Blog – Page 32

Senate Approves WV Corridor H Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 6, 2024

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

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 5, 2024

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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

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 5, 2024

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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

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 5, 2024

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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

House Passes Bill to Fund Program to treat PTSD and Obesity

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 2, 2024

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House Passes Bill to Fund Program to treat PTSD and Obesity

Today, the House of Delegates amended one bill, recommitted another, and passed eight bills, including the following:

House Bill 5014 is a supplementary appropriation to the WVU General Administration Fund for $2,000,000 to fund a Pilot Program through the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute. The team at WVU RNI developed a tactic to use ultrasound to treat Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and opioid use. The team has received FDA clearance to expand the program to treat PTSD and obesity. The two health concerns are very prominent in West Virginia. The bill is effective from passage, and it heads to the Senate.

House Bill 4292 provides enhanced damages for unpaid royalties on vertical wells not paid six months from the due date. The enhanced fee would be three times the amount due plus court and lawyer fees.

House Bill 4965 provides restitution to children who have lost parents/guardians due to negligent homicide or DUI causing death.

House Bill 4998 modifies penalties for a third shoplifting offense. The bill removes the requirement of one year in prison before parole is an option. The court can still sentence in the one-to-ten-year timeframe if appropriate. The bill also provides that on a third offense, an investigation shall determine if the person offending has a substance use disorder. If so, they will be ordered to undergo treatment.

Senate Bill 300 was amended. The bill clarifies the role of the Inspector General regarding the Department of Health. The IG is a separate and autonomous office. While it is housed in the Department of Health for administrative support.

House Concurrent Resolution 64 was adopted. The resolution acknowledges and supports the State of Texas.

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

The House is adjourned until Monday, February 5, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 5
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. 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.

Senate Completes Rule on American Heart Association Day

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 2, 2024

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Senate Completes Rule on American Heart Association Day

The Senate completed action on House Bill 4026 on Friday. The legislation, which comes via a request from the Department of Administration, changes a rule’s sunset date regarding state owned vehicles until 2029.

Also on Friday, the Senate adopted SR23, which designates February 2, 2024, as American Heart Association Day at the Legislature.

The resolution honors the work of the American Heart Association, which encompasses 35 million volunteers and over 2,900 employees that share a focus on medical research to prevent heart disease along with stroke and other heart-related diseases.

Since it’s founding in 1924, the American Heart Association has reached over 12 million people through guidelines on better nutrition, with 19 million patients benefiting from a Quality Care Initiative for high blood pressure. Over that time period, the United States has seen a 15.1 percent reduction in deaths from heart disease and a 13.6 percent reduction in deaths from stroke.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m.

House Judiciary Lays Over Bill Relating to Swatting

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 2, 2024

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House Judiciary Lays Over Bill Relating to Swatting

House Judiciary met this morning to consider the following:

House Bill 4985 creates the Securities Restitution Assistance Fund. It provides the application process. The bill moves to the Finance Committee to determine how it will be funded.

House Bill 4320 creates a new section of code, which clarifies that neither a parent nor legal guardian of a minor child shall be denied access to the minor child’s medical records. The committee substitute of the bill removes the exceptions for birth control, prenatal, drug abuse, and venereal disease. The bill advances to the House floor.

House Bill 4845 creates the West Virginia Anti-Swatting Act, which makes swatting a felony offense. The penalty would be one to five years in a state correctional facility and/or a fine of $5,000 to $10,000 is making a false or misleading notice via telecommunication devices to law enforcement with reckless disregard for whether a report may cause bodily harm to an individual. An amendment was offered to make it a misdemeanor, but it was rejected. The bill was laid over to another meeting.

House Bill 4885 prohibits persons from sitting, standing, kneeling, or laying down in the roadway for the purpose of blocking traffic. The bill advances to the House Floor.

House Bill 5057 defines a nominal fee for providing a referral to an insurance company or producer as a one-time fee of $100 or less.

House Bill 5298 prohibits unsuccessful candidates in a primary election from being nominated by a different political party for placement on the subsequent general election ballot. An amendment was offered to prevent a person serving in one office as one political party from running in the next election as a different party during the next election effective. The amendment was rejected. The bill advances to the House Floor.

House Technology and Infrastructure Met this Afternoon

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 1, 2024

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House Technology and Infrastructure Met this Afternoon

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure met this afternoon.

House Bill 5271 creates a Privacy of Social Care Information Act. The bill was amended and advanced to the Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 4707 establishes Infrastructure Ready Jurisdictions. The Department of Economic Development will designate Infrastructure Ready Jurisdictions and create rules. The Department can award an additional five percent preferential scoring for entities on projects within these jurisdictions on all permissible grants. Just because a county is a certified Infrastructure Ready Jurisdiction, it does not mean the city is automatically an IRJ. The city must also apply if they are seeking preferential scoring.

House Bill 5064 removes the loan value of a motor vehicle be less than $9,500 to allow auto dealers, licensed automobile auctioneers, motor vehicle repair facilities, or towing companies upon whose property or place of business an abandoned or junked motor vehicle has been abandoned to obtain a certificate of title and registration for the abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle.

House Bill 5083 provides tow companies access to driver registration information on demand.

Senate Passes Winery Bill

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 1, 2024

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The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would remove the current requirement for wineries in West Virginia to serve food when more than four ounces of wine is being consumed on-site by a customer.

Proponents of Senate Bill 320 view it as a pro-business tweak to the state’s alcohol regulation. Being required to serve food creates extra permitting and overhead costs for wineries. By eliminating these burdens, proponents of the bill hope to bolster the vineyard and wine industry in the state, while promoting tourism.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 2, at 9 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Energy at 1 p.m. in 208W

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

House Passes Bill for Notary Recommissioning

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 1, 2024

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House Passes Bill for Notary Recommissioning

Today, the House passed three bills, amended one bill, and postponed action on one bill.

House Bill 5332 was reported by the Judiciary Committee and read for the first time. Then, the rules were suspended to read a second and third time to be put up for passage. The bill creates an exception for individuals who were commissioned as a notary public to not have to have a high school diploma or equivalent to renew their license. In 2014, a bill was passed to require a commissioned notary to have a high school diploma effective in 2018. Those who have been a notary and will need to recommission soon are being denied because they don’t have a high school diploma or equivalent. The bill passed and made effective from passage.

House Bill 4801 voids clauses in the State Treasure’s contracts to make them consistent with other state contracts. The bill also removes the operation date for The Public Deposits Program to allow for discretion for implementation.

House Bill 4837 clarifies the duty of banks to retain and procure records. The bill changes the statute of limit collection on debt can begin to five years from its due date.

House Bill 4998 was amended. The bill modifies the penalty for third offense conviction of shoplifting by removing a provision that would allow home detention to be used after one year of incarceration. The amendment states that if the court finds evidence that the person who was convicted a third or subsequent time is found to be abusing drugs or alcohol, the court shall order an evaluation to determine if the individual has a substance use disorder. If so, the court shall order treatment for the substance use disorder.

House Bill 4867 was postponed one day.

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

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 2, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 1
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.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 2
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m.. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings. Feb.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
The Education Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 434.

The Energy and Manufacturing Committee will host a Public Hearing on Friday, February 2, 2023, at 9 a.m. on H.B. 5018 – To provide for oversight and authority governing community air monitoring programs.