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Sunday, July 13, 2025
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House Passes Bill to Create Upper Ohio Valley Trail Network Recreational Authority

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Bill to Create Upper Ohio Valley Trail Network Recreational Authority
During today’s floor session, the House passed seven bills, including House Bill 3147 and House Bill 3215.
House Bill 3147 expands the Mountaineer Trail Network and creates the Upper Ohio Valley Trail Network Recreational Authority. The bill establishes the recreation area as all Northern Panhandle counties – Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall as well as Ohio Valley Counties – Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Jackson, Mason, and Cabell. Recreational activities at these locations include hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, hiking, and more. The bill does provide protections for landowners.
House Bill 3215 provides flexibility in timelines to allow planning commissions to promptly address applications. The bill addresses difficulties with finding qualified members for public boards and modifies the frequency of planning commission meetings. The bill addresses the jurisdiction of the planning commission and provides for flexibility in qualifications for county boards of zoning appeals and modifies the frequency of board of zoning appeals meetings.
Amendments were offered on four bills and two bills had action postponed.
Senate Bill 10, the Campus Self-Defense Act, authorizes the carry of concealed pistols and revolvers on grounds of higher education institutions by a person who holds a current license to do so. Two amendments were offered and rejected on the bill. The first amendment would allow the institutions to establish residence halls where weapons were prohibited to allow students who want to live in a gun-free environment to do so. The second amendment would remove the provisional conceal carry part of the code from the bill to prevent 18- to 21-year-old individuals from carrying on campus. Both amendments were rejected.
House Bill 2498 requires medication-assisted treatment programs to have written policies concerning community relations. The bill was amended to require all county commissioners and mayors of every municipality within the county to be notified with certified mail 60 days prior to a location being opened or moved within the municipality.
House Bill 3110 ensures that the WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas has sufficient money to inspect the oil and gas wells of the State of West Virginia in an efficacious and diligent manner that protects the people and environment of the State from degradation related to violations of the West Virginia oil and gas production laws. An amendment was offered and rejected which would have required permit fees for every well.
House Bill 3547 increases the number of personal leave days that county board of education employees may use without regard to the cause for the absence from four to five. The bill was amended to remove the requirement that a teacher finds their own substitute for those days.
House Bill 2900 and House Bill 3353 were postponed one day.
The House Rules Committee moved House Bill 3430 to the inactive House Calendar.
The House is in recess until 4:30 p.m.
Committee Meetings, Today
  • The Finance Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 460.
  • The Government Organization Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Education Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 432.
  • The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
Committee Meetings, Tuesday, Feb. 21
  • The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Development will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Committee on Pensions and Retirement will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 460.
  • The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
  • The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.
  • The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
  • The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Finance Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 460.

Senate Passes Violent Crime Prevention Act

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Violent Crime Prevention Act

The Senate passed a bill dealing with firearms ballistics identification dubbed the “Violent Crime Prevention Act” during Monday’s floor session.

Senate Bill 303 would require law enforcement agencies to submit ballistics data from firearms suspected of being used in criminal activity to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which is operated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

If the legislation passes, the ATF would provide free training for law enforcement agencies on how to submit information to the system.

Under the bill, agencies would submit shell casings found at crime scenes or from test fires of handguns they recover. They would mail the casings for analysis by the AFT, where they collect firearms evidence in the form of spent shell casings and there is a microscopic evaluation of those casings. The images would then be uploaded into the NIBIN network.

The NIBIN network currently has five million evidence submissions and counting in a database that is constantly growing according to testimony in committee last week. The idea is that when a shell casing is entered into the system, if a firearm fired that casing at one particular scene and is connected to another, there will be a correlation and investigators will know those two crimes are linked.

Supporters of the bill noted in committee last week that the database is a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies, citing an instance in which bullet casings recovered after a shooting in Kanawha County helped solve a shooting in Morgantown.

Proponents also noted that the program could be particularly helpful in rural areas like West Virginia, where there is a high transient criminal population.

West Virginia would be the fourth state to pass legislation relating to the NIBIN network. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Military at 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture and Natural Resources at 2 p.m. in 208W

Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3:20 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for Feb. 21

Education at 9 a.m. in 451M

Government Organization at 9 a.m. in 208W

Senate Completes Action on One Bill Friday

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Completes Action on One Bill Friday

The Senate completed legislation on one bill during Friday morning’s floor session.

Senate Bill 275 will add State Fire Marshals to the statute included with law enforcement and first responders that receive information on school safety requirements.

Also on Friday, Senator Swope (R-Mercer) voluntarily stepped down from his position as chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee and President Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) appointed Senator Glenn Jeffries (R-Putnam) to the position. Swope had suggested recently to Blair that Jeffries be appointed to the position.

