The Senate passed its version of the 2025 fiscal year budget on Wednesday evening, suspending the rules requiring that a bill be read on three separate days.
Senate Bill 200 only reflects actions taken by the the upper chamber so far, and does not yet include the impact of fiscal bills passed by the House of Delegates. The finance chairs and leadership from both the Senate and the House of Delegates as well as the Governor’s office will come together in the next ten days to iron out the final budget.
The Senate’s proposed general revenue budget for the coming fiscal year is $4.934 billion. That comes in roughly 1 percent higher than the current year’s $4.8 billion general revenue budget but 6 percent lower than the $5.22 billion budget requested by Governor Jim Justice’s administration in January.
The Governor’s proposed budget included several tax cuts, including eliminating state taxes on Social Security benefits, and increased spending for a 5 percent pay raise for teachers, school service personnel and state workers.
The Senate has yet to take action on these proposals.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 29, at 11 a.m.
Morning Meetings for 2/29:
Government Organization at 10 a.m. in 208W
Education at 10 a.m. in 451M
