Today, the Delegates in the House passed 12 bills, eight of which completed legislative action. Additionally, the House concurred to complete action on four bills and recede from position to complete another. The House refused to concur with the Senate on Senate Bill 219.

Senate Bill 219 clarifies the elements of a crime by providing definitions for individuals engaged in the illegal use of controlled substances and seeking medical assistance. If a person is in the physical presence of another engaged in illegal drug use where the other suffers an overdose and the person fails to seek medical attention by contacting 911 or any first responder, then that person is guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned for one to five years. The bill’s purpose is to encourage the reporting of overdoses by protecting those who report the overdose. The House-amended bill strikes “or knowingly facilitating illegal drug abuse by the other person so engaged” from the definition of “engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance with another person.” Both bodies have refused to concur and a conferee meeting has been assigned. 

Senate Bill 146 requires the State Superintendent to create an Adult Education Task Force. The task force is to include: the State Superintendent, the head of adult education learning centers, and geographically diverse representatives from the community, including but not limited to, representation from business and the community college system. The bill also requires that the task force be created and begin its meetings on or before July 1, 2024. It must submit a report of recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2024. The bill advances to the Senate.

Senate Bill 147 removes the requirement of providing a social security number for the application of a license to carry weapons. The bill also defines “ammunition” to be used when completing training courses to carry. The bill advances to the Senate.

Senate Bill 148 establishes an auto-renewal program for wildlife licenses, permits, and stamps issued by the Division of Natural Resources. The bill removes the electronic issuance fee from the auto-renew program. The bill has completed legislative action.

Senate Bill 844 changes the name of the Educational Broadcasting Authority to the Educational Broadcasting Commission. A director for the commission would be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Arts, Culture, and History. The number of members is reduced from eleven to nine. The bill advances to the Senate.

Senate Bill 865 increases the number of sections within the Department of Arts, Culture, and History from seven to eight to include the Educational Broadcasting Commission. The bill also changes references from curator to secretary. The bill has completed legislative action.

House Bill 4845 creates a misdemeanor offense of swatting. Swatting is reporting by telecommunications false or misleading information to a law enforcement agency and/or emergency services knowing the information to be false or misleading. For second and subsequent offenses OR if a violation causes bodily harm to another, the offending individual is guilty of a felony. If convicted, the individual shall be fined between $5,000 and $10,000 and/or imprisoned in a state facility for one to five years. The bill has completed legislative action.

House Bill 4940 clarifies that squatting is trespassing. The bill states squatters can be removed from property and charged with a criminal misdemeanor. The bill has completed legislative action.

House Bill 5432 moves the functions of the outdated Information Services and Communications Division into the Office of Technology. The bill authorizes the Office of Technology to assist the Executive Branch in developing agency data retention policies and directives. The bill has completed legislative action.

The House receded from its position on Senate Bill 451. The bill requires all appointed, elected, or newly hired prosecutors, and assistant prosecutors, to complete training prior to performing duties. The bill has completed legislative action.

Action was postponed on Senate bills 160 and 173.

The House is in recess until 5 p.m.

Committee Meetings today, March 6
The Finance Committee will meet at 1:45 p.m. in Room 460. 
The Education Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 434.

The House reconvened at 5 p.m. to complete today’s agenda. Additional Senate Messages and Committee Reports were received.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, March 7, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Committee Meetings tomorrow, March 7
The Rules Committee will meet at 9:15 a.m. behind the House Chamber.

Today, Delegates in the House amended and passed Senate Bill 200 – Budget Bill. The amended-bill heads to the Senate and a compromise must be reached by Saturday. It’s the Senate’s job to amend Senate Bill 200 with the compromise.

The Projected Budget in the House version of the bill is:
• General Revenue total is $4,996,828,751.
• State Road Fund total is $1,998,642,908.
• Other Funds total is $ 2,141,776,021
• Lottery Revenue total is $149,104,142.
• Excess Lottery Revenue total is $337,436,083.
• Federal Funds total is $8,776,500,819.
• Federal Block Grant total is $688,383,417.
• General Revenue Surplus total is $201,600,000.
• Lottery Net profits Surplus total is 16,750,000.
• Excess lottery Surplus total is 17,800,000.

Below is a breakdown of the General Revenue.

Legislative
1. Senate – $6,152,206
2. House – $11,985,000
3. Joint $11,240,457

Judicial
4. Supreme Court – $165,783,509

Executive
5. Gov Office – $6,626,040
6. Custodial Fund – $615,427
7. Civil Contingent Fund – $8,500,000
8. Auditor’s Office – $2,724,523
9. Treasurer’s Office – $3,718,259
10. Department of Agriculture – $14,062,323
11. WV Conservation Agency – $11,636,697
12. Meat inspection – $1,169,540
13. Agriculture awards fund- $54,250
14. WV Agriculture Land Protection Authority – $109,693
15. Attorney General – $5,894,240
16. Secretary of State – $983,138
17. State Election Commission – $7,508

