The House of Delegates convened this morning.

Senate Bill 244 completed legislative action. The bill corrects a typographical error in The WV Appellate Reorganization Act by stating members of the court will be selected, not elected. The bill also enacting dated shall be applied retrospectively to December 27, 2021.

A total of six bills were passed, with Senate Bill 244 being completed. Other bills included:

House Bill 4110 states that a county board of education serving as a fiscal agent for a multi-county vocational center may not be penalized for the county’s failure to meet the minimum ratio if the failure is due to the staffing levels at the multi-county vocational center.

House Bill 4333 terminates the Board of Hearing-Aid Dealers and Fitters on June 30, 2023.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, February 2, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet today at 2:30 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committees – Tomorrow, February 2, 2022

The Committee on Banking and Insurance will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.

The Committees on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Political Subdivisions will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.

The Workforce Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The House convened this morning at 11 a.m.

Eight bills were passed. Senate Bill 4 was completed.

Senate Bill 4 removes the ban on constructing nuclear power plants in West Virginia. Bordering states have nuclear power plants. It was stated that West Virginia already has action plans in place in case of an issue from one of the bordering states. Proponents expressed support because it is a carbon-free energy source and will allow for the economic diversity of the state. Opponents were concerned with regulations and the cost of having nuclear power in the state. The chair of the Government Organization pointed out this does not implement anything. It removes a ban, and it will take years before nuclear power would be in the state. He said this allows for the conversation to happen. In the conversation, cost, regulations, and details can be sorted. The bill completed the legislative action and will be sent to the Governor.

House Bill 4263 prohibits the practice of white bagging, which is when health insurance providers do not allow physicians to prescribe and administer a specialty drug. It requires a third-party pharmacy to be involved in providing the medication to the physician then it can be administered to the patient. This will eliminate the supply chain problems with pharmaceuticals and the chain of custody. It will improve efficiency and allow hospitals to do their job.

Six bills were read for the second time today.

House Bill 4286 exempts attorneys from the civil service system. An amendment was offered and rejected.

House Bill 4312 allows first responders to vote by electronic absentee ballot in certain emergency circumstances. An amendment was offered and rejected.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, February 1, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Pension and Retirement Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.

The Sub-Committee on House Bill 4001 will meet at 1 p.m. in 215E.

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1:45 p.m. in 215E.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Committees – Tomorrow, February 1, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

The House convened today at 9 a.m.

House Resolution 9 was amended and adopted. The resolution moves remarks by members back to the House Order of Business. The resolution allows remarks by members to be on Wednesday each week for an unlimited amount of time.

Last year, due to the pandemic remarks were removed from the order of business and offered in the evening once a week. This resolution simply brings the remarks back into the floor session while still limiting it to once a week.

Six bills were passed today, including House Bill 4024 and House Bill 4301.

House Bill 4024 creates an apprenticeship program for cosmetology to allow companies to train apprentices for practical real-world experience. The apprenticeship would satisfy all requirements for certification. Barbers are already in a similar apprenticeship program. The bill advances to the Senate.

House Bill 4301 removes the partisan requirement to the election of members to the Huntington Park and Recreation District Board. Removing this requirement will allow for a larger pool of candidates for the board. The composition of the board is based on magistrate districts. Recently, Cabell County went from a five-district magistrate to a three-district magistrate. The bill states that three members shall be elected from each magistrate district and one member shall be elected from the Westmoreland area of Wayne County for a total of 10 members. The bill also adds staggered elections for the board to allow for continuity. The reason this is a state issue is that the Hunting Park and Recreation District spans two counties, not just one. Therefore, it is required to be in state code. The bill advances to the Senate.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, January 31, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in Room 410.

Public Hearing – on HB 2882 -Relating to repealing a ban on construction of nuclear power plants on today at 10:40 a.m. in the House Chamber.

Committees – Monday, January 31, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the Chamber.

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Pension and Retirement Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1:45 p.m. in 215E.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The House of Delegates adopted House Resolution 10 on January 27, 2022. Kiss’s wife, Melinda was escorted by former several former House speakers and the Raleigh County senator and delegation to be presented the resolution.

House Resolution 10 commemorates the life of former House Speaker Robert S. Kiss, who passed away on November 5, 2021.

Robert Stephen Kiss was born in Elizabeth, NJ and raised in a military family, living all over. He attended Ohio State University, receiving his bachelor’s in economics in 1979 and his J.D. in 1982. After graduating, Kiss moved to Raleigh County and began practicing law.

Kiss was a devoted father and husband. He always said his greatest achievement in life was his marriage to Melinda and the birth of his two sons, Cameron and Carter.

In 1988, Kiss was elected to the House of Delegates from Raleigh County. He would serve 18 years in the House. With his experience with economics, finance, and law, he was appointed the vice chair of the Finance Committee in his second term as a delegate. Two years later, he was serving as Chair of the Finance Committee. He served as Chair until elected speaker in 1997.

During his tenure as House Speaker, the legislature accomplished so much including, funding roads and highways, developing water and sewer systems, funding higher education scholarships, funding a children’s health program, improving the state’s credit rating, creating the state’s Rainy-Day Fund, and so much more. He never took personal credit for these accomplishments. He always credited the full body.

After 18 years of public service, 10 of which were as speaker, the longest term served, Kiss retired from public service returned to private law. In 2013, Kiss returned to public service as part of Governor Tomblin’s administration to serve as the Cabinet Secretary of Revenue, where he stayed until 2016.

Kiss was a distinguished West Virginian, a devout Catholic, and a kind and compassionate friend. Often the smartest in the room, he had a love for practical jokes. He often joked that if a memorial resolution for him was ever presented it should end with “And he loved dogs.” And so, it did.