Thursday, July 10, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Home Blog Page 35

First Two House Bills Head to Senate This Morning

This morning, the House passed two bills.

House Bill 4274 renames the DHHR in various sections of code to the three succeeding departments, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of Health Facilities. It also renames bureaus with name changes. The bill also updates some outdated language. The chair clarified no policy changes were made as this bill affects several sections of code. It is only name changes and code clean-up.

House Bill 4433 exempts mobile facilities using mammography or tomography from certificate of need for operations. These services screen for cancer. By removing the CON, the hope is to provide these services to diagnose cancer before it reaches a higher stage.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

Finance Committee Budget Hearings for January and February are on the Legislature’s Homepage.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, January 18, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, Today
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for budget hearings and will meet immediately after.
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 Jan. 18
The Committee on Jails and Prisons will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Seniors, Children, and Families will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Economic Development will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Senate Advances Two Bills Wednesday Morning

The Senate read two bills a first time during a very brief floor session Wednesday morning.

Senate Bill 60 encompasses a DEP rules bundle and Senate Bill 219 relates to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, the bill would define and clarify the phrases “engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance” and “Seek medical assistance” as used in the elements of the crime of drug delivery resulting in death with failure to render aid.

The bills will be on the amendment stage tomorrow and are scheduled to be voted on by the full Senate Friday.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

The Senate has a packed schedule of committee meetings this afternoon.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

School Choice at 1 p.m. in 208W

Econ Development at 1 p.m. in 451M

Outdoor Recreation at 2 p.m. in 208W

Pensions at 2 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

1/18 Morning Meetings:

Education at 10 a.m. in 451M

House Prevention of Substance Abuse Has its First Meeting of the Year

During the meeting for the Committee on Prevention of Substance Abuse, the committee heard a presentation from the Office of Drug Control.

Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, distribution has increased. It’s available in various agencies and organizations across the state. The Office of Drug Policy organizes “Safe A Life Day,” where the state is saturated with Naloxone in a day. Last year, the Office recruited 13 states to take part in the day and over 45,000 doses were distributed in these states in one day. Naloxone is available in schools, as there have been increases in overdoses for individuals under 19.

In 2019, over 1,000 individuals were diverted from jails and into treatment facilities. In 2020, a program with the State Police allows individuals to surrender drug paraphernalia and get fast-tracked into treatment.

Another program, Police and Peers provides workload sharing between police and peer recovery support specialists of nonviolent substance abuse cases.

Quick Response teams are working with EMS to respond to overdoses efficiently.

Family Treatment Courts keep families intact. The state has 13 Family Treatment Courts with 153 graduates and positively impacted more than 194 children.

The Committee also advanced House Bill 4429. House Bill 4429 exempts test strips as drug paraphernalia.

House Energy Advances Nine Bills Today

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing met this afternoon.

House Bill 4292 provides for enhanced damages for nonpayment of royalties due from oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids production under the terms of lease or other agreements. This bill was introduced last year but did not make it through the second committee. The bill advanced to the Judiciary Committee.

The remainder of the bills on the agenda are rules bills. All the bills were advanced to the House Judiciary.

House Bill 4086 authorizes the Division of Forestry to create a legislative rule relating to sediment control during commercial timber-harvesting operations – licensing. The bill is to update the rule to match code changes.

House Bill 4087 authorizes the Division of Forestry to create a legislative rule relating to sediment control during commercial timber-harvesting operations – logger certification. The bill is to update the rule to match code changes.

House Bill 4033 authorizes the DEP to create a legislative rule relating to ambient air quality standards. The rule update is to match federal standards.

House Bill 4035 authorizes the DEP to create a legislative rule relating to standards of performance for new stationary sources.

House Bill 4037 authorizes the DEP to create a legislative rule relating to emission standards for hazardous air pollutants.

House Bill 4038 authorizes the DEP to create a legislative rule relating to the control of greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired electric utility generating units.

House Bill 4040 authorizes the DEP to create a rule relating to hazardous waste management systems.

House Bill 4041 authorizes the DEP to create a rule relating to the administration of the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund and safe drinking water set-asides.

Senate Passes DEP Rules Bundle on Tuesday

The Senate passed a Senate Bill 2, a Division of Environmental Protection rules bundle, during a very brief floor session Tuesday morning.

The legislation encompasses  15 rules with regard to water and air quality standards as it relates to emissions. The bill now moves on for consideration in the House of Delegates.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate adopted SCR 17, which reaffirms the support of the West Virginia Legislature for the State of Israel and Jewish people.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

1/17 Morning Meetings:

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

 

House Bill 4274 Amended and Advances to Third Reading

Today in the House of Delegates House Bill 4274 was amended.

House Bill 4274 amends sections of the Code referring to the Department of Health and Human Resources to reflect the three new departments. Bureaus with renaming are also changed.

House Bill 4433 was on second reading as well. On first reading today, House Bills 4190 and 4252 advanced to second.

House Bill 4190 establishes an alert system for missing cognitively impaired persons. The bill allows for the use of video recordings for search purposes during a Purple Alert. The bill provides notice and broadcasting of a Purple Alert. It sets forth criteria for the activation of a Purple Alert. The bill provides immunity for individuals providing information pursuant to a Purple Alert in good faith.

