The House of Delegates re-convened at 5:00 p.m. to have a consideration of bills that were on second reading, and to consider the updated budget, House Bill 2020.
The House of Delegates considered the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 2020 and moved to concur with the amendment with further amendments.
“We have come up with a compromise on the position of the two houses,” Finance Chairman Eric Householder, R-Berkeley, said.
The House amendment to the strike and insert amendment notes several changes from the original House budget that was passed last week.
The provisions in the updated House Bill 2020 include a total general revenue of $4.6 billion. $7 million would be given to the WV Department of Tourism, $24 million for the Legislative branch, $124 for the Judicial branch, and $40 million for the Executive branch.
The pay raise for educators and school service personnel were noticeably absent from the bill, which Householder addressed.
“These will be worked out during the Special Session that our Governor has called for, so that we can have more time to work these items out properly.”
The House concurred with several amendments that came over from the Senate, including an increase in the Department of Health and Human Resources funds and the funds allocated to PEIA.
“This is a strong finish to our session,” Delegate Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan, “I am incredibly pleased with these results.”
The House of Delegates agreed to adopt the House Finance strike-and-insert, and report the updated version of House Bill 2020 back to the Senate.
Senate Bill 147 was also discussed at length and amended by the House Finance committee. The amendment that was adopted would increase financial provisions to local municipalities under the bill.
An amendment to Senate Bill 544 was also adopted in a vote of 56-43 on this day.
The amendment would issue a one time, 5 percent pay raise to police personnel in the state.
Senate Bill 561 went under technical amendments at length. A provision regarding Sunday brunch was also adopted into the bill.
Forty-one bills were advanced to third reading on this evening. These bills can be accessed on the Calendar.
The House is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, March 8.
