Today marks the 50th day of the 80th regular session. This day has been labeled “cross-over day,” which means today is the last day legislators can consider bills or joint resolutions on third reading in the house of origin, excluding the budget bill and supplementary appropriation bills. Legislators endured a lengthy floor session discussing and debating a total of 35 bills read on third reading during the morning session.

House Joint Resolution 113, which involves the “Homestead Exemption Increase Amendment,” was adopted unanimously today in the House. This resolution would extend homestead exemption to a surviving spouse who is under 65 years of age and not totally disabled under certain circumstances after the death of the qualifying spouse. The resolution would also allow each county the option to increase the homestead exemption from $20,000 to an amount of no more than 50 percent of the average residential property value. The House also read and passed Senate Bill 221 on third reading. This bill, also known as the Jason Flatt Act of 2012, would require routine suicide prevention training for all teachers and principals.

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Agriculture- 8:30 a.m.- 215E

Natural Resources- 9:15 a.m.- 215E

Pensions and Retirement- 10 a.m.- 460M

The House is in recess until 3 P.M.

Update:

The House continued its passage of bills on third reading during session this afternoon following a recess. Of those passed, House Bill 4251 would permit the restructuring of child support payments for inmates who are released, and House Bill 4626 would increase the amount of state police principal supervisors.

The House also suspended the constitutional rule requiring that House Bill 4396be read three separate days and voted for the passage of the bill during today’s session. House Bill 4396 would authorize death benefits to the surviving spouse of law enforcement officers.

Five bill were advanced to second reading as well.

The House is in recess until 5:30 p.m.

Update:

The House met once more today for the passage of three bills on third reading. House Bill 3157 would add another family court judge to the twenty-third family court district, House Bill 4549 would impose a monetary penalty on unemployment compensation recipients for obtaining benefits through the use of fraudulent statements, and House Bill 4613 would further develop the state’s broadband internet reach and capabilities in remote areas.

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

The House passed several bills on 3rd reading today with one bill in particular considerable debate. House Bill 4486 passed and is in relation to the disclosure of insurance coverage.

Additional bills passed on the floor include House Bill 4583, which deals with the termination and resignation deadlines of school personnel, and House Bill 4322, which would add coyote and fox to the list of species to be permissible to hunt at night with artificial light. There were also three others bills passed which were House Bill 2278, House Bill 4236, and House Bill 4424.

The following committees will meet today:

Health and Human Resources- 4 p.m.- 215E

The House is in recess until 2 P.M.

Update:

Following this morning’s floor session, the House met in the afternoon to complete legislation on House Bill 4493 and advance many others. With the signature of Governor Tomblin, House Bill 4493 will establish memorial days for certain military veterans.

Twelve bills advance to 3rd reading including House Bill 4645, which involves changing the membership requirements for a board of governors, and House Bill 4257, which would allow opportunities for late voter registration for citizens overseas.

A total of 58 bills were advanced to second reading on the House Special Calendar.

The following committees will meet this afternoon:

Finance- 3 p.m.- 460M

Judiciary- 3 p.m.- 410M

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

Members of the House were treated to the sounds of the Glenville State College Bluegrass Band at the start of today’s session. Following the performances, members presented a citation to the Chemical Valley Rollergirls for introducing a new activity to the Charleston area.

One House Resolution was adopted that will recognize the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the House also adopted five House Concurrent Resolutions.

There were six bills passed by the House with one bill completing legislation. Senate Bill 379 will now await the signature of Governor Tomblin, and will instate that the Board of Registered Professional Nurses designate certain treatment & recovery programs for licensees. The remaining bills passed included House Bill 4630, House Bill 2740, House Bill 4028, House Bill 4037, and House Bill 4530.

There were also six bills to advance to 3rd reading including House Bill 4322, which would add coyote and fox to the list of species in any color artificial light is permitted for hunting at night, and House Bill 4486, which relates to the disclosure of insurance coverage.

The House also read 11 bills on first reading. Among those was House Bill 4281, which would increase the rate of pay for the West Virginia State Police.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary 12:30 p.m. – 410M

Finance 1:30 p.m. – 460M

The House is in recess until 3 P.M.

This afternoon, the House met briefly to receive committee reports.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 27.

Several House Resolutions were adopted on the floor today including House Resolution 87, which names the four mile stretch of highway in Mineral County after war hero and Purple Heart recipient Sargent James “Aubrey” Stewart. House Resolution 86 names a bridge in Mineral County after Private Woodrow Wilson Barr, and House Resolution 13 celebrates the contributions of the Bluefield Coal Show to the West Virginia Coal Industry.

In addition, the House also passed six bills today including House Bill 4020, which recognizes students with outstanding statewide test scores, and House Bill 2657, which creates the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The House advanced six bills to 3rd reading as well. Of those, Senate Bill 379, would instate that the Board of Registered Professional Nurses designate certain treatment & recovery programs for licensees, and House Bill 2740 would make covenants that restrict the installation or use of solar energy systems unenforceable. The House also advanced House Bill 4028, House Bill 4037, House Bill 4530 and House Bill 4630.

There were also seven bills were read for the first time today.

The following committees will meet today:

Government Organization- 1:30 p.m.- 215E

Finance 2 p.m. – 460M

Judiciary 2 p.m. – 410M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Judiciary- 2 p.m.- 410M

Government Organization- 9:30 a.m.- 215E

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