The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that aims to supercharge economic development by allowing West Virginia higher education institutions to partner with non-profit organizations.

Senate Bill 825 seeks to streamline agreements that promote job creation and enhance research capabilities within the state’s universities.

The legislation amends existing codes to enable these institutions to enter into contracts with non-stock, not-for-profit corporations, specifically designed to foster economic growth. By exempting these agreements from certain regulatory requirements, the bill is positioned to expedite research funding and development initiatives, which supporters argue are crucial for the state’s economic future.

Key provisions of the bill include designating these non-profits as the primary economic development entities for the institutions, allowing for shared governance between university officials and corporate directors, and simplifying the process for acquiring research grants. Proponents believe that this collaboration will not only bolster the competitive edge of West Virginia’s higher education system but also create jobs and stimulate local economies.

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

UPDATE:

The Senate reconvened around 4:45 pm and received House messages and committee reports, reading select bills a first time.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 28, at Noon.

Morning Meetings for March 28:

Transportation and Infrastructure at 10 a.m. in 451M

Energy at 11 a.m. in 208W

House Rules met this evening to hear about two bills; both bills advanced to the markup and passage stage for a future meeting.

House Bill 3411 repeals code relating to expired legislative commissions including the Legislative Building Commission, the WV Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and Fund, The Council of Finance and Administration, the Steering Committee for the WV Enterprise Resource Planning Board, the WV Sentencing Commission, the Toll Road Study Commission, the Select Committee on Outcomes-based Funding Models in Higher Education, Equal Pay Commission, Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources, Commission on Interstate Cooperation, and the Legislative Oversight Committee on WV Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. Additionally, the bill removes legislative membership from the Employee Suggestion Award Board, the WV Forest Management Review Commission, the WV Economic Development Strategy, the WV Fusion Center, and the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management. Finally, the bill moves the duties of the Joint Commission of Government Operations duties to the Joint Committee on Government Organizations.

House Bill 3412 allows the Legislature to clarify what is and is not a public record through individual chamber rules or Joint Rules. The bill’s goal is not to exempt the Legislature from record release but to clarify what should be released as a legislative record. Examples of what would not be considered legislative records included draft legislation and draft amendments, which were never introduced.

The Senate passed bills on Tuesday to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies in West Virginia, as well as to give the Legislature ultimate authority over state board of education policies.

Senate Bill 474 introduced at the request of the Governor, would ban concepts in state government and academia connected to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The legislation seeks to eliminate DEI programs, training, activities, offices, and officers from West Virginia’s executive branch, primary and secondary schools, and higher education institutions. The bill would prohibit state entities from establishing DEI offices, hiring DEI personnel, requiring diversity statements, giving preferential treatment based on DEI, and mandating DEI training.

At its core, the bill would forbid hiring preferences based on race, ethnicity or sex.

More specifically, the legislation would restrict the imposition of certain concepts related to race and gender on students and employees, and prevent employees from being compelled to use preferred pronouns that do not align with someone’s biological sex at birth.

The bill passed on a 32-2 party line vote.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill that would establish the Legislature’s ultimate authority over educational rules, mandating that newly created rules be submitted for legislative review, approval, amendment or rejection.

Senate Bill 705 would require the state board of education to submit newly promulgated rules to the Legislature through the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee.

The state board of education’s authority is laid out in the state Constitution, which states “The general supervision of the free schools of the State shall be vested in the West Virginia board of education which shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by law.” The state Supreme Court has upheld this language multiple times.

West Virginia voters rejected a constitutional amendment in 2022 that would given the Legislature the authority that this bill seeks to give.

Supporters of this bill today said that the constitutional amendment was on the ballot with several others three years ago and that voters were confused. They also contend that the Supreme Court has been wrong in its rulings, misinterpreting the law multiple times.

Critics of the bill said they are reluctant to go against the will of the voters and that the people of West Virginia have stated clearly that they don’t want non educators messing with the educational process. They also believe that if this bill passes it will be ruled unconstitutional.

The legislation passed on a 19-15 vote.

The bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

UPDATE:

The Senate returned to the floor at 4:30 p.m. and completed the calendar, reading bills a second and first time.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 27, at 11 a.m.

Senate Education will meet tomorrow, March 27, at 9:30 a.m.

On Day 43 of the legislative session, the House of Delegates passed eight bills, two of which relate to foster care. Another bill was rejected.

House Bill 2027 reduces the timeframe when a foster care placement receives extra severity from 18 months to 15 months or 50 percent of the child’s life. If the arrangement is considered suitable, it cannot be terminated unless it is in the best interest of the child. Within 90 days of securing placement, Human Services must inform foster/adoptive parents of eligible siblings for placement or adoption. If it is in the best interest of the child, the foster arrangement can be ended.

House Bill 2880 assigns an individual through the Court Improvement Program or Public Defender Services to assist parents through the requirements to be unified or reunified with their children.

