Monday, August 18, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
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Senate Sends Seven Bills to House

The Senate passed seven bills during its Tuesday morning floor session.

Senate Bill 5 would encourage the efficient settlement of legal claims arising out of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.

Senate Bill 359 would inform landowners when fencing that may contain livestock is damaged due to accident.

Senate Bill 248 would require the DHHR to collaborate with the Workforce Development Board and the West Virginia Division of Personnel for purposes of job placement.

Senate Bill 392 would add the potential penalty of incarceration to any conviction for the impersonation of a law-enforcement officer.

These bills, along with the three other measures that passed today, now move to the House for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, March 3 at 11 a.m.

Stream all meetings on our Legislative Live page:

Health and Human Resources will meet at 1 p.m. in 451M.

Energy, Industry and Mining will meet at 1 p.m. in 208W

Government Organization will meet at 2 p.m. in 208W.

Education will meet at 2 p.m. in 451M

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Workforce will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow in 208W

 

House Bill 2013 Advances

Today, the Finance Committee met to consider House Bill 2013. The bill would create the Hope Scholarship Program. House Bill 2013 was recommitted on February 19th due to the need for a new fiscal note.

The estimated cost to the State under the Public-School Support Plan to establish the Hope Scholarship Program is $126,557,939. The cost would be split between fiscal year 2022-23 and fiscal year 2027-28, with the initial year of implementation having more restricted eligibility and later years opening the program up to all existing private and home school students.

The bill was amended to cap the state aid per pupil at $3,000 instead of the initial $4,600.

Engrossed Committee Substitute, as amended, was adopted by the committee. The committee advanced House Bill 2013 to the House Floor.

Senate Passes Charter School Expansion

Both bodies of the Legislature have now approved charter school expansion after the Senate passed House Bill 2012 on a 19-14 vote late Monday morning.

The legislation now goes back to the House, where delegates can concur with the Senate’s minor changes or amend the bill back to its original form.

House Bill 2012 would increase the number of charter schools that could be approved in a three-year period in West Virginia from three to 10. It also lays the groundwork for virtual charter schools in the future. Under this legislation, charter schools would be part of the state’s public education system and would be given greater flexibility with the understanding they could lose their ability to operate if they fail.

Under current law, only county school boards may authorize a charter school in West Virginia. This bill would give the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board authorization powers as well.

This bill would also give applicants with a rejected charter proposal 30 days after the rejection date to appeal to the state Board of Education.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, March 2, at 11 a.m.

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in room 208W.

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M

Stream all meetings live on our Legislature Live page.

House Gov. Org. Committee Advances Three Bills

The House Government Organization Committee met today and discussed three bills.

House Bill 2699 would authorize Workforce West Virginia to hire additional at-will employees. The bill moves to the Finance Committee.

House Bill 2621 would mandate certain certifications and training for specific members of fire departments. It would allow for specialized personnel who are not firefighters to be members of a department. The bill moves to the House Floor.

Senate Bill 270 would provide for the collection of the hotel occupancy tax by marketplace facilitators, for example, individual persons or state parks. The bill moves to the House Floor.

House Bill 2267 Advances to Senate

Today, the House passed House Bill 2267 and House Bill 2616.

House Bill 2267 authorizes the County Boards of Education to establish recruitment and training programs for prospective bus operators at county expense.

House Bill 2616 eliminates the submission of a report to the Governor and the Legislature. It requires that the information be available on the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification’s website when needed.

House Joint Resolution 2 on third reading and Senate Bill 272, House Bill 2363, and House Bill 2628 on second reading were moved to the House Calendar.

Committees

Today

Tomorrow

House Judiciary Advances Extended Supervision Bill

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After days of discussion, the House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 2257.

House Bill 2257 requires extended supervision for certain drug offenders.

Also, the committee advanced three other bills.

House Bill 2741 expands the motor vehicle alcohol test and lock program, commonly known as blow-and-go program to offenders with a drug-related offense. It would allow the commissioner to require drug testing.

House Bill 2507 removes the limits on advertising and promotional activities by limited video lottery retailers.

House Bill 2675 yields the judgment interest paid in eminent domain condemnation cases to the interest paid on all other civil judgments. Th bill would set the interest rate to 4.75 percent.

House Passes Five Bills to Senate

Today, the House of Delegates passed five bills including Senate Bill 12, Senate Bill 14, and House Bill 2529.

Senate Bill 12 gives the County Commissioner rule-make authority over local health departments.

Senate Bill 14 provides additional options for alternative certification for teachers.

House Bill 2529 prohibits higher education institutions in West Virginia from discriminating against graduates of private, nonpublic or home schools by requiring them to submit to alternative testing.

