The House of Delegates started its floor session at 8 a.m. today. The House passed 24 bills before recessing until 11:45 a.m.
All resolutions on unfinished business were moved to the foot of the agenda today.
The Rules Committee met this morning and moved House Resolution 9 to the floor. The committee also moved Senate Bills 331, 603, 712, and SB 714 and House Bill 5245 from the active Special Calendar to the inactive House Calendar.
A few of the bills passed in the morning session include:
House Bill 4313 creates a new article of code titled Parents’ Bill of Rights. The bill lists specifically recognized parental rights; the list is not exhaustive. The rights listed include: (1) to direct the education and care of the child, (2) to direct the upbringing and moral or religious training of the child, (3) to apply to enroll the child in any educational setting of which is authorized by law, (4) access to all school records relating to the child, and (5)to make health care decisions for the child unless otherwise prohibited by law. The bill allows parents to sue the state, any agency or locality, any government official, or “any person acting under the color of the law” for violating the new article.
Proponents of the bill see it as a way of providing parents with the right to raise their children as they see fit. Opponents felt the bill was stating parents have these rights unless the state says otherwise. They also felt lawsuits would arise.
The bill passed 83 in favor and 14 opposed. The bill advances to the Senate.
House Bill 4734 authorizes a bonus of 3 percent for correctional officers and non-uniformed administrative staff who have three years or more of service on July 1, 2024. The bill would also authorize a 3 percent sign-on bonus to be paid upon the accumulation of three or more years of service to be calculated once the employee reaches three years.
House Bill 4822 increases the limit on the annual matching grants available for eligible state, county, municipal, and regional governmental entities or authorities that apply to and participate in the Department of Economic Development’s Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program from $25,000 to $75,000.
Proponents of this bill stated it would help businesses and bring more people to the state. They felt it could help small businesses. Opponents feared this bill could lead to more chains and fewer mom-pop shops.
The bill passed 86 in favor and 13 opposed. The bill heads to the Senate.
House Bill 4883 increases the annual salaries for state police personnel by $2,900 and teachers by $2,460. The bill also increases the monthly salaries for school service personnel by $140.
House Bill 5077 requires anyone seeking candidacy for House of Representative in the US Congress must have their primary residence be within the Congressional district of which he or she is running for at least one year preceding the election.
The House returned briefly for a performance from the WV School for the Deaf and Blind. Then, the House recessed until 12:15 p.m.
