This morning, the Senate convened and adopted Senate Resolution 58, regarding Girl Scouts Day, and Senate Resolution 59, regarding Mingo County Day.
The Senate also concurred with House amendments and completed legislative action on five bills.
Senate Bill 58 would make changes to the Division of Motor Vehicles’ Safety and Treatment Program and the Motor Vehicle Alcohol and Drug Test and Lock Program for drivers whose licenses were revoked for DUI-related offenses.
The bill would establish a grievance and appeals process for participants and prohibit requirements for minimum driving time, total miles driven, or how often a participant must use their vehicle in the ignition interlock program, which is a system requiring a driver to blow into a breathalyzer attached to their car to start it.
Senate Bill 659 would prohibit municipalities from restricting homeowners from building at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which is a smaller, independent residential unit on the same property as a single-family home.
The bill would require cities to allow these units by right and limit certain local regulations, such as requiring extra parking or restrictive design standards.
House Bill 4022 would require the state to allocate and station child protective services workers in counties based on population, referrals, and average case load.
This bill would require an annual report to the Legislature detailing staffing allocations and explaining any changes that lasted more than one week.
House Bill 4433 would modify West Virginia’s human trafficking laws by increasing penalties for trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, and sexual servitude.
The bill also defines “illegal alien” as any individual who has entered the United States without authorization and is subject to removal if apprehended, or an individual who has lawfully been admitted into the United States but has since violated the terms of admission or is without legal status.
Under the bill, “illegal aliens” are not eligible for restitution.
House Bill 5682 would move $72 million from the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund into the state’s unappropriated surplus and create a supplemental appropriation for the Higher Education Policy Commission.
The funds are intended to support biomedical sciences research, including:
* $30 million for Marshall University School of Medicine
* $32 million for West Virginia University School of Medicine
* $5 million for WVU Dental School
* $5 million for West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026.
