The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees met this morning.
Judiciary
House Bill 4546 would require biennial reports for limited liability and foreign limited liability companies, instead of the annual reports they file now. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 4712 would increase the criminal penalties for DUI causing death and DUI offenses for minors. The increase of these penalties will be called “Baylea’s Law.” This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 5197 would make any action brought against the state and its agencies to set aside a sale or deed may be instituted within one year following the date of the sale. This shortened period applies only to claims against state and local governments. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 5228 would change the definition of electioneering. Under this bill, electioneering is now defined as “visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or ballot question.” This bill was reported to the floor.
In addition to the change of definition, this bill describes prohibited activities, permitting election officials and county employees to enforce election laws, and permitting said people to seek assistance from law enforcement. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, displaying a candidate’s likeness, logo, committee name, a ballot question’s number, or paraphernalia in support of a candidate.
House Bill 5273 would require county and municipal campaign finance activities to be published online within 48 hours of the deadline and require municipal candidates file their campaign finance reports with their respective County Clerk. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 5066 would prohibit the release of the addresses and names of people who make contributions to political campaigns. If someone were to release said information, misdemeanor penalties are spelled out in the bill.
House Bill 5105 would prohibit the financial exploitation of people recovering from addiction.
House Bill 5198 would increase the penalty for crimes against people who have a mental disability.
House Bill 5203 would prohibit any municipality from issuing any municipal ID for voting in a municipal election.
Courts
House Bill 5341 would create a domestic violence registry. This registry would include several pieces of information about the names of the people who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense of domestic violence. This information would include, but is not limited to, the address where the person will reside or resides at the time of registration, their Social Security number, a full-face photograph, a brief description of the crime or crimes for which the registrant was convicted, fingerprints and palm prints, and motor vehicle information. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.
House Bill 5406 would make the WV State Police Forensic Laboratory responsible for certification, standards, and administration of secondary chemical tests. The bill also makes the forensic laboratory responsible for approval of the devices and methods of preliminary breath analysis.
In addition to these changes, this bill would also give the rule-making authority to the State Police, rather than the Bureau of Public Health.
Homeland Security
House Bill 5444 would increase the amount of fees to be paid by parolees based on their ability to pay, which would be an increase from not to exceed $40 to not to exceed $50. This fee would be only for the supervision.
House Bill 5454 would change the authorities of the select committee’s oversight of the West Virginia Fusion Center. This bill would also direct the Legislative Auditor to conduct an annual audit of the Fusion Center.
House Bill 5449 would repeal the Addiction Treatment Pilot Program since the pilot program no longer exists.
Legal Services
House Bill 4799 would establish the cold case task force for the State of West Virginia. This task force would investigate and prosecute offenders in cold cases. The cold case task force would be authorized to cooperate with federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.
House Bill 4842 would clarify the civil cause of action for people exposing intimate images. This civil action would be similar to the civil cause of action for people who commit sexual extortion. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.
House Bill 5390 would establish that fiscal notes submitted to the Legislature are considered to be sworn testimony. If someone were to provide a fiscal note that they know is false or misleading, they would be convicted of perjury. Nobody would be subject to criminal liability for a fiscal note that is timely corrected or amended, as long as the note was prepared in good faith and the note was not trying to deceive the legislature.
House Bill 5401 would clarify how voting in West Virginia elections works while residing overseas. This bill would clearly state that any individual who is a United States citizen who is temporarily living abroad and was a West Virginian resident can vote in the state and federal elections.
House Bill 5416 would give the authority of trustees and pastors to only need one trustee and the pastor to make a deal, whether it be for borrowing money or encumbering property.
