Today the Senate completed the action on their Senate Calendar, passing eight bills, including Senate Bill 579, which relates to Home Rule Reform. The Senate also passed two House bills, House Bill 2129 and House Bill 2331, which both passed with Senate amendments and must go back to the House for concurrence.

The Senate recessed until 4:30 p.m. today where they will continue to take up committee reports and other business.

Committee Meetings today:

Transportation – 1 pm – 451 M

Workforce – 1:15 pm – 208 W

Energy – 2 pm – 208 W

Pensions – 2 pm – 451 M

Government Organization – 15 minutes after conclusion of Finance and Judiciary

Finance – 3 pm – 451 M

Judiciary – 3 pm – 208 W

UPDATE, following their return from recess, the Senate received committee reports and read a few bills a first time. Following adjournment, the Senate Government Organization Committee will meet at roughly 5:25 p.m. and the Senate Energy Committee will meet 15 minutes following the conclusion of Government Organization.

The Senate completed action on a bill Friday that would disqualify employees who work in safety positions from receiving benefits if they fail a random drug or alcohol screening.

Senate Bill 2441 would add new language to state code stating that an employee who fails a “random” screening for alcohol or controlled substances would be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits if the employee is in a position where “alcohol or drug use creates an inherent risk to the health and safety of the employee or others or (if) that employee is in a safety-sensitive position.”

A “safety-sensitive” position is defined in the bill as “any task or duty fraught with such risk of injury to the employee or others that even a momentary lapse of attention or judgment, or both, can lead to serious bodily harm or death.”

During the committee process members heard that state code already includes numerous reasons an employee could lose their unemployment benefits.

Those reasons include willful destruction of employer property, assault, reporting to work intoxicated or being intoxicated while at work, reporting to work under the influence of any controlled substance without a valid prescription or being under the influence of any controlled substance without a valid prescription while at work.

This legislation adds to that list.

The Senate amended the title of the bill, causing it to head back to the House of Delegates to await concurrence.

The Senate has adjourned until Monday, March 24, at 11 a.m.

Morning Meetings for Monday, March 24:

Gov. Org at 9:30 a.m. in 208W

Education at 9:30 a.m. in 451M

The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that aimed at enhancing security on public school grounds by establishing the West Virginia Guardian Program.

Senate Bill 450 would address growing concerns over school safety by allowing the hiring of retired law enforcement and safety officials, know as”West Virginia guardians,” to provide security services in public schools.

Key provisions of the legislation include the eligibility criteria for guardians, who must be former state troopers, deputy sheriffs, state fire marshals, Department of Natural Resources police officers, municipal police officers, or federal law enforcement officers.

These individuals would be tasked with ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff from potential threats, including violence and weapons on school premises. The bill specifies that county boards can contract as many guardians as deemed necessary, with the participation being voluntary and contingent on available county funds.

Under the legislation, guardians would be required to apply for a permit from the county sheriff, who will verify that applicants meet specific qualifications. Additionally, the bill would outline civil and criminal liability protections for guardians and exempt their contracts from certain purchasing requirements, streamlining the process for schools to enhance security measures.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 21, at 10 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Economic Development at 1 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Twelve bills passed out of the House this morning, including:

House Bill 2451 allows business owners to conduct home-based businesses on their residential property if it is a no-impact business. No-impact businesses do not need on-street parking or substantially increase traffic in a residential area and are not visible from the street. The sale of goods or services must be lawful and on-site employees/clients cannot exceed the municipal occupancy capacity. The bill does not allow municipalities to require permitting or licensing on the no-impact home-based business, but foes allow for the creation of reasonable regulations.

House Bill 2548 clarifies that the State Superintendent shall report annually to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding implementing state board rules in each county school district. If a county school board violates the implementation of rules, the State Superintendent will provide an implementation plan. If the county continues to violate the rules, school aid funding can be withheld.

House Bill 2755 requires the State Board of Education to submit all legislative rules for authorization by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and submission to the Legislature for its review and approval, amendment, or rejection.

House Bill 3024 allows for the creation of a comprehensive system for the transfer of credits between the state’s public higher education institutions.

House Bill 2056 grants the Governor authority to establish concurrent jurisdiction over the land but requires the following procedures: (1) a written request of concurrent jurisdiction by the authorized agent of the United States; (2) written acceptance by the Governor; and (3) recording of the request and acceptance by the Governor with the Secretary of State. It also authorizes any state or local agency to enter into an agreement with the United States to coordinate the responsibilities of concurrency. Additionally, the bill grants concurrent jurisdiction to West Virginia courts over instances where juveniles are alleged to have violated federal law while on United States military installations located within West Virginia’s boundaries. The conditions for the grant of jurisdiction require the federal court to waive exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, and that the alleged violation of federal law must also be a crime under state law.

House Bill 2393 requires the Mountaineer Trail Network Authority to report annually to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on the progress they’ve made towards the goals, grants requested and received, and progress made on other projects within the trail networks throughout the state.

House Bill 2397 prevents immediate family members from acting in a fiduciary capacity for the same governmental authority. The bill attempts to remedy conflicts of interest relating to familial relationships when a sheriff needs to make payments from the county treasury.

House Bill 3089 mandates the use of West Virginia’s Electronic Lien and Title system for all entities that record more than five liens per year.

House Bill 3190 allows for a charge of public intoxication when someone is under the influence of a controlled substance.

Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow, March 21, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today March 20

• The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow March 21

• The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 9:45 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that seeks to address ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability within West Virginia’s foster care system.

Senate Bill 83 would enhance the oversight of child welfare by granting the Foster Care Ombudsman access to confidential records related to child abuse, neglect, and fatalities.

The legislation amends existing confidentiality laws, allowing the Foster Care Ombudsman, or their designee, to access critical information while performing their official duties. This change is particularly significant in cases involving child fatalities or near fatalities, where timely access to records can be crucial for investigations and systemic improvements.

Currently, the confidentiality of child welfare records often limit the ability of oversight bodies to fully understand and address the circumstances surrounding these tragic events.

Supporters of the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, argued that it will empower the Ombudsman to better advocate for children in the foster care system and ensure that cases of abuse and neglect are thoroughly vetted. They emphasize that increased access to information will lead to more informed recommendations for policy changes and improvements in child welfare practices.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 20, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Natural Resources at 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Morning Meetings for Thursday, March 20:

Education at 9:30 a.m. in 451M

Gov. Org at 9:30 a.m. in 208W