Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
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House Government Organization Reconsiders and Advances Senate Bill 171

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Government Organization Reconsiders and Advances Senate Bill 171

The House Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon.

House Bill 5002 requires at least one baby changing station in all state-owned rest areas for male and female bathrooms beginning January 1, 2025. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 5295 authorizes private outdoor designed areas (PODA) to simultaneously host multiple qualified permit holders, including properly insured private fairs and festivals. PODA is a public area where people can have open outdoor beverages. The bill allows the fair or festival to become a qualified permit holder to participate as part of the PODA. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 5343 adds a solely licensed athletic trainer to the Board of Physical Therapy to replace the physical therapist whose term expires next.

House Bill 5399 moves the audits of the state’s volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies from the Legislative Auditor to the State Auditor. The State Auditor will select up to ten volunteer fire departments to participate in a pilot program using the State Auditor’s WV Checkbook fiscal reporting system to assess how the transition to the new account reporting system will work in the VFDs. The bill advances.

The committee reconsidered Senate Bill 171 to withdraw an amendment previously adopted to the bill. The bill prohibits county commissions from adopting any ordinance, rule, license requirement, or other authorization that exceeds state law, rule, or regulation regarding agricultural operations. The bill revokes and prohibits any ordinance, rule, or regulation previously adopted by county commissions regarding agricultural operations. The bill prohibits county commissions from adopting ordinances that regulate dwellings or other buildings on agricultural land or operations. The bill without the amendment advances to the floor.

House Education Passes Five Bills in Afternoon Meeting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Education Passes Five Bills in Afternoon Meeting

The House Education Committee met this afternoon.

House Bill 4919 permits a student to reapply for the Promise Scholarship on an annual basis if that student falls out of eligibility during the academic year in college.

House Bill 4951 enacts the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists.

House Bill 5435 creates a new section of code establishing the apprenticeship to associate of applied science degree program to be administered by the CCTCE.

The committee reconsidered two bills that had previously passed the committee.

House Bill 4986 provides computer science and cybersecurity instruction for adult learners.

House Bill 5262 establishes the Teacher’s Bill of Rights. It divides the duties of counselors, the student-to-instructor ratio for special education classes, and compensation when teacher-to-student ration is exceeded. The bill also clarifies the process for the removal of students.

House Passes Jaycie’s Law

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Jaycie’s Law

Today, the House of Delegates passed eight bills.

House Bill 4863 creates the Patriotic Access to Students in Schools Act. The bill allows representatives of a patriotic society to speak with and recruit students to participate in their organization during school hours to inform them on how the patriotic society can further students’ interests and civil involvement.

House Bill 4933 removes dentures from applying to the $1,000 limit for Medicaid Dental Coverage. It takes effect on July 1, 2024.

House Bill 5056 allows full-time school service personnel to substitute in other service personnel positions on a day-to-day basis.

House Bill 5153 updates the requirements of the WV STEM Scholarship. It allows for students of public, private, charter, home, mico, and pod schools to be eligible for the scholarship.  

House Bill 5158 updates the special education code.

House Bill 5179, Jaycie’s Law, requires the WV Department of Education to establish a policy to support the educational and parenting goals of pregnant and parenting students. Each county board shall have a written attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students which shall include excused absences for labor, delivery, recovery, and prenatal/postnatal medical appointments. Mothers shall be given at least eight weeks for recovery and fathers shall be given two weeks. County boards shall ensure the parents remain on track to graduate by providing academic support such as weekly virtual or homebound instructor visits.  

House Bill 5200 requires school counselors to participate in the School Counselors Conference once every two years beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The bill also requires counselors to receive training regarding building, trades, and apprenticeship programs available to students.

House Bill 5248 creates licenses for residential behavioral health centers and non-residential behavioral health centers. The regulation and oversight of all behavioral health centers by the OHFLAC. The Inspector General shall create rules.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 8, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 7
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings, a meeting to follow. Feb.
 The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410. 
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 8 
The Committee on Seniors, Children, and Families will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Jails and Prisons will meet at 9:45 a.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, February 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the House Chamber for HB 5243 – Relating to Women’s Bill of Rights.

Senate Advances Bill to Adjust Firefighter Holiday Pay

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Advances Bill to Adjust Firefighter Holiday Pay

The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would clarify compensation for municipal firefighters who are required to work a holiday shift.

Senate Bill 557 would establish that firefighters are entitled to compensation for an entire shift, even if only a portion of the holiday shift actually falls on the holiday.