Five bills were on second reading, two of which action was delayed. Those bills were Senate Bill 272 and HB 2363.

Senate Bill 272 simplifies criteria for independent contractors and provides for separate standards of independent contractors from employees.

House Bill 2363 establishes that 50/50 custody is presumed to be in the best interest of the child unless one parent provides evidence that the other parent is not capable of providing a safe environment for the child.

On Monday, March 1, 2021, there will be a public hearing on House Bill 2389. The bill would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to create legislative rule relating to water quality standards.

Committees

Today

Monday, March 1, 2021

Senate Elevates Economic Development, Tourism to Cabinet-level

The Senate completed legislative action Friday on a bill that will elevate the West Virginia Development Office and the Division of Tourism to cabinet-level positions, in an effort to reflect the importance of those agencies.

House Bill 2019 would rename the West Virginia Development Office to the Department of Economic Development, and the Division of Tourism to the Department of Tourism. The leaders of both new departments would be subject to confirmation by the Senate, but other than new titles, nothing else will change.

Both agencies are currently under the Department of Commerce at the direction of Secretary Ed Gaunch. They will now report directly to the Governor. Chelsea Ruby, the Commissioner of Tourism since 2017, will retain her role leading the Department of Tourism as secretary, while the new Department of Economic Development will be led by recently-appointed West Virginia Development Office Director Mitch Carmichael.

The legislation now heads to the Governor for final approval.

Also on Friday, the Senate introduced bills 460-476.

The Senate has adjourned until Monday, March 1 at 11 a.m.

 

 

 

Senate Legislation (2/10/21-2/25/21)

As of Friday, February 26, 2021, 459 bills have been introduced to the Senate. Of those bills, 34 have passed and advanced to the House.

Senate Bill 1 provides for uniformity of payment for telehealth services between a service in-person and a service provided through a telehealth platform. It also permits for the physician patient relationship to be established through audio-only means and sets forth additional standard of care criteria.

Senate Bill 7 places a limit on the political activity by public employees.

Senate Bill 9 continues the Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund.

Senate Bill 10 modifies the due date of the racetrack table game renewal license fee from July 1 to October 1.

Senate Bill 11 declares any work stoppage or strike by public employees to be unlawful. It prohibits the use of accrued or equivalent instruction time to cancel days lost due to a concerted work stoppage or strike. It prohibits a superintendent from closing a school in anticipation of or to facilitate a concerted work stoppage or strike

Senate Bill 12 allows for the removal of local health board members by county commissions or municipalities. The bill also requires a thirty-day public comment period for rules of local health boards. The bill also places local health departments under the control of the state health officer when a state of emergency is declared within that county.

Senate Bill 14 provides additional options for alternative certification for teachers.

Senate Bill 15 provides the incentive for teachers to earn a master’s degree in education of a salary increase.

Senate Bill 34 creates an exemption in the state sales and use tax for the rental and leasing of equipment among commonly owned companies.

Senate Bill 42 authorizes a municipality to begin a court proceeding in the county of an abandoned property to compel a foreclosure to better address the “zombie properties” that are plaguing communities within the state.

Senate Bill 61 expands the Coyote Control Program.

Senate Bill 66 creates a WVU Rifle Team Check-Off Program on hunting and fishing license purchases.

Senate Bill 67 relates to the authority of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.

Senate Bill 69 creates “Choose Life” special registration plate supporting adoption.

Senate Bill 78 corrects erroneous cross-references within the section of code relating to factors considered in awarding spousal support and separate maintenance.

Senate Bill 79 provides that if a custodial parent proves that relation is for a legitimate reason, the location of the move will be presumed to be reasonable. To overcome this presumption, the opposing parent must prove that the purpose of the move is achievable without moving or by moving to a location that will not disrupt the opposing parent’s relationship with the child.

Senate Bill 81 corrects certain cross-references with the West Virginia Uniform Trust Code relating to the standards governing trust directors and directed trustees.

Senate Bill 89 exempts certain private school kindergarten and preschool programs from registration requirements.

Senate Bill 126 authorizes the Department of Administration to create legislative rule relating to purchasing.

Senate Bill 140 authorizes the Division of Rehabilitation Services to create legislative rule relating to the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Service Act Board.

Senate Bill 156 authorizes the Fire Commission to create legislative rule relating to the standards for the certification and continuing education of public sector building code officials, inspectors and plans examiners.

Senate Bill 182 allows the Commissioner of Agriculture to create legislative rule relating to animal disease control.

Senate Bill 216 authorizes the Department of Commerce to create legislative rule relating to tourism development.

Senate 244 makes it unlawful for public utility to prohibit customers from hiring contractors o construct, install, or maintain connections to public utilities.

