The West Virginia Senate convened the First Regular Session of the 80th Legislature today at Noon.
The first order of business was to establish the rules by which the Senate operates. After much debate, the Senate passed Senate Resolution 1, which contained a provision for electing an Acting Senate President.
After electing Earl Ray Tomblin Senate President (he will continue to act as Governor) the Senate then elected Jeffrey V. Kessler to serve as Acting Senate President for the 2011 Regular Session.
The Senate then re-elected Darrell Holmes as Senate Clerk, Howard Wellman as Sergeant at Arms and Tony Gallo as Doorkeeper.
The afternoon floor session concluded with the introduction of 69 bills that were then referred to various committees.
The Senate will reconvene at 6:45 p.m. tonight.
Senate Finance will meet Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 3 p.m. in Room 451M.
This afternoon the House of Delegates convened for the 1st Regular Session of the 80th Legislature. After all members were sworn in, the first item of business was the election of Speaker, Clerk, Sergeant at Arms and Head Doorkeeper. Delegate Richard Thompson was elected Speaker, Greg Gray as Clerk, Oce Smith as Sergeant at Arms and John Roberts as Head Doorkeeper.
Today at noon, members of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates will convene for the first Regular Session of the 80th Legislature. Upon being sworn in, they will begin addressing procedural motions, organizational structure and the first legislation of the new year. 
Rick Snuffer (R-Raleigh), a business owner representing the 27th Delegate District, was sworn in by House Speaker Richard Thompson. 
John D. O’Neal IV (R-Raleigh), owner of a real estate investment company, representing the 27th Delegate District, was sworn in by House Speaker Richard Thompson. 
Gary G. Howell (R-Mineral), owner of Howell Automotive in Mineral County, representing the 49th Delegate District, was sworn in by House Clerk, Greg Gray.
Mercer County Republican Mike Porter Jr. has been appointed to finish the remaining term of his father, Delegate Mike Porter Sr., who died last month. He was sworn in today in the House of Delegates Chamber and will serve until his father’s term would have expired. 
This evening, the Legislature adjourned the Second Extraordinary Session after completing legislative action on 11 bills. Those bills to complete legislation are as follows:
During this evening’s floor session, the House received Senate messages and completed legislative action on 
The Senate completed legislative action on six bills and amended and passed two others on to the House for consideration during a late afternoon floor session.
This afternoon, the House voted and passed six education bills including 
The Senate met briefly this evening to announce the times for tomorrow’s committee meetings.