to complete legislative action on Senate Bill 191 , relating to personal safety orders. House Bill 4088 also completed legislative action and will repeal the West Virginia telecommunications tax.

Another 11 bills were passed, including House Bill 4338, which would raise the maximum value amount of an abandoned motor vehicle.

The Senate refused House amendments to House Bill 4339 and has requested that a it be referred to a conference committee.

Twelve bills were read for the second time. Among bills on second reading was House Bill 4130 , which would create a felony criminal offense of sale or purchase of a child.

Twenty bills were read for the first time and each advanced to second reading

The following committees will meet this afternoon:

Judiciary 3 p.m. – 208W

Finance 3 p.m. – 451M

Labor 1 p.m. – 451M

Natural Resources 1 p.m. – 208W

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m. today.

UPDATE:The Senate met briefly this evening to receive committee reports.

Six bills were read for the first time after being reported out of committee. Among bills read for the first time was House Bill 4521,which would permit the restructuring of child support payments of an inmate who is released under certain circumstances.

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 208W

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

House Completes Legislative Action On Eight Bills

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Today in the House, Delegates adopted House Resolution 36. The resolution recognizes and welcomes the Turkish Delegation from the Zonguldak Chamber of Commerce and Business Association. Additionally, the House also adopted House Resolution 36 memoralizing the life of the honorable Frederick “Sonny” Peddicord III. Businessman and dedicated public servant, Peddicord served three terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates where he served on the Government Organization and Finance Committees and was Vice Chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

A total of four bills completed legislative action and nine bills were passed on third reading with amendments during the morning session. The four bills completed include: Senate Bill 185, which relates to Employee Suggestion Award Programs; Senate Bill 387, which would require training of floodplain managers; Senate Bill 430, which; would conform code provisions to Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement; and Senate Bill 571, which would authorize the Supreme Court to establish mental hygiene commissioners’ compensation.

A sampling of bills passed on third reading include: Senate Bill 362, which would authorize bond issuance for Cacapon Resort State Park and Beech Fork State Park capital, and Senate Bill 186, which would provide salary equity supplement payments to teachers and service personnel.

Twenty six bills were also read on second reading during today’s floor session. Senate Bill 156 would allow Corrections Commissioners to use excess funds to offset operational costs. Senate Bill 202 would permit Division of Forestry to enter into stewardship contracts with U.S. Forest Service.

Five bills were read on first reading. Senate Bill 571 relates to Broadband Deployment Council, and Senate Bill 110, Senate Bill 211 would create traffic offenses for texting or using handheld wireless communication devices while driving.

The following meetings will be held this afternoon:

Finance- 1:30 p.m.- 460M

Judiciary- 1:30 p.m.- 410M

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

The House is in recess until 5:00 p.m. this evening.

Update:The House briefly met this afternoon following a recess in order to take up committee reports.

The House concurred on several Senate amendments and completed legislation on the following bills: House Bill 4654, which relates to the provision of mailing services by the CPRB to certain retiree organizations; House Bill 4530, which authorizes PSC to consider and issue a financing order to certain regulated electic utilities; House Bill 4345, which prohibits the unauthorized sale of railroad scrap metal; and House Bill 4338, which will raise the maximum value amount of an abandoned motor vehicle.

The following committees will meet immediately following the conclusion of the evening floor session:
Judiciary Committee – 410M

Finance – 460M

The following meetings will be held tomorrow morning:

Education – 9 a.m. – 434M

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow

Mine Safety Bill Completes Legislative Action in the House

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During this evening floor session, the House completed legislative action on House Bill 4351, which will allow miners to submit anonymous tips about safety issues, require that ventilation plans be submitted, and allow families to be part of the interview process should another mining disaster occur among other things.

The bill passed unanimously after the House concurred with Senate amendments to the bill. The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration.

House Honors Long Time Sergeant-at-Arms, Oce Smith Jr.

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The House honored long time Sergeant-at-arms Oce W. Smith Jr. today during floor session. House Resolution 36 paid tribute to the long and colorful career of Smith, who has served as the 43rd Sergeant-at-Arms for over 40 years. Upon receiving the resolution, Smith was also presented with a third Distinguished West Virginian Award, along with a distinguished Legislative pin and medal. Smith’s colorful character and love of recounting the thousands of stories that make up the fabric of his life will truly be missed at the Capitol.

Additionally, the House completed legislation on Senate Bill 365, which will increase membership of the PEIA Fianance Board. The House also passed Senate Bill 191 on third reading. This particular bill relates to personal safety orders.