Senate Bill 270 provides for the collection of the hotel occupancy tax by marketplace facilitators.

Senate Bill 272 simplifies criteria used to define independent contractors and imposes objective standards on the differences between independent contractors and employees.

Senate Bill 275 creates an Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Senate Bill 277 – the Covid-19 Jobs Protection Act – provides immunity from civil liability for damages for an injury resulting from exposure to COVID-19 on the premises owned or managed by another person, so long as that person was acting in compliance or consistent with applicable federal or state regulations, an Executive Order of the Governor, or other such guidance.

Senate Bill 280 allows West Virginia residents and businesses to pay taxes and fees for government services online in all 55 counties. It requires all county and local governments, as well as state government, to begin accepting payments electronically on a platform set up by the state treasurer’s office.

Senate Bill 293 clarifies that the Economic Development Authority is not authorized to enter into banking contracts without the State Treasurer approval.

Senate Bill 295 provides for maximum drawdown of federal dollars for broadband expansion by increasing the amount available for loans for broadband deployment issues by the Economic Development Authority.

Senate Bill 296 relates the repeal of unauthorized or obsolete rules.

Senate Bill 372 provides greater discretion to the WV Board of Medicine to approve graduate clinical training.

Senate Bill 396 limits on nuisance actions against fire department and EMS fixed sirens.

House Legislation (2/10/21-2/25/21)

As of Friday, February 26, 2021, 766 bills have been introduced to the House. Of those bills, 24 have passed and advanced to the Senate.

House Bill 2001 establishes the Jumpstart Savings Program.

House Bill 2003 clarifies the authority and obligations of the Governor and Legislature relating to declared state of emergencies and preparedness.

House Bill 2005 provides healthcare costs transparency to West Virginians and regulates out-of-state and non-network facility providers.

House Bill 2006 transfers the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act from administration and regulation by the Division of Labor to regulation under the provisions of professions and occupations in chapter 30 of WV Code. The Division of Labor would continue to perform inspections. The bill continues the prerequisites to obtaining building permits and mandatory written contracts for certain work. The board is authorized to grant reciprocity and provide training. The bill also restricts municipalities, local governments, and counties from requiring a license at their jurisdictional level to perform contracting work.

House Bill 2007 provides occupational licenses and other authorizations to practice to qualified applicants from other states.

House Bill 2008 changes requirements for licensing elevator mechanics, HVAC, electricians, and plumbers.

House Bill 2009 limits the use of wages and agency shop fees by employers and labor organizations for political activities. It prohibits employers from intimidating employees to make political contributions or engage in political activity. It also prohibits employers from withholding or diverting employee’s pay for political activities, unless given written authorization.

House Bill 2011 eliminates any hour requirement for part time personnel in professional services with or without administrative duties during a working year.

House Bill 2012 adds virtual public charter schools as an option and would increase the total of number of potential public charter schools

House Bill 2014 specifies that the Legislature is to appropriate federal funds by the state constitution. It limits the gubernatorial authority to spend federal funds without the appropriation of the Legislature.

House Bill 2019 reorganizes and re-designates the Development Office as the Department of Economic Development and the Tourism Office as the Department of Tourism.

House Bill 2094 allows for the juvenile restorative justice program to include other offenses. It also states that the offender can only complete the program once.

House Bill 2184 creates a new crime and sets penalties for exposing government representatives to fentanyl or other harmful drugs or chemical agents.

House Bill 2253 sets penalties for violating the State Lottery Act, relating to forgery, and counterfeiting of lottery tickets.

House Bill 2260 removes the requirement that Health and Human Resource contracts with child-placing agencies be submitted to the Purchasing Division. Instead, the agency would develop requirements for performance-based contracts, which would be used for child placement.

House Bill 2262 changes who reports and reviews the controlled substance monitoring databases.

House Bill 2263 updates the regulations and regulates the reimbursements of pharmacy benefit managers. It expands the freedom of consumer choice for pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers.

House Bill 2264 expands the definition of hospital services.

House Bill 2325 removes the requirement for barbers and cosmetologists to complete continuing education to renew their licenses. The bill also prevents the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from regulating the use of beauty products that are commonly available as retail, consumer products.

House Bill 2358 updates the meaning of federal adjusted gross income and certain other terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act.

House Bill 2359 updates the meaning of the federal taxable income and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act.

House Bill 2366 requires agencies proposing rules that would adjust fees or other special revenues to provide a fiscal note to the committee.

House Bill 2372 allows pre-candidacy papers to be filed the day after the general election.

House Bill 2500 establishes a statewide uniformity for auxiliary container regulations.