The bill is seen as a fairness issue as some municipalities have taken the position firefighters only receive holiday pay or comp time for the portion of the shift that falls on the holiday. In this scenario, if the firefighter takes time off on the holiday, they are charged for the full shift. The most common shift worked by a firefighter is 12 hours, 8 a.m. until 8 a.m.

The bill doesn’t change the rate of time-and-a-half compensation or the compensatory time allowed if the municipality chooses that methodology.

The legislation should make holiday pay for municipal firefighters uniform across the state. The measure now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Economic Development at 1 p.m. in 451M

Pensions at 2 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for 2/8:

Gov. Org at 10 a.m. in 208W

Education at 10 a.m. in 451M

Three Bills Advance from House Health

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Three Bills Advance from House Health

The House Health and Human Resources met this afternoon and advanced three bills.

House Bill 5175 eliminates the funding for the Center for Nursing and transfers its duties and authorities to the HEPC. The bill creates an Office of Nursing Education and Workforce Development within the HEPC which will be charged with providing support for expanding nursing programs, promoting, and coordinating opportunities for nurses to earn higher degrees, administering the scholarship program for nurses, and collecting and disseminating data. The bill advances to House Education.

House Bill 5286 removes the ability to subcontract in the certificate of need process.

Senate Bill 474 creates a Critical Incident Review Team to oversee and coordinate the examination, review, and assessment of the death or near death of a child in the custody of the Department of Human Services, with a family member who is known to have a history with the department, or a child whose identity is brought to the attention of the department through centralized intake. The bill advances to House Judicary.

House Adopts Resolution Honoring Medal of Valor Nominees

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Adopts Resolution Honoring Medal of Valor Nominees

Today, the House of Delegates passed two resolutions and seven bills and postponed eight bills. 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 recognizes and honors the First Responders Honor Board’s nominees for the Medal of Valor. The Medal of Valor is presented to those who go above and beyond the call of duty as firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical services personnel, and other professionals. The individuals nominated, recognized, and honored West Virginia State Police Corporal David S. Fry, Upshur County Department of Homeland Security/County Emergency Manager, Deputy Director Derek V. Long, and Upshur County Sheriff John Michael Coffman.

House Joint Resolution 21 proposes an amendment to the WV Constitution, which prohibits individuals who are not US citizens from voting in elections within the state. If the resolution passes both the House and the Senate, it will be on the ballot of the 2024 general election. 

House Bill 5018 gives the DEP authority to regulate community air monitoring programs to ensure proper scientific methods for data collection and evaluation are followed. The data cannot be used to for regulatory action or as evidence in court. 

Opponents of the bill had issues with not allowing the data to be used as evidence. They felt that it is the court’s decision what should and should not be admissible in court proceedings. Some said the bill is imposing on the judicial system. 

Proponents stated the bill does not attack or health community air monitoring. The Secretary of DEP can use the data from air monitoring to decide if an investigation may be needed to protect communities. 

House Bill 5084 requires retailers to verify indentation and age upon the purchase of vapes and vape products. 

House Bill 5091 removes the requirement that critical infrastructure be enclosed by a fence or barrier or marked with no entry sign. The bill increases penalties for the destruction or theft of critical infrastructure. The bill states anyone who willfully damages or destroys equipment in a critical infrastructure facility causing damages more than $2,500 is guilty of a felony and shall be fined $25,000 to $100,000 or be imprisoned for one to five years. For a second offense, the individual would be guilty of a felony and fined between $100,000 and $500,000 and/or be imprisoned for five to ten years. 

House Bill 5122 removes the age cap of 45 years for deputy sheriffs and the age cap of 40 years for all municipal police officers starting their careers. 

House Bill 5257 states the pay scale for magistrate court clerks, magistrate assistants, magistrate court deputy clerks, family court secretary-clerks, and family court judges shall be set by the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court. 

House Bills 4851, 4704, 5038, 5050, 5054, 5064, 5083, and 5252 were postponed.

Bills introduced today can be found here.
Resolutions introduced today can be found here. 

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 7, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 6
 The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1:45 p.m. in Room 460.
 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 7 
The Committee on the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
 The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Artificial Intelligence will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Workforce Development will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings, a meeting to follow. Feb.
 The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410. 
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, February 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the House Chamber for House Bill 5243 – Relating to Women’s Bill of Rights.

 

Senate Approves WV Corridor H Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Approves WV Corridor H Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor

The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would create the West Virginia Corridor H Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority.

Senate Bill 571 would establish an authority board consisting of county economic development officials to pursue energy and business growth along Corridor H.

The 16-member independent body would consist of representatives of economic development agencies in Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, Randolph, Tucker, Grant and Hardy counties, as well as representatives from industry and private business, both from throughout the state and within the corridor.

