Friday, April 10, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
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WV Second Chance Act Approved in Senate Economic Development

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The Senate Economic Development Committee has approved two bills to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they pass. 

SB 501 would create a Minority Economic Development Advisory Team to assist the Director of the Economic Development Authority in developing and implementing a procedure to address employment and economic development problems of minority populations of West Virginia.

The governor would have to appoint all members of the team not specifically listed, and all members would serve a five-year term.

Senator Ronald Miller, D-Greenbrier, proposed an amendment to decrease the number of board members, ex-officio? 

The bill contains a second reference to the Senate Government Organization Committee, which Senator Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, moved for the Chair to waive.

SB 76 would create the West Virginia Second Chance for Employment Act to expand eligibility for criminal expungement to persons convicted of certain nonviolent felonies in order to help them receive certain employment opportunities.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year as SB 411, which later died in the House.

The Rev. Matthew Watts spoke in support of the bill and said it would contribute to increasing the state’s labor force participation rate by eliminating federal charges off of nonviolent felons’ records.

“They’re being marginalized for employment,” Watts said. “They’re trapped in the criminal class.”

Watts said the majority of these non-violent felons are younger citizens ages 18-30 who cannot get a job simply because of minor mistakes made when they were younger.

“It’s a lifetime sentence,” Watts said.

Watts informed the committee there will be a rally on the first floor of the Capitol tomorrow, during which the bill will be advocated for.

Several senators voiced their support for the bill’s passage to the committee.

Blair moved that the Chair consult the Judiciary Committee Chair to waive the bill’s second reference to Senate Judiciary.

The bill will be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee once reported to the floor.

The committee also laid over a bill that they will take up for more discussion and amendments/motions once they come back from being recessed.

The bill, SB 38, would create a five-year tax credit for new businesses locating on post-mine sites.

The fiscal note for the bill indicates that the credit will possibly cost the state $23,000.

Senator Mike Romano, D-Harrison, said he was concerned about the lack of specification for what business expenditures would qualify for the credit. He said the credit could possibly be abused to cost the state more.

The bill will be referred to the Senate Finance Committee once reported to the floor.

The committee will recess until 4:30 p.m., or after adjournment of the Senate Judiciary meeting, today in 208W.

House Veteran’s Affairs and Homeland Security Committee Refers Four Bills

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The House Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee met today and referred four bills out of the committee.

House Bill 2788 would allow military veterans with certain military ratings to qualify for examinations required of a probationary firefighter. If a veteran who was discharged honorably has the appropriate training they can apply to test to be a probationary firefighter. The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Organization with the recommendation that it pass.

House Bill 2838 would allow military veterans who meet certain qualifications to qualify for examination for license as an emergency medical technician. If a veteran who was discharged honorably has the appropriate training they can apply to test to be an emergency medical technician. The bill was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources with the recommendation that it pass.

House Bill 2804 would remove chiropractors from the list of medical professions required to obtain continuing education on mental health conditions common to veterans and family members. Other professions not required to obtain contain education of mental health conditions are dentists and other specific medical professions. The bill was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources with the recommendation that it pass. 

House Bill 3034 would exempt military retirement income from personal income tax after a specified date. The bill was put on the agenda by request of the Governor. The bill was referred to the Committee on Finance with the recommendation that it pass.

Bill Related to Regional Recreation Authorities Passes in Senate

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The Senate has passed seven bills to be sent to the House for further consideration.

SB 28 would create a new system for three or more contiguous counties to create a regional recreation authority for off- highway vehicle trail riding and for other recreational purposes.

SB 187 would provide for confidentiality of medical records for patients’ physical, mental or emotional conditions.

SB 302 would supplement the appropriation of federal funds from the Treasury to the Division of Human Services.

SB 303 would supplement the appropriation of public moneys from the Treasury to the Department of Health and Human Resources.

SB 306 would supplement the appropriation of federal funds from the Treasury to Workforce West Virginia.

SB 454 would eliminate certain fees generated by suggestee executions and to further streamline the collection of state moneys received as a result of certain court transactions or court services through more efficient technology.

