The House of Delegates convened at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb 26 to continue considering the agenda from previously this morning. The chamber picked up on second reading, which included noteworthy bills such as the campus carry bill and the bill to increase medical cannabis industries within the state.
House Bill 2519, the Campus Self Defense Act, is a bill that has raised a lot of spirited debate among members and constituents. This bill was advanced to third reading with amendments pending to be considered tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 27.
House Bill 2079, a bill to remove certain limitations on how many medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensers can operate in the state, was amended at length.
Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, led the charge on an amendment that would strike the 6-month waiting requirement for patients seeking to get medical marijuana in the state. A lengthy debate ensued, with Fluharty and others arguing that there was no wait period for opioid drugs that are needed, so there should not be one for those seeking cannabis.
The amendment was adopted in a 63-39 vote.
Delegate Andrew Byrd, D-Kanawha, also moved to amend the bill. The amendment would strike language in the bill that would require a physician or pharmacist to be present in a state dispensary. Byrd argued that the presence of these professionals in a dispensary would mean that they have no protections against medical malpractice claims. Delegate Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, the Chairman of the House Health and Human Resources Committee, argued in favor of the amendment and confirmed Byrd’s statements. Byrd’s amendment was adopted overwhelmingly.
Delegate Ellington also proposed an amendment that was adopted. The amendment would return the number of growers and processors to ten, and would allow for a single entity to own ten dispensaries or less.
With these amendments, House Bill 2079 was advanced.
House Bill 3127 was also amended thoroughly on this day. Delegate Danny Hamrick, R-Harrison, proposed an amendment that would mandate that homeschool students participating in extracurricular activities count as 1/10th of a full-time student, and also made other specific clarifications. Hamrick’s amendment was adopted after lengthy discussion.
Delegate Linda Longstreth, D-Marion and Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, moved to amend the amendment. The amendment would have the students be counted as half of a full-time student, in order to ensure the schools are getting paid for the inclusion of these students. This amendment was also adopted.
House Bill 3142 was also amended on this day. Delegate John Shott R-Mercer and Delegate Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha proposed an amendment that would lessen the fiscal implications of the bill. Instead of establishing a 2 percent severance tax on steam coal at once, the amendment would lower the severance tax 1 percent the first year and then another 1 percent the next year. This amendment was passed unanimously.
House Bill 3144 also went under some technical changes on this day and was advanced.
House Bill 2595 was advanced to third reading with the right to amend and will continue to be under consideration tomorrow.
Bills that were advanced without amendment include House Bill 2729, House Bill 2843, House Bill 2882, House Bill 2932, House Bill 2941, House Bill 2951, House Bill 2966, House Bill 2967, House Bill 3148, and House Bill 3149.
All bills on first reading were advanced.
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Committees Meeting Today After Floor Session:
-The House Committee on Fire and Emergency Medical Services will meet at 4:30 p.m. in 215-E.
-The House Committee on Pensions and Retirement will meet at 4:45 p.m. in 460-M.
-The House Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 5:00 p.m. in 215-E.
-The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 7:30 in 215-E.
Committees Meeting Tomorrow Before Floor Session:
-The House Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in 460-M.
-The House Committee on the Judiciary will meet at 9 a.m. in 418-M.
-The House Committee on Rules will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the Hou se Chamber.