Jeffries was instrumental in attracting two companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway to the state earlier this year. The companies are purchasing more than 2,000 acres at the former Century Aluminum site in Jackson County to build a modern titanium melt facility powered by solar energy.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m.

Today’s Meetings:

Workforce at 11 a.m. in 208W

Judiciary at Noon in 208W

House Amends Two Bills in Friday Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Amends Two Bills in Friday Floor Session

Today, the House amended two bills and postponed action on three.

House Bills 89 and 3215 were amended.

House Bill 89 requires hospitals to have on-call, available healthcare providers to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations and to collect sexual assault forensic examination kits. The bill requires that the health care providers shall be trained and properly qualified by the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Commission. The Health and Human Resources committee added a definition for hospitals and included that an expert could be available through telehealth.

House Bill 3215 provides flexibility in timelines to allow planning commissions to promptly address applications. The bill addresses difficulties with finding qualified members for public boards and modifies the frequency of planning commission meetings. The bill addresses the jurisdiction of the planning commission and provides for flexibility in qualifications for county boards of zoning appeals and modifies the frequency of board of zoning appeals meetings. The first amendment changes the word “encourage” to “Guidelines for” to clarify that guidelines will be in place. The second amendment changes wording back to its introduced version.

Action was delayed on House Bill 2498, House Bill 3340, and House Bill 3408.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20.

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 20

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing Monday, February 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. on HB 3270– To amend the deliberate intent statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000.

 

House Education Advances Troops-to-Teachers Program

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Education Advances Troops-to-Teachers Program

The Education Committee met this evening to consider the following.

House Bill 3201 includes electric-powered school buses in the county foundation allowance and increases the allowance by five percent for school bus systems manufactured in West Virginia.

House Bill 2761 allows county boards of education to employ classroom aides as teachers if they have 10 or more years of service and satisfactory evaluation, as long as the aide works to acquire a teaching degree within three years of being employed as a teacher.

House Technology and Infrastructure Advances Consumer Data Protection Act

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Technology and Infrastructure Advances Consumer Data Protection Act

House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure met this afternoon.

The Committee heard a presentation from American Water and the DEP about the possible effects of the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment.

House Bill 3498 creates the Consumer Data Protection Act. The bill establishes a framework for controlling and processing personal data in the state. The bill limits the application to all persons that conduct business in the state and either control or process personal data of at least 100,000 consumers or derives over 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of personal data and control or process personal data of at least 25,000 consumers. The bill delineates responsibilities and privacy protection standards for data controllers and processors. The bill clarifies standards do not apply to state or local governmental entities. The bill provides exceptions for certain types of data and information governed by federal law. The bill provides that consumers have the right to access, correct, delete, obtain a copy of personal data, and opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising. The bill provides that the Attorney General has exclusive authority to enforce violations of the law.

House Bill 3397 prevents all restrictions on any political subdivision regarding the formation or establishment of any entity which would seek to provide or assist in providing broadband service.

House Bill 3412 modifies certain provisions relating to broadband. The bill adds certain provisions to the administration of the Broadband Development Fund, including regulating the disposal of grant-funded assets. The bill provides for penalties where misrepresentation of eligible telecommunications carrier status occurs.

House Bill 3473 creates a work group to create procedures and policies and a plan for the construction of a database with information necessary for infrastructure maintenance and development. Recommendations must be submitted to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure by January 1, 2024.

House Bill 2865 clarifies that the Public Service Commission may enter an order requiring corrective measures up to and including an acquisition of a distressed or failing utility. The bill was laid over until the next meeting.

House Passes Amends Definition of Minor

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Amends Definition of Minor

During today’s House floor session sixteen bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 2515 requires the Bureau for Family Assistance with the HEPC and Workforce WV create an inventory of occupation and educational resources for persons wanting to reenter the workforce, obtain a degree, or secure workforce training. The agencies should maintain the list of available resources and assistance from federal, federal-state, and state programs.

House Bill 2820 extends athletic programs to participants in the Hope Scholarship Program and in Microschools and Learning Pods.

House Bill 3190 amends the definition for a minor to a person less than or supposed to be less than 18 years of age. It states any person over 18 years of age who solicits, entices, seduces, or lures or attempt to solicit, entice, seduce or lure a known or believe minor at least four years younger than the adult to engage in illegal acts is guilty of a felony and shall be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for two to ten years. It also states that if the individual engages in any act that in which he or she is in the physical presence of the minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity or conduct with the minor is guilty of a felony and shall be fined up to $25,000 and imprisoned for five to thirty years.

