The Senate has completed 16 bills over the course of three floor sessions so far on the final day of the 2024 Regular Session.
A sampling of the bills the Senate has sent to the Governor so far today include:
House Bill 5317 makes it permissive for commercial motor vehicles registered in West Virginia to pass an annual inspection of all safety equipment to be consistent with the federal motor carrier safety regulations.
Senate Bill 755 provides safeguards for online sales of tobacco products.
Senate Bill 557 relates to compensation for firefighters required to work holidays. The bill establishes that firefighters are entitled to compensation for an entire shift, even if only a portion of the holiday shift actually falls on the holiday.
The bill is seen as a fairness issue as some municipalities have taken the position firefighters only receive holiday pay or comp time for the portion of the shift that falls on the holiday. In this scenario, if the firefighter takes time off on the holiday, they are charged for the full shift. The most common shift worked by a firefighter is 12 hours, 8 a.m. until 8 a.m.
The bill doesn’t change the rate of time-and-a-half compensation or the compensatory time allowed if the municipality chooses that methodology.
The legislation should make holiday pay for municipal firefighters uniform across the state.
House Bill 4552 will ensure party affiliation is consistent with a political candidate’s voter registration.
Senate Bill 222 exempts West Virginia veterans from certain fees and charges at state parks.
The 2024 Regular Session concludes at midnight.
The Senate is in recess until 3:30 p.m.
