Today, the House passed 15 bills and rejected House Bill 2675.
House Bill 2675 would have conformed the judgment interest paid in condemnation cases to the interest paid on all other civil judgment and decrees. It would have cut the interest rate by more than half of its current rate. The bill was rejected 9-90.
The House concurred with the Senate to completed House Bill 2290, which provides for maximized employment for disabled persons and creates a stat “Employment First,” which encourages agencies to facilitate the employment of disabled persons.
Senate Bill 275 creates an Intermediate Court of Appeals, effective July 1, 2022. The court would review civil cases, family court, administrative hearings, and worker compensation board of review. The judges will be elected after the initial appointment. They will serve staggered 10-year terms. The bill also eliminates the Office of Judges.
House Bill 2266 provides Medicaid coverage up to 1 year postpartum. Currently, coverage is only 60 days postpartum.
House Bill 2493 makes changes to the Tax Departments’ method of property taxation. The six changes made are: 1.) The method will rely on the most recent calendar year’s coal prices, not a three-year average. 2.) The average coal density shall be a flat average of 1800 tons per acre-foot unless the taxpayer provides evidence to establish a lower density value. 3.) Tax Commission shall consider economic viability and engineering ponderations when establishing values of coal properties. 4.) Coal beds less than 35 inches shall not be classified as minable coal for valuation of property tax. 5.) Coal seams may not be classified for taxation until the actual depletion of coal commences under a permit. 6.) Non-filers shall be subject to penalties equal to and uniform with all forms of industrial property and natural resources property.
House Bill 2581 changes the valuation, assessment, review, and appellate rights of property owners regarding valuation, classification, and taxability of real estate properties by the Tax Commissioner. It allows for the publication, release, and other disclosure of
nonproprietary financial information by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
House Bill 2720 allows the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to establish a merit-based personnel administration system for all the department’s employees. The DOT will have until October 31, 2021, to establish the new system.
House Bill 3106 increases the time for a bond hearing from 72 hours to 5 days. The bill allows for a defendant to be released from jail if the bond hearing is not held unless the defendant is incarcerated for a crime against the person.
House Bill 3304 authorizes the Commissioner of the Division of Correction and Rehabilitation to establish a program of reentry and transitional services that may be used for eligible offenders who are sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment under the custody of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation whom the Commissioner or the circuit court may permit to service his/her sentence as a sentence to reentry and transitional services to cut the cost of confinement and promote transition of the offender into society. The program would assist with academic education, vocational education, employment, counseling, housing, and substance abuse treatment.
House Joint Resolution 3 was amended. House Bill 2017, the criminal rewrite was amended. Several amendments to the amendment were offered and rejected.
The House recessed from 3:15 pm to 3:50 pm.
When the House reconvened, the remaining bills on second reading were advanced. House Bill 2095, House Bill 2224, and House Bill 2884 were advanced to third reading, with the right to amend.
House Bill 2370, House Bill 2592, House Bill 3072, House Bill 3307, House Bill 3308, and House Bill 3310 were all amended and advanced to third reading.
The House is adjourned until 10 am tomorrow, March 31, 2021.
Committees
Today’s Meetings
- The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 5:15 pm in the House Chamber.
Tomorrow’s Meetings
- The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 8:15 in the House Chamber.
- The Judiciary Committee will meet at 8:30 am in Room 410M.
- The Rules Committee will meet at 9:45 am in Room 434M.
