The Senate Finance Committee has approved five bills to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they pass.
SB 614 would provide loan insurance for commercial loans used for the expansion of broadband service to unserved or underserved areas.
The bill was previously reported out of Senate Economic Development with the recommendation that it do pass.
SB 69 would create the sexual assault survivors’ bill of rights.
The bill was previously reported out of Senate Judiciary with the recommendation that it do pass.
SB 416 would eliminate the cap on the size of projects constructed by the Division of Highways and to remove the sunset date.
Tom Smith, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said he was in support of the bill, since it would allow the department to more easily enter into public-private partnerships for infrastructure developments.
Smith said those partnerships would especially become helpful as the department becomes more dependent on private funding as state funding decreases due to budget issues.
The bill was previously reported out of Senate Transportation and Infrastructure with the recommendation that it do pass.
SB 417 would remove the financial limitations on how many design build projects may be undertaken by the Division of Highways.
Currently, no more than $50 million a year up to an aggregate of $150 million may be expended for design build projects.
Senator Greg Boso, R-Nicholas, said more funding to allow designers to work closely with construction teams can increase the safety and efficiency of certain projects.
The bill was previously reported out of Senate Transportation and Infrastructure with the recommendation that it do pass.
SB 421 would increase from $200 million to $500 million the amount the Division of Highways is allowed to use to apply for Federal Grant Anticipation Notes to be reimbursed from the funds made available to West Virginia from the federal government’s Highway Fund for West Virginia.
Funds obtained from this federal grant will only be used for the completion of interstate or other highway facilities designated as part of the federal-aid highway system or for toll bridges.
The bill was previously reported out of Senate Transportation and Infrastructure with the recommendation that it do pass.
The committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today in 451M.
