Fond memories swept over the Chamber as lawmakers adopted House Resolution 43 which commemorates the life of Glenn Thomas “Tom” Searls. An extraordinary reporter, friend, Marshall University alum, and loyal West Virginian, Searls had a passion for news at an early age. Growing up in Marmet, he sold the WV HillBilly and the The Grit door to door and also delivered The Charleston Gazette for which he would later write. In 2005 he was named Journalist of the Year by the West Virginia Association for Justice.
An expert in West Virginia State and small-town politics, Searls was highly respected by his peers. Robert C. Byrd called him a “reporter’s reporter” upon Searls death on August 14, 2008.
After the resolution was presented, the House received messages from the Senate. The House concurred with an amendment on House Bill 3083 which would change the title. The bill would now become the fourth piece of completed legislative action.
Eleven bills passed the House today. House Bill 2702, House Bill 2703 and House Bill 2770 clarify language and provide technical clean-up to existing acts.
Most bills were passed unanimously such as House Bill 2535 which would create a solar tax credit for certain solar energy systems and House Bill 2734 which would guarantee that teachers would receive all of their money back if they transferred from the Teachers Defined Contribution System to the Teachers Retirement System.
House Bill 2567 was passed 93-3 and it relates to filing agency rules with the Secretary of State. The bill would require all agencies, boards and commissions that have rulemaking authority, to file all provisions of proposed rules electronically. Only one nay was recorded when House Bill 2722 passed. The bill would provide a $100 tax credit to certain businesses that are required to reprogram its cash registers because of a change in the food tax. These bills will now go to the Senate for its consideration.
The following committees will meet today:
Finance- 1:30 p.m.- 460M
Judiciary- 2 p.m.- 410M
Education- 3:30 p.m.- 434M
The House is in recess until 5 p.m.