Action was postponed on House Bill 3215. The bill relates to land use planning. The bill provides flexibility in timelines to allow planning commissions to promptly address applications and addresses difficulties with finding qualified members for public boards. The bill modifies the frequency of planning commission meetings and clarifies contents of subdivision and land development ordinances.

The House is adjourned until 9 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 17.

Committee Meetings, Today

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 17

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing Monday, February 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3270 – To amend the deliberate intent statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000.

Senate Recognizes Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Day

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Recognizes Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Day

It was Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Day at the Capitol, and appropriately, the Senate Passed SB526, which would include Alzheimer’s disease in existing public health programs.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2022. Seventy-three percent are age 75 or older. About 1 in 9 age 65 and older (10.7%) suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo (R-Kanawha) presided over today’s floor session

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 17, at 9:30 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Finance Sub A at 2 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

House Judiciary Advances Campus Self-Defense Act

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Judiciary Advances Campus Self-Defense Act

The House Judiciary Committee met this afternoon to consider the following legislation.

House Bill 2648 is a rules bundle, authorizing the DHHR to create legislative rules relating to the Dangerousness Assessment Advisory Board.

House Bill 3166 permits a hospital to hold a patient experiencing a psychiatric emergency for up to 72 hours.

Senate Bill 10, the Campus Self-Defense Act, authorizes regulation or restriction on the carrying of concealed pistols or revolvers in certain circumstances or areas of an institution of higher education.

Proponents of the bill stated that the bill is a constitutional matter of the second amendment. They believe campus carry provides safety and protection in a place that needs it. Opponents expressed concern about the lack of gun handling training and mental health issues on college campuses. In addition, they are concerned about mixing alcohol use with the increased availability of handguns. The bill advanced.

House Bill 2567 increases the penalty of unlawful trespass into the home of another from a misdemeanor offense to a felony offense. The bill increases the sentencing to one to ten years and a fine of $1,000 to $5,000. If the person is armed, the sentencing is one to ten years with a fine of $5,000 to $10,000.

House Bill 3479 adds definitions relating to unmanned aircraft systems. The bill requires compliance with all federal laws and regulations relating to such vehicles and creates criminal offenses and penalties for misconduct relating to unmanned aircraft systems.

House Bill 3341 permits cigar lounges in West Virginia resorts and provides guidelines.

House Bill 2016 allows child agencies and facilities to disclose otherwise confidential information to be provided to other child agencies and facilities when making referrals and providing services.

House Bill 2862 ensures that all shareholder votes by or on behalf of the West Virginia Investment Management Board and the Board of Treasury Investments are cast according to the pecuniary interests of investment beneficiaries.

Senate Completes Form Energy Bill

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Completes Form Energy Bill

The Senate completed legislative action on House Bill 2882, which makes a $115 million supplemental appropriation to the Department of Economic Development, after more than two hours of debate Wednesday afternoon.

The legislation transfers $115 million from available surplus tax dollars, with $10 million going toward broadband expansion projects and $105 million going to the Economic Development Project Fund.

The $105 million portion is part of a $300 million package the state is providing to support Form Energy’s plan to build an iron-air battery manufacturing plant on the site of the former Weirton Steel property in Hancock County.

As part of the deal, the state will retain ownership of the land and buildings as collateral to guarantee the state’s investment, while Form Energy leases it back as it meets certain project requirements. The property would transfer to Form no sooner than five years and only if the company employs 750 workers. The deal calls for workers to earn at least $63,000 a year in average salary. The state will provide another $110 million to Form Energy once the project is complete.

The company is investing $350 million in start-up costs, for a total, combined investment of $760 million. Form will manufacture its own batteries using iron-air technology for energy storage for solar and wind power projects. The company expects to start construction of its Weirton factory in 2023 and begin manufacturing batteries in 2024 for broad commercialization.

Opponents of the bill offered three failed amendments ranging from directing the $105 million elsewhere to stripping the funding out entirely, to providing $200,000 of the funding for retraining and revitalization in the southern coal counties.

The opponents called the bill a massive gamble, questioning the economic benefits of the plant relative to the state’s investment. They also criticized statements from Form Energy officials about using their technology to end the use of fossil fuels, and accused supporters of the bill of voting coal miners out of a job.

Supporters of the bill noted the incredible economic impact in terms of tax dollars and well-paying jobs to an area decimated by the decline of the steel industry. Several mentioned that a yes vote would signal to other companies that West Virginia is a destination for similar projects and investments.

Supporters also noted the collateral and security in the bill, saying the state isn’t giving away anything if the project isn’t completed according to the stipulations set forth in the contract.

The legislation now heads to the Governor’s desk where he is expected to sign it into law.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 16, at 11:15 a.m.

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