House Bill 4252 creates a framework by which Canadian domestic violence orders can be recognized, registered, enforced by law enforcement, and enforced by the courts of West Virginia.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, January 17, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, Today
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 Jan. 16
The Committee on the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Artificial Intelligence will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 434.
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for budget hearings and will meet immediately after. The Budget Hearing Calendar can be found here.
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.

House VA/HS Advances Four Bills

The House Committee on Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security met this morning.

House Bill 4341 establishes a State Military Funeral Honor Guard in honor of Hershel “Woody” Williams to render professional military funeral honors. The bill advances to finance.

House Bill 4061 authorizes the WV State Police to create a legislative rule relating to West Virginia State Police member grievance procedures.

House Bill 4062 authorizes the WV State Police to create a legislative rule relating to motor vehicle inspections.

House Bill 4758 creates the Joint Oversight Committee on the Fusion Center. The bill lays out the composition of the committee. The bill clarifies the Fusion Center’s duties, functions, reporting requirements, prohibitions, and restrictions when information or intelligence is gathered for prohibited purposes. The bill also creates criminal penalties for violations of prohibitions and restrictions applicable to the West Virginia Fusion Center.

House Gov. Org. Advances 19 Rule Bills

The Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon.

House Bill 4759 requires employers to use E-Verify to verify the legal employment status of all persons who come into their employment and to report their employment to the appropriate governmental agencies. The bill defines “E-Verify” as the electronic verification of the federal employment authorization program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

E-Verify is used by thousands of employers across the US on a voluntary basis. This bill would make it a requirement. The bill heads to the Judiciary Committee next.

The Committee had several bills authorizing agencies to create various rules. The 19 bills below will advance to the Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 4088 authorizes the Division of Labor to create legislative rules relating to minimum wage, maximum hours, and overtime compensation.

House Bill 4089 authorizes the Division of Labor to create a legislative rule relating to the licensing of elevator mechanics, accessibility technicians, and limited technicians and the registration of elevator mechanic apprentices.

House Bill 4104 authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to create a legislative rule relating to motor vehicle titling.

House Bill 4105 authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to create a legislative rule relating to dealer licensing.

House Bill 4106 authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to create a legislative rule relating to handicapped parking permits.

House Bill 4110 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Accountancy to create a legislative rule relating to board rules and rules of professional conduct.

House Bill 4111 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Acupuncture to create a legislative rule relating to applications for licensure to practice acupuncture. The bill advances to the Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 4118 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to create a legislative rule relating to procedures, criteria, and curricula for the examination and license of barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, aestheticians, and hair stylists.

House Bill 4119 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to create a legislative rule relating to the application for waiver of initial licensure fees for certain individuals.

House Bill 4120 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to create a legislative rule relating to cosmetology apprenticeship.

House Bill 4130 authorizes the West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board to create a legislative rule relating to general provisions.

House Bill 4131 authorizes the West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board to create a legislative rule relating to the schedule of fees.

House Bill 4132 authorizes the West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board to create a legislative rule relating to establishment licensure.

House Bill 4151 authorizes the Board of Professional Surveyors to create a legislative rule relating to the examination and licensing of professional surveyors in West Virginia.

House Bill 4152 authorizes the Board of Examiners of Psychologists to create a legislative rule relating to disciplinary and complaint procedures for psychologists.

House Bill 4153 authorizes the Board of Examiners of Psychologists to create a legislative rule relating to contested case hearing procedures.

House Bill 4154 authorizes the West Virginia Real Estate Commission to create a legislative rule relating to licensing real estate brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons and the conduct of brokerage business.

House Bill 4155 authorizes the West Virginia Real Estate Commission to create a legislative rule relating to the schedule of fees.

House Bill 4156 authorizes the West Virginia Real Estate Commission to create a legislative rule relating to requirements for real estate courses, course providers, and instructors.

Senate Passes One Bill, Adopts Resolutions on Monday

The Senate passed one bill and adopted a two concurrent resolutions during Monday morning’s floor session.

Senate Bill 164 was passed by the body today. The legislation relates generally to trespassing and stipulates that anyone criminally convicted of trespassing is liable to the victim in an amount equal to twice the the monetary value of any damage or waste caused to the property, including cleanup. This bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Senator Tom Takubo (R- Kanawha, 17) presided over the floor session this morning so that Senate President Craig Blair ( R- Berkeley, 15) could speak from the floor to urge the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 16, which urges Congress  to enact reforms to federal permitting policies to accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure.

Blair spoke of the delays in the permitting process and advocated for the body sending a message to Congress that the process needs to be streamlined to help new energy business and infrastructure become more efficient.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

The day’s calendar can be found here.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m.

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Finance will meet at 3:15 p.m. in 451M.

Education will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 451M.

Government Organization will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 208W

Two Bills Read for First Time in House Today

The House of Delegates gaveled in for the first full week of session at 11 a.m.

Twenty-eight bills were received from the Senate and assigned to House Committees.

Two House Bills were read for the first time.

House Bill 4190 renames the DHHR into the three succeeding departments throughout code. The bill also renames any bureaus with name changes.

House Bill 4252 exempts mobile facilities which perform mammograms and low density computerized tomogram from certificate of need.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, January 16, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, Today
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings from the Agriculture Department and Supreme Court.
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.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Jan. 16
The Committee on Veterans and Homeland Security will meet at 9:15 a.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 1 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Economic Development will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.