House Bill 3289 allows the completion of an approved drug court program to qualify as an alternative method to seek accelerated expungement for certain crimes.

House Bill 2876 was rejected. The bill would have increased the members on the Natural Resource Commission to include a deer biologist, bear biologist, turkey biologist, and fisheries biologist.

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

The House is in recess until 5:30 p.m.

The House returned to the floor to hear committee reports and Senate messages. Senate Bill 10 was read for the first time.

Committee Meetings, Today March 26

• The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism will meet immediately after the floor in the McManus Room.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 27

• The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 215E.

The House Education Committee met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 2167 cleans up code relating to public charter schools.

House Bill 3279 increases the number of individuals on WVU’s Board of Governors. The bill removes voting ability for some members.

House Bill 3422 requires the State Board of Education to create a School Choice Portal. The portal will be maintained to allow parents to file a notice of intent, notice of termination, and other paperwork.

House Bill 3438 allows retired teachers with specializations in math science, and other STEM subjects to be long-term substitutes without their retirement being affected.

House Bill 3446 requires all high school students to submit a FAFSA form to graduate unless a waiver is completed to opt-out.

House Bill 3507 creates a 2-year pilot program for schools in 10 counties to contract qualified mental health professionals to support counselors with behavioral health within schools.

House Bill 3508 modifies the school aid formula. The bill provides additional funding for special education aids.

On Day 42 of the Legislative Session, the House passed 13 bills including the following:

Senate Bill 199 works to address student behavior by requiring that before an excluded student is readmitted a school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist develop a behavioral plan for re-entry. The bill requires that either the school counselor or a school social worker participate in the conference before a student who’s excluded two times in one semester can be readmitted, and requires that a school social worker establish and implement a behavioral plan.

Senate Bill 283 allows students to take personal finance courses in 9th or 10th grade to satisfy graduation requirements.

House Bill 2646 permits students in 8th and 9th grade to attend summer school to raise grades for eligibility in fall sports.

House Bill 2043 permits the use of drones for tracking mortally wounded wildlife. The bill also limits dog handlers to one dog, when tracking. Anyone using a dog or a drone not on their property must be licensed. Drones cannot be used on other properties without permission from the property owner.

House Bill 3504 adds licensed livestock stockyard facilities, licensed livestock slaughter facilities, and licensed commercial poultry facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure. This bill was originally part of HB 2043 but was separated into a separate bill during a Rules Committee meeting. Trespassing on critical infrastructure carries an enhanced penalty.

House Bill 2960 implements a two-year pilot program where the Division of Highways will hire multiple vendors for snow removal on secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston Counties. Vendor contracts may be terminated by the Secretary of the Division of Highways with 30 days’ notice if a vendor’s performance is unsatisfactory.

House Bill 3343 was amended. The bill adds crystalline polymorph psilocybin to the permitted list of distributed and prescribed drugs if approved and scheduled or de-scheduled by the Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration. The amendment adds that organic psilocybin will also be permitted if approved and scheduled or de-scheduled by the Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 26, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today March 25

• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 26

• The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. in the Speaker’s Conference Room.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in the McManus Room.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Senate passed four bills Tuesday during the late morning floor session.

Senate Bill 128 would remove the option for courts to order services at a higher rate than Medicaid.

Senate Bill 595, which would create the Mountain Bike Responsibility Act, aims to establish clear responsibilities and liabilities for trail system operators, mountain bicyclists, and passengers on aerial passenger tramways. The legislation would also mandate insurance for operators and allow waivers for minors.

Senate Bill 721 would authorize the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track certain mortally wounded wild animals.

Senate Bill 800 relates to insurance holding company systems ans would require insurers to file group capital calculations and liquidity stress test results with the lead state insurance commissioner. The legislation also mandates compliance with NAIC frameworks.

These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

UPDATE:

The Senate reconvened at 4:45 pm to receive House messages and committee reports. The body read 12 additional bills a first time.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 26, at 11 a.m.

Morning Meetings for March 26:

Natural Resources at 9:30 a.m. in 208W

The Finance Committee met this morning to take up several bills.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 3142 authorizes health benefit plan sponsors to communicate electronically with individuals covered by the plan.

House Bill 3440 removes outdated code relating to the State Treasurer’s Office.

House Bill 3111 increases pay to all members of the judiciary.

House Bill Originating makes changes to contributions to the Judges’ Retirement System.

House Bill 3152 authorizes the payment of claims considered moral obligations of the state.

House Bill 3157 shortens the process for road conditions claims.

House Bill 2695 authorizes Raleigh County to levy a special district excise tax to benefit the Raleigh County Economic Opportunity Development District.

House Bill 2751 authorizes Mason County to levy a special district excise tax to benefit the Town of Henderson Economic Opportunity Development District.

House Bill 3492 authorizes the City of Huntington to levy a special district excise tax to benefit the City of Huntington Economic Opportunity Development District.

House Bill 3342 establishes the Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination Act to prohibit discrimination against a firearm entity or firearm trade association.