The Senate convened this morning, the 48th day of session, to complete two pieces of legislation.
House Bill 2487, which would ban the use of laetrile (a drug used for cancer treatment), and House Bill 3013, which would allow the legislature to create job creation work groups, passed the Senate today and will be sent to the Governor to be signed.
Senate Bill 460, which would exempt certain state residents’ active duty military pay from state income tax, and Senate Bill 557, which would extend the Preventive Care Pilot Program, were two of the 26 bills to pass the Senate today.
The Senate read 26 bills for the second time, including two House bills: HB 2800, which relates to the Teachers’ Retirement System, and HB 2802, relating to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System.
Senate Bill 103, creating the West Virginia Commuter Rail Act, and Senate Bill 638, which would terminate certain severance tax exemptions for the production of oil or natural gas, were two other bills read a second time.
The Senate had three bills on first reading which were Senate Bill 117, which would make the possession of burglar’s tools a criminal offense, Senate Bill 365, which relates to the expungement of certain criminal convictions, and Senate Bill 594, which would establish procedures in the Court of Claims relating to an unjust arrest, conviction, or imprisonment claim.
The Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 18, naming a portion of State Route 20 in Wyoming County the “David and Janet Lee Memorial Highway.” Senate Resolution 50, which supports the commitments made to Patriot Coal employees, and 51, recognizing Salem International University, were also adopted.
The Senate will reconvene this afternoon at 4:30pm.
Committees meeting today:
Senate Energy, Industry, & Mining Committee – 9am – 208W
Senate Finance Committee – 9:30am – 451M
Senate Government Organization Committee – 2pm – 208W
Senate Education Committee – 2pm – 451M
Senate Judiciary Committee – 3pm – 208W
Senate Finance Committee – 3pm – 451M
UPDATE:
The Senate reconvened this evening to hear committee reports. Of the bills reported out of committees, twenty of the bills were read a first time.
The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11am.
