The House of Delegates convened at 11 am on Wednesday, Feb 6 in the House Chamber to consider legislation. The House passed four bills that were on third reading this day, one of which was a bill to address the state’s overabundance of abandoned gas and oil wells.
House Bill 2779 is a bill that would transfer unclaimed funds produced from abandoned oil and gas wells to the WV Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund. If an oil/gas well remains unclaimed for seven years, the proceeds from that well will go to the state fund, which works to plug orphaned and nonfunctioning oil and gas wells throughout the state.
The bill aims to solve the issue of the surplus of abandoned wells in the state by providing more funds for the state to plug them. The bill passed unanimously through the House, and was advanced to the Senate for further consideration.
Other bills that were passed today included House Bill 2363, which would authorize the length that the Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitilization Program to be extended to the end of October 2024 instead of 2020. The program is required to report its findings and accomplishments to the Legislature every October until then. This program is an effort to revitalize the upper areas of the Kanawha Valley, an area that has been economically struggling since the closure of a community college within the region.
House Bill 2490 is a bill that would allow public pools in the state to make small renovations and improvements without consulting the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources. The bill would also prevent the Secretary from proposing or enforcing any rules which prevent recreational water facilities from making necessary upgrades, renovations, or repairs. These renovations could not exceed $25,000. This bill also passed through the House unanimously.
House Bill 2691 also passed easily through the House and was advanced to the Senate for further consideration.
This bill would change the expiration dates for newly issued concealed carry permits in the state of WV. Instead of the expiration of these permits occurring five years to the date of application, this bill would mandate that the expiration occurs on the applicant’s birthday after the permit has been active for five years. This would ensure simplicity as to when the licenses expire, and aligns the expiry of concealed carry licenses with state drivers’ licenses expiration dates.
These four bills passed through the House, and several bills moved through their second readings without amendments. These bills included Senate Bill 324, House Bill 2204, House Bill 2479, House Bill 2481, House Bill 2608, and House Bill 2606.
Senate Bill 240, another bill that was on second reading, was postponed until the next House Floor Session.
The House adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, February 7.
House Committees Meeting Today After Floor Session:
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. in 434-M.
The House Committee on Government Organization will continue their posted agenda at 2 p.m. in 434-M.
The House Committee on the Judiciary will continue their posted agenda at 2 p.m. in 410-M.
The House Committee on Education will meet at 3 p.m. in 215-E.
House Committees Meeting Tomorrow Before Floor Session:
The House Committee on Education will meet at 9 a.m. in 215-E.
The House Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development will meet at 9 a.m. in 434-M.
The House Committee on Banking and Insurance will meet 10 a.m. in 434-M.
