The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing met this afternoon and considered four “rules” bills, advancing all to Judiciary.

House Bill 2644 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to rules for quarrying and reclamation.

House Bill 2645 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to a recycling assistance grant program.

House Bill 2646 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to the Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Grant Program.

House Bill 2647 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to the reclamation of solar and wind electricity generating facilities.

The Committee on Workforce Development met this morning and advanced two bills.

House Bill 2005 establishes a dual enrollment pilot program to be administered by the HEPC and the CCTC in conjunction with the State BOE.

Some counties already have dual enrollment but not all. Some dual enrollment is limited to students who are already planning on going to college. This program would provide the opportunity to students who may want to go to college but not be certain about funding for postsecondary education. This program can be done virtually if enough students are not enrolled to do the course in person.

The bill was amended to ensure this program doesn’t only apply to public school students, but also homeschool, charter, micro-school, learning pod, and private school students.

House Bill 2515 provides single parents resources as they attempt to reenter the workforce, obtain a degree, or secure workforce training.

The House Education Committee met this afternoon to consider two pieces of legislation.

House Bill 2602 places classifications back into code that were inadvertently deleted in 2022 when House Bill 4829 passed. The bill advances.

House Bill 2003 provides early childhood assistant teachers and systems of support to help students achieve grade-level literacy and numeracy by the end of third grade. The bill replaces a transformative intervention framework with a multi-tiered system of support addressing both reading and mathematics. It includes the use of screening and/or benchmark assessments approved by the State Board to be administered three times throughout the school year. Services will be provided to students identified as having substantial deficiencies in screening assessments. The bill requires professional development for the teachers and the training and instruction provided by education preparation programs that prepare candidates seeking licensure for elementary education. Effective for the school year beginning July 1, 2026, the bill requires the retention in third grade of public-school students who demonstrate minimal grade level understanding and ability upon recommendation of teacher and student assistance team, with exceptions. If below level upon entering the fourth grade, an intervention will be provided. The bill requires an early childhood classroom assistant teacher in first, second, and third grade classrooms that have more than 12 pupils. The bill was amended and has advanced to the Finance Committee

The Committee on Health and Human Resources met this afternoon and advanced House Bill 2006.

House Bill 2006 reorganized the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) into three separate agencies: the Department of Health, the Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Health Facilities. Each department would have its own Secretary and then a Chief Operating Officer would ensure the departments work together and provide consolidated administrative support.

The Department of Health houses the following agencies:

• Bureau for Public Health
• Office of EMS and EMS Advisory Council
• Office of Chief Medical Examiner
• Office of Threat Preparedness
• Office of the Inspector General
• Health Care Authority

Within the Office of Inspector General, the following agencies would reside:

• 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

The Department of Human Services house the following agencies:

• Bureau of Social Services
• Medical Services
• Bureau of Child Support Enforcement
• Family Assistance
• Behavior Health
• Drug Control Policy

The Department of Health Facilities would house the following agencies:

• Hopemont Hospital
• Jackie Withrow Hospital
• John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center
• Lakin Hospital
• Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital
• Welch Community Hospital
• William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital

Any other DHHR agency not above would be placed in one of the new departments at the discretion of the new secretaries.

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure met this afternoon. Five bills were considered and advanced.

House Bill 2530 extends the expiration of temporary registration plates from 60 days to 90 days.

House Bill 2531 clarifies that rail companies must cooperate with and receive permission from the Commissioner of the Division of Highways before they build or conduct repairs or otherwise perform maintenance on the railroad, tracks, or crossings that close state roads. This is to ensure that the traveling public has needed access to emergency services, school, and work, and is not unnecessarily inconvenienced by road closures.

House Bill 2533 allows for a permanent windshield placard to be valid for the duration of the applicant’s life.

House Bill 2171 removes the requirement that the Commissioner of the Division of Highways set standards and regulate studded tires. The U.S. DOT NHTSA Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards regulates the safety of motor vehicles and related equipment.

House Bill 2222 prohibits vehicles from driving slowly in the left lane of a roadway except under specified circumstances.