SB 497 would modify the liability of a physician offering volunteer care at school sporting events to provide that they may only be held liable for acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Another bill on third reading, SB 466, was referred to the Senate Rules Committee by Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio.

Members of the Senate also adopted SR 37 to designate today as Higher Education Day at the Capitol.

Senate Bills 605-619 were introduced. 

Senate Bills 186, 192, 413, 471, 474, 531, 536 and 575 were advanced from second reading. Senate Bills 255 and 524 were requested to lie over one day in second reading.

Of those bills advanced, SB 413 was amended by Senator Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, to extend the expiration date related to the bill and give owners more time to determine how a construction project is to proceed. 

Also amended was SB 531 by Senator Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, to change the annual renewal date for apiary certificates of registration to June 30 instead of March 31.

Committee Meetings Today

Economic Development: 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture and Rural Development: 2 p.m. in 208W

Pensions: 2 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary: 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance: 3 p.m. in 451M

Economic Development: after Judiciary if needed

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Finance: 9:30 a.m. in 451M

Energy, Industry and Mining: 1 p.m. in 208W

Health and Human Resources: 1 p.m. in 451M

Government Organization: 2 p.m. in 208W

Education: 2 p.m. in 451M

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

House Passes Bill to No Longer Obtain Student BMIs

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Today, the House of Delegates concurred with the Senate amendments to HB 2431, HB 2301, HB 2167, and SB 231.

HB 2431 allows influenza immunizations to be offered to patients and residents of specified facilities on a voluntary basis based upon recommendations of the Center for Disease Control.

HB 2301 permits individuals to enter into agreements, for direct primary care with an individual or other legal entity authorized to provide primary care services, outside of an insurance plan or outside of the Medicaid or Medicare program and pay for the care.

HB 2167 creates a Silver Alert program for senior citizens. It establishes criteria to be met before an alert is released.

SB 231 provides that State Board of Education may delegate its Medicaid provider status and subsequent reimbursement to regional education service agencies or county boards subject to the county board determining that there is a net benefit and no detraction from the educational program of the county.

The House also passed HB 2618; it will be sent to the Senate for further consideration.

HB 2618 removes the requirement that students’ body mass index be obtained in schools.

Committee Meetings Today

Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security: 1 p.m. in 434M

Judiciary: 2:30 p.m. in 410M

Education: 2:30 p.m. in 434M

Finance: 3 p.m. in 460M

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Agriculture and Natural Resources: 9 a.m. in 434M

Banking and Insurance: 10 a.m. in 215E

Rules: 10:45 a.m. behind House Chamber

Senior Citizen Issues: 1 p.m. in 215E

Health and Human Resources: 2 p.m. in 215E

Energy: 2 p.m. in 410M

Friday, March 17, there will be a public hearing at 8:30 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3093 (The Broadband Bill).

 

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

House Education Committee Reports House Bill 2702

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The House Education Committee met today and discussed two bills.

House Bill 2702 would relate to excused absences for personal illness from school. No later than three days from the concurrence. The absences only have to be received by then, not recorded by then. Don’t have to send a letter after three unexcused absences, can just get into contact with them. One may also Can no longer deny homeschooling from those with 10 or more absences.

Delegate Moye (D-Raleigh) confirmed that under this bill, parents are allowed to continue to write absence excuses for their children but some counties require a physician’s notice.

Delegate Wilson (R-Berkeley) amended the bill to include personal injury or sickness of the student’s immediate family, guardian, or custodian under excusable absences.

Delegate E. Evans (D-McDowell) amended the bill to clarify that excuses are do no later than three instructional days from the concurrence and not calendar days.

The bill was reported to the House Floor with the recommendation that it pass.

House Bill 2569 would relate to employment, promotion and transfer of professional personnel by county boards of education. This bill would make qualifications for the position a larger factor in determination of employment, transfer and promotion in cases of equal seniority instead of a random lottery policy. Seniority would not be the only determining factor in these cases.

The committee is in recess until 2:30 p.m. today.

Senate Finance Committee Discusses Discontinuation of Greyhound Breeding Fund

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The Senate Finance Committee met today to discuss SB 437.

Senate Bill 437 would discontinue the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund.