A total of 13 bills were read on second reading. Senate Bill 186, which will provide salary equity supplement payments to teachers and service personnel and Senate Bill 191, which relates to Employee Suggestion Award Programs, were among bills read on second reading.

Twenty five bills were also read on first reading. Senate Bill 215, which would specify unobligated moneys in Industrial Access Road Fund revert to State Road Fund, and Senate Bill 204, which relates to removal of vehicles from highways in emergency situations, were among bills read on first reading.

The following meetings will be held this afternoon:

Finance- 2 p.m.- 460M

Judiciary- 2:30 p.m.- 410M

Education- 3:30 p.m.- 434M

Constitutional Revision Public hearing regarding Senate Joint Resolution 9 following the afternoon floor session.

The House is in recess until 5:30 this evening.

Update:

The House briefly met this afternoon following a recess in order to receive committee reports.

The House concurred on several Senate amendments and completed legislation on the following bills: House Bill 4001, which authorizes boards to establish fees by legislative rule, and House Bill 4351, which relates to mine safety.

The following committees will meet immediately following the conclusion of the evening floor session:
Judiciary Committee – 410M

Health and Human Resources – 215E

Constitutional Revision Public hearing regarding Senate Joint Resolution 9 also will follow the afternoon floor session in the House Chamber.

The following meetings will be held tomorrow morning:

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 410M

Finance 9:30 a.m. – 460M



The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow

Eight Bills Complete Legislative Action in Senate

Eight bills completed legislative action during the Senate floor session this morning. Bills completing legislative action include: House Bill 2521, which would eliminate the requirement of serving domestic violence orders by certified mail; House Bill 4126, which would authorize legislative rules for the Higher Education Policy Commission and Council for Community and Technical College Education; and House Bill 4330, which would provide that drivers licenses may contain information designating the licensee as a person who is an honorably discharged veteran.

Another 10 bills were passed this morning, including House Bill 4351, the Governor’s mine safety legislation.

A message was communicated to the Senate from the House requesting that House Bill 4236, relating to exclusions from the definition of professional personnel for evaluation purposes, be referred to a conference committee.

Thirteen bills were read for the second time. House Bill 4260, relating to insurance coverage for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, was laid over for one day and retains it position on second reading.

Nine bills were on first reading today. Bills advanced to second reading are House Bill 4015, House Bill 4063, House Bill 4130, House Bill 4307, House Bill 4332, House Bill 4376, House Bill 4403, House Bill 4489 and House Bill 4567.

The following committees will meet this afternoon:

Health and Human Resources 1 p.m. – 451M

Military 1 p.m. – Government Organization Conference Room

Education 2 p.m. – 451M

Judiciary 3 p.m. – 208W

Finance 3 p.m. – 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 208W

Confirmations 9:30 a.m. – President’s Conference Room

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m. today.

UPDATE: The Senate met briefly this evening to receive committee reports.

Four bills were read for the first time. Bills read for the first time include: House Bill 4433, House Bill 4475, House Bill 4601 and House Bill 4634.

Transportation and Infrastructure 10 a.m. – President’s Conference Room.

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

Senate Passes Performance Evaluation Bill

The Senate suspended the constitutional rule requiring that a bill read three separate days to pass House Bill 4236. The bill would establish a new system of performance evaluations of professional personnel.

Eighteen bills were read for the second time today and each was advanced to second reading. Bills read for the second time include: House Bill 4351, relating generally to mine safety; House Bill 2521, which would eliminate the requirement of serving domestic violence orders by certified mail; and House Bill 4330, which would provide that drivers licenses may contain information designating the licensee as a person who is an honorably discharged veteran.

Ten bills were read for the first time and advanced to second reading. Among these bills, House Bill 4345, would prohibit the unauthorized sale of railroad scrap metal.

The following committees will meet this afternoon:

Pensions 2 p.m. – 208W

Judiciary 3 p.m. – 208W

Finance 3 p.m. – 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Transportation and Infrastructure 10 a.m. – 451M

Government Organization 10 a.m. – 208W

Economic Development 9 a.m. – 451M

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m. today.

UPDATE: The Senate met briefly this evening to receive committee reports.

Two bills originating in the Senate Finance Committee were reported and read for a first time: Senate Bill 677 and Senate Bill 678. Both of these bills make supplementary appropriations of state funds to various organizations.

An additional four bills were read a first time and advanced to second reading. Among them is House Bill 4068, which would provide that antique motor vehicles be valued at their salvage value for personal property tax purposes.

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