The Senate suspended the constitutional rules on Tuesday morning to complete action on House Bill 226, the Child Care Tax Credit bill.

The legislation provides a credit against the personal income tax in the amount of 50 percent of the allowable federal child and dependent care credit for those already receiving the federal tax credit. The bill is retroactively effective to Jan. 1, 2024. The credit will potentially return $4.2 million to eligible taxpayers.

Senator Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia), speaking in support of the bill, said he would like to do more to help parents with child care during the next regular session. He broke down the numbers, explaining that approximately 16,000 West Virginia families receive the federal child care tax credit, which amounts to $454 per family per month. With this bill completing action, the state child care tax credit will provide those families with an additional $225 tax credit per month.

The legislation now heads to the Governor’s desk to await his signature.

Also on Tuesday morning, the Senate completed action on six additional supplemental appropriation bills.

In the final action of the morning floor session, the body adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 202, which honors Hershel “Woody” Williams with statue in National Statuary Hall Collection. This resolution now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

After recessing for a couple hours, the Senate returned around 3 p.m. to complete action on four House supplementary appropriation bills. Those items are as follows:

House Bill 212 allocates $22 million to the Higher Education Policy Commission.

House Bill 216 allocates $9.3 million to the Office of Technology.

House Bill 230 allocates $1 million to the Department of Education as part of a Safe Schools initiative.

House Bill 245 allocates $5 million to the Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, the body adopted Senate Resolution 209, recognizing the  dedicated public service of Honorable David Allen Stover.

Following a recess until around 8 p.m., the Senate returned to receive House messages and complete action on several bills.

The body concurred in the House amendments to Senate Bill 2028, which permits the development of an opioid treatment program if it is part of clinical trial and approved by institutional review board. They also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 2035, which provides funding for certain broadband expansion programs administered by Economic Development Authority.

The Senate then suspended the constitutional rules to complete action on House Bill 218, which provides $1.15 million to the West Virginia Conservation Agency, and House Bill 244, which places a limited moratorium on new municipal fire fees imposed on non-municipal resident.

Following a brief recess, the Senate returned just past 9:30 p.m. to suspend the rules and complete action on House Bill 227, which authorizes the School Building Authority to provide funds for the construction of charter schools.

The Senate has adjourned Sine Die.

The Senate met at 3 p.m. on Monday and quickly suspended the constitutional rules to pass Senate Bill 2033, which reduces the state income tax by two percent.

The two percent compromise, down from the Governor’s original five percent, came to the body after the Governor amended the Special Session call a second time this afternoon.

This two percent cut returns around $46 million to state taxpayers. This tax cut would be in addition to the 21.25 percent income tax cut that just went into effect, plus another 4 percent cut that will occur automatically next year because the state hit an economic trigger.

According to Finance Chairman Eric Tarr (R-Putnam), this two percent cut will be paid for with $19 million that will become available once the state pays off a revenue bond and $20-25 million in realized savings from efficiencies in other agencies. The bulk of those savings come from the split of DHHR into three new departments.

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

The Senate laid over much of its calendar to Tuesday, but did pass several other bills from the Governor’s amended call

Senate Bill 2035 provides funding for certain federally-funded broadband expansion programs to come from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority. Senate Bill 2037 provides a $350,000 allocation to New River Community and Technical College. Senate Bill 2038 expires $15 million in unclaimed property and returns it to the general revenue.

These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Following a couple hour recess, the Senate returned to bid farewell to several members. The Senate adopted resolutions honoring the service of Senators Robert Karnes (R-Randolph), Chandler Swope (R-Mercer), Mike Caputo (D-Marion), Charles Trump (R-Morgan), Robert Plymale (D-Wayne) and Craig Blair (R-Berkeley).

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m.

The Senate passed 10 bills Monday evening as they continued the Second Special Session of 2024 that began on September 30.

The body received the Governor’s amended Special Session call that included four additional items for consideration.

The Senate suspended the rules to pass three of those items. Senate Bill 2029 is a $5 million appropriation for a child care expansion pilot program. Senate Bill 2031 is a $5 allocation charter school construction grants. Senate Bill 2032 would appropriate $10 million for drought relief programs through the Department of Agriculture. These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Senate Bill 2030, which is a $1 million allocation to the state Department of Education for school safety programs, was read a first time.

The Senate amended and passed seven other supplemental appropriation bills Sunday evening. They now head to the House of Delegates.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m.

The Senate convened the second Special Session of 2024 on Monday at 11 a.m., reading 28 pieces of legislation a first time. The majority of those bills were supplemental appropriation items.

Following a midday recess, the body returned and suspended the constitutional rules to pass one Senate bill and complete action on six House bills.

The completed bills today are listed below:

House Bill 201 provides $10 million for Communities in Schools.

House Bill 202 gives spending authority to the Division of Highways to use the $150 million already appropriated to it during the May special session.

House Bill 203 provides $1.2 million for the state Veterans’ Home in Barboursville.

House Bill 204 provides $375,000 or the West Virginia State Police for capital overlay and improvements.

House Bill 206 provides $2 million for West Virginia University for its general administration fund.

House Bill 207  gives just shy of $380,000 to the Department of Education’s Aid for Exceptional Children program for pay increases not included in the budget bill.

These bills now head to the Governor’s desk to await his signature.

Also, in the afternoon session, the Senate suspended the constitutional rules requiring a bill be read on three separate days to pass Senate Bill 2009, which moves $87 million into a PEIA reserve fund. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until Sunday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m.