A representative of the racing commission explained that the elimination of the fund could cause many of the tracks to close down, as some dog breeders are already going out of business.

Senator Gaunch (R-Kanawha) brought to the committees attention that this might be becuase the dogs may just be losing races.

Senator Palumbo (D-Kanawha) said the potential losses of the income from the race track may not be worth the upfront cut of the fund.

After much discussion, the bill was laid over to be discussed at a later meeting of the Finance committee.

House Health Discusses 5 Bills; Lays over 2

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Several bills were discussed after a public hearing was held in the House Health Committee meeting.

SB 347 would update the practice act for physician assistant. It substitutes “collaborating” for “supervising.” It would alter the make-up of the Board of Medicine to include a second physician assistants to prescribe schedule II and Schedule III drugs in certain circumstances. It eliminates the need for a recertification exam once the physician assistant is board certified. It allows physician assistants to be reimbursed at the same rate as physicians and advance practice registered nurses. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Judiciary Committee.

SB 4 would allow certain licensed professionals to donate their time to the care of the indigent and the needy and to allow them to gain credit for their time against continuing education requirements needed to maintain their license. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Judiciary Committee.

SB 198 would extend eligibility for loans to health care practitioners who practice in areas of the state which have a need for emergency medical providers. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Finance Committee.

HB 2827 would update the provisions of the all payer claims database.

HB 2724 would rename the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs as the Herbert Henderson Office of Inclusion and would establish a community-based pilot project to promote public health through comprehensive community development in communities across West Virginia, and to support this project through the Herbert Henderson Office of Inclusion.

Two bills were laid over to the next meeting.

HB 2736 would authorize the selling of state-owned long-term care facilities by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources.   

HB 2002 would modify the law requiring parental notification of abortions performed on emancipated minors. 

Vaccine Exemptions Bill on Layover in Senate Education

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The Senate Education Committee has laid over a bill that would provide exemptions to mandatory immunizations.

The bill, SB 537, would allow exemptions for medical or religious purposes.

Dr. Sherri Young, state immunization officer for West Virginia, said there were 58 exemption requests made last year for medical purposes; 50% of which were permanently granted, 36.6% temporarily granted, 6.7% denied and 6.7% withdrawn.

Aside from West Virginia, Mississippi and California are the only other states that do not allow religious exemptions, and Young said the Department of Health and Human Resources feels the current statute works best for the state.

Overall, new students to private or public schools are required to have seven vaccines before entering school, which has resulted in West Virginia’s 97% immunization rate.

Senator Ron Stollings, D-Boone, said without those immunizations having been mandated, the state wouldn’t have nearly as many people protected from disease.

“It’s a fantastic thing in public health that we’ve been able to manage this vastly potent immune system,” Stollings said.

Young went on to mention that no scientific studies have shown that vaccines are linked to autism causes. She also stated that she did not know of any religious organizations that are against or exempt from vaccines currently.

Dr. Lisa Costello of the West Virginia Academy of Pediatricians said vaccines are the “crown achievements” of public health and should still be mandated for all students, with the exception of those with certain medical constraints.

“Vaccines are safe. Vaccines are effective. And vaccines work,” Costello said.

Costello verified that pediatricians and doctors do not recieve any financial incentives to advocate for immunizations. She also said vaccines themselves are “one of the most cost-effective public health methods ever introduced.”

Senator Robert Karnes, R-Upshur, said he understood that vaccines are effective, but he still believes citizens should be able to have a choice of whether or not their children will receive certain immunizations.

Stollings and Costello then explained how the immunization of children contributes to a “herding effect” that protects those children who are unable to be vaccinated but are especially vulnerable to the diseases mandated vaccines prevent.

Senator John Unger, D-Berkeley, said the bill would need to have some sort of definition for religious beliefs that qualify for the provisions of the bill.

Shanda Adkins of the West Virginians for Health Freedom grassroots organization spoke in support of the bills passage and said that she and many other West Virginians are concerned about what is actually being put in vaccines.

Adkins said that she personally had been poorly affected by the Hepatitis vaccine, which she said made her go blind in her left eye and caused her to eventually contract multiple sclerosis. 

