Friday, October 10, 2025
Friday, October 10, 2025
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House Passes 20 Bills in Afternoon Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes 20 Bills in Afternoon Floor Session

The House reconvened after a recess to take up legislation. Twenty-four bills were up for passage and four were postponed.

House Bill 2528 allows athletic teams in nonpublic schools that have played at least two public schools during the regular season to be eligible to participate in county tournaments at the end of the season.

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

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

House Bill 3092 requires pharmacy benefits managers to include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the insured or by another person when calculating the insured’s contribution to any applicable cost-sharing requirement. The bill prevents insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and third-party administrators from changing the terms of health plan coverage based on the availability or amount of financial assistance available for a prescription drug. This would allow for the use of company discount cards to be applied to the deductible.

House Bill 3164 establishes a $125 annual fee for individuals required to register on the Central Abuse Registry with payment made to the circuit clerk and tracked by the State Police. The bill allows the State Police to enforce nonpayment through a civil lien process and directs the collected funds primarily toward mental health services for State Police personnel.

House Bill 3305 requires individuals seeking office to have been a registered member of the political party they are filing for 180 days before the election.

House Bill 3506 amends the Judges’ Retirement System by suspending state contribution until the fund is funded at 125 percent. The JRS is currently at 255 percent funded. The bill allows employees to continue their 7 percent contribution.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today March 28

Committee Meetings, Monday, March 31

Senate Passes Pay Raise for State Mine Inspectors

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Pay Raise for State Mine Inspectors

The Senate passed a bill on Friday to give state mine inspectors a pay raise.

Senate Bill 708 would provide state mine inspectors with a $4,000 raise. It was discussed on the floor that these professionals have not had a raise in pay since 2011.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 29, at 10 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Education at 1:15 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

House Morning Floor Session, Motions Made

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Morning Floor Session, Motions Made

On day 45 of the Legislative Session, the House floor session began with several motions.

First, a point of privilege was requested to determine what happened to the amendment which was supposed to be on House Bill 3111. After some discussion at the podium, the delegate who raised the point decided to handle the request when the bill was up for passage.

Then, a motion to discharge House Bill 2007 from the Committee on Health and Human Services was made. Another member quickly moved to table the motion, which was ruled out of order by the Chair, per Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. The Chair’s ruling was challenged and discussed but upheld. The previous question was called, which ended the discussion. The motion for the previous question was ruled in order, as Mason’s Manual does not refer to the previous question on a motion to discharge. After this, the motion to discharge was rejected in a 16 to 74 vote.

Another delegate motioned to discharge House Bill 3270 from the Judiciary Committee. The bill is double-referred, meaning it would still go to the Finance Committee. The motion to discharge was adopted with a 75 to 15 vote.

Another delegate motioned to discharge House Bill 3173 from the Committee on Energy and Public Works. The motion was rejected with a vote of 17 to 71.

The priority of parliamentary authority for the House of Delegates is House (1) House Rules, (2) the West Virginia Constitution, (3) the Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, and (4) the Jefferson’s Manual and the Digest of the Rules and Practices of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress.

The House is in recess until 1 p.m. When the House returns to the floor, the calendar should be taken up.

House Passes 20 Bills on Day 44

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes 20 Bills on Day 44

It was a busy day in the House today. Twenty bills passed the House, including:

House Bill 2121 authorizes disabled veterans’ widows to receive the real property tax exemption as long as they remain living on the property and remain unmarried.

House Bill 2205 requires the Public Service Commission to establish and enforce rules to govern permits for the construction, use, and retirement of advanced nuclear reactors. The bill restricts the PSC’s jurisdiction to issue or refuse to issue certificates of necessity and siting certificates for the construction and operation of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors for electric generating facilities.

House Bill 2377 requires transparency from the Department of Human Services by allowing the Foster Care Ombudsman to access information related to child abuse or neglect proceedings, including the identities of reporters. It establishes the Critical Incident Review Team, outlining its purpose, responsibilities, and reporting requirements, while ensuring confidentiality.

House Bill 3503 states that no county, municipality, or political subdivision may prohibit, regulate, permit, or license commercial horticulture within the subject matter of the Water Pollution Control Act. The bill invalidates any within the subject matter of the Water Pollution Control Act, and all such provisions in charters, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, or zoning provisions, which already try to do this. The bill also prevents counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions from suiting a commercial horticulture operation for any activity within the subject matter of the Water Pollution Control Act, if the commercial horticulture operation is in material compliance with the Water Pollution Control Act, its rules, and federal laws and regulations.

Two bills on second reading were amended.

House Bill 3305 changes the limit on switching parties before filing to run for office from 60 days to 180 days. The adopted amendment added independents to the bill.

House Bill 3492 authorizes the City of Huntington to level a special district tax for the benefit of the City of Huntington.

The following House Concurrent Resolutions were adopted:

  • H. C. R. 14 – US Navy S1C Curtis Hatcher Memorial Road
  • H. C. R. 30 – Pastor Roger D. Stewart and Brenda Runion Stewart Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 43 – Ray William “Mutt” Sherman Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 51 – U.S. Army Roy Lee Hill Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 52 – Ronnie W. Matthews Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 55 – Vance Brothers Six Military Veterans Highway
  • H. C. R. 70 – Revolutionary War Patriot Patrick Board Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 77 – Jim Sigmon Family Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 82 – U.S. Army PFC Paul Ralph Bittinger Sr. Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 85 – Lavern “Mousey” Testerman Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 86 – U. S. Army PFC Robert F. Mann Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 87 – Clark Brothers Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 89 – U. S. Army SP4 Kermit Harold Yoho Memorial Bridge
  • H. C. R. 91 – Charles Grant Hoke Memorial
  • H. C. R. 93 – Scott Miller Hill Bypass

The House is in recess until 6 p.m.

The House returned to the floor to take up committee reports, Executive messages, and Senate messages.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 28, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today March 27

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 28

Senate Passes Higher Education Economic Development Bill

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Higher Education Economic Development Bill

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

Rules Holds Committee Hearing on Two Bills

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Rules Holds Committee Hearing on Two Bills

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.

Senate Passes Bills to End DEI, Control State Board of Education

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bills to End DEI, Control State Board of Education

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.

Foster Care Bills Advance from House

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Foster Care Bills Advance from House

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

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 27

Seven Bills Advance from House Education

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Seven Bills Advance from House Education

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.

House Passes Bill Addressing Student Behavior

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Bill Addressing Student Behavior

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

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 26

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