The House of Delegates passed ten bills, including the following four.
House Bill 4106 removes the licensing requirement for 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds to conceal carry a deadly weapon. Proponents argued that these individuals can already carry a weapon. Currently, they aren’t able to conceal their weapons. Opponents argued that removing the licensing requirement would eliminate the training required for concealed carry. The bill advanced to the Senate.
House Bill 4464 updated the definition of emergency-related Underground Facilities Damage Prevention. The bill clarified that an emergency includes “any emergency that requires immediate correction to assure continuity of services provided by or through an underground facility.” Without the passage of this bill, “emergencies” focus on the safety of the public and operator personnel. The bill also clarifies Board responsibilities and the duties of operators of underground facilities. The bill advanced to the Senate with 51 in favor and 43 opposed.
House Bill 4983 allows the Department of Commerce to adopt legislative rules governing the certification of microgrid districts and high-impact data centers. Yesterday, the House spent time discussing amendments to the bill, which failed.
Many opponents of this bill felt that the Department of Environmental Protection should play a role in the rulemaking for the certification of these entities, given the environmental and economic consequences.
Proponents of the bill stated that because data centers are an economic opportunity, regulation should fall to the Department of Commerce. Regarding yesterday’s amendments, proponents of the bill stated that they didn’t address the bill’s actual rules. Supporters of the bill felt the amendments would add burdens to economic development and could discourage companies from bringing high-impact data centers to West Virginia.
Today, Delegate Laura Kimble (R-Harrison) stated that when House Bill 2014 passed last year, the Senate would address local control and water concerns. When the concerns weren’t addressed, it was stated that the concerns would be addressed through rulemaking. She stated that this rulemaking bill does not address what was supposed to be addressed.
“I think this will have a chilling effect on the people of West Virginia who want to stay here,” Kimble said, “I believe it’ll have a chilling effect on people who live out of state and want to come home to West Virginia.”
The bill advanced to the Senate with 78 in favor and 16 opposed.
House Bill 4573 authorizes the Department of Human Services to provide the West Virginia Department of Education and county boards of education with information on transition programs and services for foster care students after graduation, along with opportunities in education, the workforce, housing, and support services.
During committee reports, the rules were suspended to read House Bill 4712 for the first time. The bill increases the penalties for DUI causing death. The bill will be known as Bailey’s Law.
Senate Bill 208 was on second reading and advanced to third with the right to amend.
Bills introduced can be found here.
Resolutions introduced can be found here.
Committee Meetings, Today, February 17
- Sub. Com. on Local Gov. at 1 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com. on Public Education at 1 p.m. in Room 432M
- Sub. Com. on Legal Services after floor session in Room 410M
- Sub. Com. on Homeland Security after L.S. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com. on Courts after H.S. in Room 410M
- Education at 1:30 p.m. in Room 432M
- Sub. Com. on Government Administration at 1:30 p.m. in Room 432M
- Health & Human Resources at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Energy & Public Works at 5 p.m. in Room 410M
Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, February 18
- Finance at 9:30 a.m. in Room 460M
- Judiciary at 9 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com. on Legal Services at 9:45 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com. on Homeland Security at 10 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com. on Courts at 10:15 a.m. in Room 410M
- Rules at 10:45 a.m. in Speaker’s Conference Room 218M
- Education at 1 p.m. in Room 432M
- Energy & Public Works at 3 p.m. in Room 410M
- Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology after EPW in Room 410M
- Health & Human Resources at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com. on Public Health at 4:30 p.m. in Room 215E