At this point, Senator Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, Chair decided to lay over due to meeting time constraints.

The committee will next meet 2 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in room 451M.

House Political Subdivisions Committee Discusses Six Bills

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The House Political Subdivisions Committee met today to discuss six bills.

House Bill 2434 was reported out of subcommittee. The bill would relate to reevaluation of land damaged as a result of natural disaster. The bill was then amended by the committee using the amendment from the subcommittee. The bill was referred to the Committee on Finance as amended with the recommendation that it pass.

House Bill 2515 was reported out of subcommittee as well. The bill would create the West Virginia Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2017. The bill was amended by the committee using the amendment from the subcommittee. Delegate Foster (R-Putnam) amended the amendment to make sure that memorials could not be replaced, removed, or renamed without approval. The bill was referred to the Committee with the recommendation that it pass with a vote of 13-10.

House Bill 2209 would limit the authority of municipalities to regulate the purchasing, possessing, transferring, owning, carrying, transporting, selling, and storing of knives. This is similar to the code that currently bans regulations of firearms. The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 2444 would require county commissions to maintain websites with specific information. The website doesn’t have to be of a great quality, it just has to have the information required by the bill. The bill was defeated in committee.

House Bill 2754 would relate to fire fees on nonresidents of a municipality. The bill was referred to the Committee on Finance with the recommendation that it pass.

House Bill 2654 would expand the county commissions’ ability to dispose of county or district property. The bill was amended by the committee. The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary with the recommendation that it pass.

Senate Completes Legislation on Bill Related to Higher Education

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The Senate has completed legislation on three bills today.

HB 2542 will provide more flexibility in human resources and personnel to institutions of higher education.

HB 2590 will update the meaning of “federal taxable income” and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act by bringing them into conformity with their meaning for Internal Revenue Code’s definitions. This bill is effective from passage.

HB 2594 will update the meaning of “federal adjusted gross income” and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act. This bill is effective from passage.

The Senate has also passed seven bills to be sent to the House for further consideration.

SB 25 would establish a credit against personal and corporate income taxes for farmers who donate edible agricultural products to food banks and other nonprofit food programs serving needy persons.

SB 256 would prohibit school personnel who have engaged in sexual misconduct with students or minors from being assisted to find new employment without having that misconduct reported to the appropriate authorities and investigated.

SB 326 would require department of defense family advocacy groups to be notified about any abuse or neglect of a child of a military person.

SB 364 would incorporate changes made to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.

SB 440 would specify where the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority may invest its excess funds.

SB 455 would remove archaic language regarding commitment orders and to require that the sentencing court complete a certified commitment order in the form provided in this section or in a similar form containing the same information. This bill also clarifies that the sentencing court is required to transmit the certified commitment order to the Commissioner of the Division of Corrections.

HB 2167 would add senior citizens to the Silver Alert program.

Members of the Senate also adopted SR 35 to congratulate Wirt High School’s wrestling team for winning the Class A state championship and SR 36 to designate today as West Virginia State University Day at the Capitol.

Senate Bills 597-604 were introduced. 

Senate Bills 28, 187, 302, 303, 306, 454, 466 and 497 were advanced from second reading. Senate Bills 255 and 531 were requested to lie over one day in second reading.

Of those bills advanced, SB 28 was amended by Senators Ron Stollings, D-Boone, and Robert Karnes, R-Upshur, to create a pilot program for the trails by limiting the bill to two trails for the next five years to determine their success. Once this amendment passed, Stollings again amended the bill to change the law enforcement authority from deputy sheriffs under county jurisdiction to recreation officers who he said would be able to cross through counties and would be much more knowledgeable in maintaining the trails.

Committee Meetings Today

Energy, Industry and Mining: 1:30 p.m. in 208W

Health and Human Resources: 1:30 p.m. in 451M

Government Organization: 2 p.m. in 208W

Education: 2 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary: 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance: 3 p.m. in 451M

Transportation and Infrastructure: 4:30 p.m. (or once Judiciary and Finance have adjourned) in 208W

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Economic Development: 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture and Rural Development: 2 p.m. in 208W

Pensions: 2 p.m. in 451M

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

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