Today, the House passed 11 bills, amended one, and completed legislative action on two.

Senate Bill 239 requires the Commissioner of the Bureau for Behavioral Health to engage behavior health providers, substance use disorder providers, municipal leaders, and county government leaders to study a breakdown of homeless demographic information throughout West Virginia. The study should be reported to the Senate President, House Speaker, and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by July 1, 2024.

House Bill 2821 authorizes a decreasing modification reducing federal adjusted gross income for state personnel income tax purposes in the amount of certain WV gaming and gambling losses, not to exceed the amount of WV gaming and gambling winnings, for that year. The bill requires detailed records substantiating losses.

House Bill 2896 continues the process of West Virginia becoming an Agreement State with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill transfers the authority and responsibility over sources of low-level radiation to the DEP and establishes a more comprehensive regulatory system to protect the public and the environment in a single state agency.

House Bill 3318 was amended. The bill ensures residents receive support from their local area when seeking work opportunities.

House Bills 2800 and 3061 completed legislative action and headed to the Governor.

House Bill 2800 provides the HEPC and the CCTCE authority to create legislative rules for performance-Based Funding Formula, Capital Project Management, Tuition and Fee Policy, Higher Education Grant Program/Workforce Development Initiative Grant Programs, Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions, and Human Resources Administration.

House Bill 3061 expands the authority of the Foster Care Ombudsman. The bill prohibits the ombudsman or staff from being compelled to identify individuals providing information as part of an investigation. All memoranda, work notes, and case files are confidential and cannot be subpoenaed, and are not admissible in court.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 16.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Education Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 16

• The Committee on Workforce Development will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Jails and Prisons will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
• The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Economic Development 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 Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 460.

It’s Day 35 of the Session and the last day to introduce a bill in the House. During House Rules, House Bill 2075 was moved to the inactive House Calendar, and House Resolution 12 was advanced to the House floor. Fifteen bills were passed during today’s floor session including the following.

House Bill 2005 establishes a four-year dual enrollment pilot program to be administered by the HECP and the CCTCE in partnership with the State Board of Education. The program will offer individualized pathways for careers in direct care health professions, information technology, STEM, education, advanced manufacturing, welding and fabrication, construction, agriculture and any other program that meets workforce need in the state as determined by the Department of Commerce.

House Bill 2006 reorganizes the DHHR into three departments: the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health Facilities effective January 1, 2024. The agencies and boards within each department will be organized as follows:

• Department of Human Services:
  • Bureau of Social Services
  • Bureau for Medical Services
  • Bureau for Child Support Enforcement
  • Bureau for Family Assistance
  • Bureau for Behavior Health
  • Office of Drug Control Policy
• Department of Health
  • Bureau for Public Health
  • Office of Emergency Medical Services
  • Office of Chief Medical Examiner
  • Office of Threat Preparedness
  • Office of the Inspector General
    • Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification
    • Board of Review
    • Foster Care Ombudsman
    • Olmstead Office
    • Investigation and Fraud Management
    • Quality Control
    • Mental Health Care Ombudsman
    • Long-Term Care Ombudsman
    • Human Rights Commission
    • WV Clearance for Access: Registry and Employment Screening
  • Health Care Authority
• Department of Health Facilities
  • Hopemont Hospital
  • Jackie Withrow Hospital
  • John Manchin, Sr. Health Care Center
  • Lakin Hospital
  • Mildred Mitchel-Bateman Hospital
  • Welch Community Hospital
  • William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital

Any bureau, office, board, commission, or other state entity not specifically organized above shall be organized by the secretaries of the three agencies.

Each department will have a secretary appointed by the Governor by December 1, 2023. The three secretaries will work together through the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. The COO will act as a liaison to ensure the three departments are in communication with one another. The three departments will also share administrative services, which will be through the Office of the COO. The first COO will be appointed by the Governor. On January 1, 2026, and thereafter, the COO will be appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.

The bill also makes changes to the State Health Officer qualifications and Inspector General duties. The bill advances to the Senate for consideration.  

Action was suspended for one day on two of the 13 bills on second reading.

Senate Bill 188 creates the Grid Stabilization and Security Act of 2023, which identifies economically viable sites for natural gas electric generation projects. The bill establishes criteria for identifying economically viable sites and requires the Secretary of the DEP to notify the DEP and the PSC of the sites for the generation facility. The bill sets the application process through the PSC.

House Bill 3318 ensures residents receive support from their local area when seeking work opportunities.  

Rules were suspended while receiving committee reports and 14 bills were read for the first time in addition to the four already on first reading.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 15.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Sub-Committee on Tourism will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Health and Human Resources Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Prevention and Treatment Substance Abuse will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 15

• The Committee on VFDs and EMS will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Political Subdivisions Committee will meet at 9:15 in Room 410.
• The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 215E.
• 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
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing tomorrow, February 15, 2023 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on S.B. 10 – Campus Self-Defense Act.

During the House Floor Session today, six bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 3306 moves the Office of Drug Control Policy under the direction of the Governor. The director of this office currently reports to the State Health Officer. Under this bill, the director reports directly to the Governor and works in cooperation with the State Health Officer, the Bureau for Public Health, and the Bureau for Behavioral Health.

House Bill 3307 establishes the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission. The Commission shall include nine members; two senators, two delegates, and five members appointed by the Governor. Legislative members shall serve two years terms and Governor appointments shall serve four-year teams. The purpose of the commission is to advance bilateral trade and investment between West Virginia and Ireland, initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to West Virginia and Ireland, promote business and academic exchanges between West Virginia and Ireland, and encourage mutual investment in the instruction, and Ireland.

Eighteen bills were on second reading. Action on two of those billswas delayed one day.

House Bill 2006 was amended to clear up some technical errors. The bill, on third reading tomorrow, reorganizes the DHHR into three separate departments.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 14.

Committee Meetings, Today

• 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 432.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 14

• The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources 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 1 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Sub-Committee on Tourism will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Health and Human Resources Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 9 a.m. on S.B. 10 – Campus Self-Defense Act.

The House convened early this morning. Five bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 2218, the Distracted Driving Act, expands prohibitions on distracted driving of motorists utilizing a wireless communication device or stand-alone electronic device.

The debate on House Bill 2882 was lengthy. The supplemental appropriation bill adds a new item of appropriation and increases funding from the surplus balances to the Economic Development Department for the Department’s Project Fund and Broadband Development Fund.

The proponents of the bill stated the funding will be used to build and diversify the state’s economy. The funding would bring more manufacturing jobs to the Northern Panhandle. Another proponent stated that this funding would help redevelop and reinvigorate West Virginia.

The opponents stated they believe the Economic Development Department had been allocated sufficient funding already. Concerns about the unknowns of the project were also expressed during debating.

The bill passed 69 in favor and 25 against. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 3130 creates the West Virginia Coalfields Energy Research and Economic Development Authority.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Education Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432.

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 13

• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet 10:45 a.m. behind the Chamber.
• 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 432.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.