Department of Administration
18. Office of the Secretary – $15,630,631
19. Consolidated Retirement Fund
20. Division of Finance – $810,767
21. Division of General Services – $26,394,135
22. Division of Purchasing – $1,146,662
23. Travel Management – $1,325,210
24. Commission on Uniform State Laws – $45,550
25. WV Public Employe Grievance Board – $1,212,486
26. Ethics Commission – $773,228
27. Public Defenders Service- $38,195,744
28. Division of Personnel – $1,800,000
29. Committee for the Purchase of Commodities and Services from the Handicapped -$4,055
30. West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute – $688,044
31. Real Estate Division – $901,271

Department of Commerce
32. Division of Forestry – $6,105,480
33. Geological and Economic Survey $3,328,376
34. Division of Labor – $2,017,411
35. Division of Natural Resources – Division of Natural Resources – $31,316,979
36. Division of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training – $12,342,060
37. Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety – $370,549
38. WorkForce West Virginia- $58,473
39. Office of the Secretary – $1,977,755
40. State Board of Rehabilitation – Division of Rehabilitation Services – $16,222,463
41. Department of Tourism – Office of the Secretary- $ 30,300,000
42. Department of Economic Development –Office of the Secretary – $12,917,867
43. State Board of Education – School Lunch Program – $2,497,519
44. State Board of Education –State Department of Education$129,738,021
45. State Board of Education –Aid for Exceptional Children – $35,113,216
46. State Board of Education –State Aid to Schools – $2,034,518,480
47. State Board of Education –Vocational Division – $41,784,139
48. State Board of Education –West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind- $15,730,195
49. State Board of Education –School Building Authority – $24,000,000

Department of Arts, Culture, And History
35. Division of Culture and History – $ 5,788,181
36. Library Commission – $ 1,644,157
37. Educational Broadcasting Authority – $ 4,323,875
38. Department of Environmental Protection
39. Environmental Quality Board – $ 131,874
40. Division of Environmental Protection – $ 7,622,445
41. Air Quality Board – $ 76,053

Department of Health
42. Department of Health –Central Office – $ 89,853,781
43. Human Rights Commission = $ 1,568,052
Department of Human Services
44. Division of Human Services – $ 841,338,416

Department of Health Facilities
45. Central Office – $3,655,695
46. Health Facilities Capital Projects Fund – $550,000
47. Hopemont Hospital – $12,827,637
48. Lakin Hospital – $14,451,392
49. John Manchin Senior Health Care Center – $8,703,666
50. Jackie Withrow Hospital – $12,337,165
51. Welch Community Hospital – $31,057,039
52. William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital – $79,407,370
53. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital – $53,506,391
54. William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital -Transitional Living Facility – $1,847,929

Department of Homeland Security
55. Office of the Secretary – $4,293,160
56. Division of Emergency Management – $6,691,854
57. Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation –West Virginia Parole Board – $1,454,002
58. Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation –Central Office – $385,147
59. Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Correctional Units – $317,211,561
60. Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Bureau of Juvenile Services – $51,207,884
61. West Virginia State Police – $126,893,784
62. Fire Commission – $63,061
63. Division of Protective Services – $4,023,574
64. Division of Administrative Services – Criminal Justice Fund – $10,656,295
65. Division of Administrative Services – $6,280,223

Department of Revenue
66. Office of the Secretary – $648,506
67. Tax Division – $ 31,518,796
68. State Budget Office – $1,183,885
69. West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals – $1,214,578
70. State Athletic Commission – $36,811

Department of Transportation
71. Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities –State Rail Authority – $2,145,040
72. Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities – Public Transit – $2,292,989
73. Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities –$ 1471,263
74. Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities –Aeronautics Commission – $1,031,626

Department of Veterans’ Assistance
75. Department of Veterans’ Assistance – $ 12,640,193
76. Department of Veterans’ Assistance – Veterans’ Home – $ 1,785,768

Bureau of Senior Services
77. Bureau of Senior Services – $6,580,366

West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education
78. Control Account – $15,839,076
79. Mountwest Community and Technical College – $7,165,674
80. New River Community and Technical College – $6,624,770
81. Pierpont Community and Technical College – $8,699,120
82. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College – $8,821,525
83. West Virginia University at Parkersburg – $11,632,093
84. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College – $9,185,300
85. West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College – $8,145,573
86. Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College – $2,447,264
87. BridgeValley Community and Technical College – $8,970,648

Higher Education Policy Commission
88. Control Account – $79,448,524
89. West Virginia University –School of Medicine – Medical School Fund – $22,433,558
90. West Virginia University – General Administrative Fund – $119,508,643
91. Marshall University – School of Medicine – $9,787,407
92. Marshall University – General Administration Fund – $56,923,978
93. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine – $6,332,105
94. Bluefield State University – $7,184,100
95. Concord University – $11,600,864
96. Fairmont State University – $20,805,888
97. Glenville State University – $7,470,766
98. Shepherd University – $13,935,597
99. West Liberty University $10,530,209
100. West Virginia State University – $17,944,676
101. Administration – West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing (WVNET) – $1,946,515

Miscellaneous Boards and Commissions
103. Adjutant General –State Militia – $ 18,646,916
104. Adjutant General – Military Fund – $ 157,775

Due to the potential Federal “clawback” of federal CARES/COVID money, a slimmed-down version of the budget is being passed as “Act One.” Once the Governor’s Office completed the negotiations with the federal government, the expectation is that “Act Two” would be a special session taking place in the Spring for a large supplemental appropriation to be used to amend the budget bill.

