The Senate reconvened tonight at 10:00 p.m. and completed legislation on 36 bills. The Senate has passed 120 Senate Bills this Session and a total of 217 bills have completed legislation this Session.

Bills completing legislation included Senate Bill 230 which relates to the board of optometry and House Bill 4177 which dedicates five percent of the coal severance tax to the county of origin. Also, House Bill 4604 which increases the criminal penalties for persons who obstruct, flee from or make false statements to law-enforcement officers.

The Senate will reconvene Monday at 6 p.m. for the extended budget session.

The Senate reconvened tonight at 8:15 p.m. and completed legislation on 12 bills which included Senate Bill 427 which renames and reorganizes Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority. Also Senate Bill 507 which creates the West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Technology Act tax credit and Senate Bill 648 which repeals outdated and obsolete sections of the education code.

The Senate will reconvene tonight at 10 p.m.

Members of the Senate reconvened this evening at 5 p.m. and were joined by Governor Joe Manchin to present the Distinguished West Virginian Award to Senator Don Caruth for outstanding public service. Senator Caruth was elected to the Senate in 2004 after serving two years in the House of Delegates.

Members also completed legislation on two bills while also adopting 33 resolutions. Bills completing legislation included House Bill 4670 which makes a supplementary appropration to the Department of Agriculture, to the Department of Health and Human Resources, to the Department of Revenue-Racing Commission, to the Bureau of Senior Services and to the Higher Education Policy Commission. Also, Senate Bill 494 which provides fiduciary commissioner oversight.

Additionally, two bills were sent to conference. Senate Bill 218 which would provide for early parole eligibility for certain inmates and House Bill 4513 which would establish requirements for Marcellus gas well operations use of water resources.

The Senate will reconvene tonight at 8:15 p.m.

Senate members reconvened this morning and completed legislation on 23 bills while also adopting three resolutions. Bills completing legislation included Senate Bill 219, known as the fleet management bill, which relates to managing the state motor vehicle fleet and Senate Bill 597 which requires that women seeking abortion be offered the opportunity to view an ultrasound image of the fetus.

Members sent several bills to conference, meaning they will be reviewed by select members of the House and Senate in an effort to reach agreement. Bills sent to conference included House Bill 4207 which would make it unlawful to send obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening communications by computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other mobile device. Also, House Bill 4177 which would dedicate five percent of the coal severance tax to the county of origin.

The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 57 which memorialized Gene Carte, a former staff member of the Senate.

The Senate will reconvene this afternoon at 2 p.m.

UPDATE

The Senate reconvened at 2 p.m. to pass 15 bills, including House Bill 4521, called the Second Amendment Appreciation Act, which would create a sales tax holiday for the purchase of guns and ammunition.

Other bills passed include House Bill 4164, also known as Jacob’s Law, which would create a pilot program for the placement of children ages four to 10 in foster care, and House Bill 4031, which would provide flexibility in the West Virginia public schools support plan for funding regional education services agencies.

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m. this evening.

The Senate reconvened this evening at 5 p.m. passing nine bills, including House Bill 4652, which would create school calendar committees for each county, and advancing nine bills to third reading. Bills passed included House Bill 4527 which would limit the liability of apiary owners and operators and House Bill 4604 which would increase the criminal penalties for persons who obstruct, flee from or make false statements to law-enforcement officers. Other bills passed include House Bill 4281 and House Bill 4513.

Bills advanced to third reading included House Bill 4521 which would create a sales tax holiday for purchases of guns and ammunition and House Bill 4354 which relates to conditions and arrests in domestic violence matters. Other bills advanced to third reading include House Bill 4339 and House Bill 4324.

In addition, the Senate advanced four bills to second reading.

The following committees will meet tommorrow:
Rules-10:45 a.m.-President’s Conference Room

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Members of the Senate reconvened this morning at 11 a.m. and completed legislation on 14 bills, passed 13 bills, advanced one bill to third reading and adopted three resolutions. Bills completing legislation included House Bill 2663 which expands the power of municipal parking authority officers and House Bill 4145 which provides services and facilities to assist student veterans at state institutions of higher education.

Bills passed this morning included House Bill 4207 which would make it unlawful to send obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening communications by computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other mobile device and House Bill 2773 which would increase the monetary penalties for selling tobacco products to minors.

Members also adopted Senate Resolution 53 honoring the West Virginia National Guard and Senate Resolution 54 honoring West Virginia University Women’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Carey.

The following committees will meet today:
Government Organization-2 p.m. 208W
Finance-3 p.m. 451M
Rules-4:50 p.m. President’s Conference Room

The Senate will reconvene this evening at 5 p.m.