The intent of the legislation is to facilitate critical and time-sensitive opportunities for economic development in the corridor.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for 2/7:

Agriculture and Natural Resources at 10 a.m. in 208W

House Judiciary Discusses Sex Discrimination

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Judiciary Discusses Sex Discrimination

House Judiciary met this afternoon.

House Bill 4233 requires birth certificates issued in this state to include the gender of the child at birth and prohibits the use of the term “non-binary” on birth certificates. The bill advances.

House Bill 4758 creates the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Fusion Center. The bill establishes reporting requirements and clarifies the Fusion Center’s duties and functions, prohibitions, and restrictions when gating information or intelligence. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 4786 creates the Delivery Network Company Insurance Act. The bill requires Delivery Network Company to acquire insurance for drivers when making deliveries.

House Bill 4845 prohibits swatting.

House Bill 5072 creates the Act to Prohibit the Purchase of Small Unmanned Aircrafts Manufactured or Assembled by a Covered Foreign Entity.

House Bill 5232 updates the Business Liability Protection Act.

House Bill 5250 provides requirements a retailer must go through for gift card selling. Employers must provide training to employees relating to gift card fraud. If using self-checkout, an employee must interact with the customer before the purchase can be completed. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 5251 creates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits solicitation calls utilizing auto dialing and voice recordings. The bill also sets other prohibitions. The bill advances to the floor.

Senate Bill 318 requires the Department of Human Services to provide a certificate when parental rights are terminated due to neglect and abuse. These certifications must be included in adoption petitions.

House Bill 5243 establishes the WV Women’s Bill of Rights, which brings “clarity, certainty, and uniformity to the laws of West Virginia regarding sex discrimination, equality of the sexes, and benefits or services specifically provided to males/men and females/women.” The bill states anywhere “gender” is a stand-alone word in code that it is deleted and replaced with the word “sex.” The bill also states that the prohibition of sex discrimination shall be construed to forbid unfair treatment of females or males in similar situations. The bill states separate single-sex environments for males and females be provided where the sexes are not similarly situated. The bill states data collection shall not required relating to sex unless required by law. There is a severability clause. Three amendments were offered and one passed. The bill advances to the floor.

House Passes Bill Establish New Recycling Reporting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Bill Establish New Recycling Reporting

Today, Delegates in the House passed seven bills and postponed House Bill 4940.

Senate Bill 31 is a rules bill for the Department of Human Services.

Senate Bill 300 clarifies that although the Office of the Inspector General is housed within the Department of Health, it is a separate and autonomous office.

House Bill 5006 amends the A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environment Action Plan, an effort with the DEP to address litter, waste, dumps, and recycling programs. The bill requires recycling establishments tow report to DEP of the listed materials that are being recycled in the state. The bill also establishes new criteria for evaluating the success of the state’s recycling, which must be evaluated every five years. These changes are to ensure federal funding. The WV DEP shall report recycling data to the US EPA.

House Bill 5019 removes the requirement that an individual must return/surrender a license when downgrading or disqualifying a driver’s license.

House Bill 5045 clarifies carbon sequestration may not pollute groundwater.

House Bill 5127 ends the pilot program and permanently includes Potomac State College as an eligible program to participate in the “Learn and Earn Program.”

House Bill 5130 creates the Remote Patient Outcome Improvement Act. The bill allows health insurers or providers to subscribe to an internet provider for service at a patient’s home to facilitate the transition and analysis of vital signs and medical device data in real-time.

Bills introduced today can be found here.
Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 6, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 5
 The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m.. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings. Feb.
 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 Judiciary Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 6 
The Committee on Banking and Insurance will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
 The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
 The Committee on Political Subdivisions will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 434.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

 

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Minors

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Protect Minors

The Senate passed a bill on Monday that would require the development of a Safety While Accessing Technology (SWAT) education program in elementary and secondary schools.

Senate Bill 466 would require schools to provide instruction on the risks associated with sharing sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials, the legal and criminal consequences, and other long-term and unforeseen consequences associated with sharing the materials.

The legislation would require the state Board of Education to approve age-appropriate education for grades three through 12 and each county to adopt policies for annual instruction in the SWAT program. The bill also allows parents or guardians to opt their children out of the instruction.

The SWAT program is intended to show students the potential connection between sharing sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials and the sharing of those materials by others, bullying, cyber bullying, extortion, and human trafficking.

The legislation now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Military at 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for 2/6:

Gov. Org at 10 a.m. in 208W

Education at 10 a.m. in 451M

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