The Senate version of the budget does differ from the House-amended version of Senate Bill 200. Compromises will have to be made to pass the bill before this Saturday’s session adjournment.

The House is in recess until 5 p.m.

The House Returned at 6:30 p.m. to finish the agenda. The House also received committee reports and messages from the Senate and Governor.

Committee Meetings today, March 5
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3: 25 p.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3:45 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 460.
The Finance Committee will meet 15 minutes after Energy in Room 460.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 15 minutes after Tech and Infrastructure in Room 434.

Committee Meetings today, March 5
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings tomorrow, March 6
The Committee on Artificial Intelligence will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 434.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 410.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber
The Education Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.

Today, the House of Delegates concurred with the Senate to complete legislative action on five bills.

House Bill 4376 requires a surgical smoke evacuation system in healthcare facilities. Surgical smoke is the by-product of using heat-generated surgical instruments. It can contain various health-damaging particles which can be inhaled. Any facility without an evacuation system for surgical smoke shall be penalized with a fine between $1,000 to $5,000. The Senate amended bill requires the Office of the Inspector General to propose legislative rules.

House Bill 4431 allows the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to cremate unidentified remains after 30 days if any genetic material is preserved within the database. Identified, but unclaimed remains after 30 days may be placed in a cemetery for a final resting place, unless moved by family.

House Bill 4832 amends finance reporting requirements of the state superintendent to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. The bill also states any school district failing to report to the state superintendent can lose state funding.

House Bill 5549 authorizes the DMV to secure license plates from an alternative source if the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation is unable to provide a six-month supply due to shortages of resources or labor.

House Bill 5347 establishes a program where emergency medical technicians for EMS can become certified paramedics after three years of service, with costs paid by the state.

Additionally, the House completed legislative action on ten bills, several of which were supplemental appropriations.

Senate Bill 700 allocates $10,000 to the Hospital Finance Authority Fund for personal services and employee benefits during FY24.

Senate Bill 703 allocates $750,000 to the WV State Police for personal services and employee benefits during FY24.

Senate Bill 707 allocates $41,345 to the DNR’s Nongame Fund for personal services and employee benefits during FY24.

Senate Bill 574 allocates to the Division of Highways $62,500,000 for Interstate Construction, $87,500,000 for other federal aid programs, and $125,000,000 for Appalachian programs during FY24.

Senate Bill 709 allocates $415,000 to the National Coal Heritage Area Authority for current expenses during FY24.

The action was postponed one day on Senate Bills 173, 701, and 653.

Senate Bills 152 and 292 were moved to the inactive House Calendar. Senate Bills 17 and 714 were moved to the active calendar on second reading. Several bills were amended on second reading today.

The House is in recess until 5 p.m.

The House returned to session to hear bills on first reading. Additional committee reports were received.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, March 5, 2024, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings today, March 4 
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:15 p.m. in Room 410.
The Finance Committee will meet at 1:15 p.m. in Room 460. 
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.

Committee Meetings tomorrow, March 5
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

During the House floor session, the House of Delegates honored Delegate Charles E. Romine with House Resolution 12.

Charles “Chuck” E. Romine was elected to the House of Delegates in 1968. He served several terms before retiring from public service in 2018. In 2018, he was awarded The Distinguished West Virginia Award for his lifetime of dedication to the public and private sectors of the state. Romine passed away on September 24, 2023.

The House concurred with further amendments on three bills. The House also concurred with the Senate to complete legislative action on eight bills.

House Bill 5122 removes the age maximum to become a deputy sheriff and municipal police officer.

House Bill 4933 increases the dental coverage of Medicaid to $2,000 per two-year budget year.

House Bill 5540, Laken’s Law, requires public schools to provide fentanyl prevention and awareness education. Students shall be instructed on how to use FDA-approved opioid reversal agents and how to prevent the abuse and addiction to fentanyl.

The House passed five bills and completed action on three more.

Senate Bill 164 clarifies that all violations of trespassing can be subject to double damages.

Senate Bill 331 removes the cap on the amount of money that may be held in a county’s financial stabilization fund. Currently, the fund is capped at 50% of the county’s most recent general fund budget. The bill also allows a county commission to invest with the Investment Management Board or the Board of Treasury Investments.

Senate Bill 451 requires training to be provided to new prosecutors from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute.

Senate Bill 529 adds Salem University to the schools that can accept the Promise Scholarship.

Senate Bill 712 reduces the minimum age to be a State Police cadet to 18 years of age.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, March 4, 2024, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings today, March 1 
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:15 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings Monday, March 4
The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460. 
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.

The House Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing in the House Chamber on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Senate Bill 590 – Political Subdivision Labor Regulatory Limitation Act. Sign-ups to speak begin at 8:30 a.m.