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2nd Session of the 86th Legislature

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Member Press Release

This Week in the House of Delegates

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates spent a great deal of time this week in committee meetings debating proposals, and regular legislative session is now more than one-fourth complete, and a total of 25 House bills have passed the House out of 787 House bills introduced. Two more bills completed legislative action this week as well.

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Member Press Release

Senate Calendar and Committee Schedule for Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 – 15th Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  • SCR 8: Fire Chief Kenneth Junior Russell Memorial Bridge

THIRD READING

  • Eng. SB 67: Relating to authority of Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 79: Providing fair mechanism for adjudication of requests for relocation of parent with child
  • Eng. SB 89: Exempting certain kindergarten and preschool programs offered by private schools from registration requirements
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 182: Authorizing miscellaneous agencies and boards to promulgate legislative rules (original similar to HB 2446)
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 270: Providing for collection of tax by hotel marketplace facilitators
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 275: Relating generally to WV Appellate Reorganization Act of 2021
  • Eng. SB 296: Relating generally to repealing certain rules (original similar to HB 2513)
  • Eng. SB 372: Providing greater discretion to WV Board of Medicine to approve graduate clinical training

SECOND READING

  • Com. Sub. for SB 7: Limiting political activity by public employees – (Amend. pending)
  • Com. Sub. for SB 42: Creating Zombie Property Remediation Act of 2021
  • Com. Sub. for SB 53: Providing person criminally responsible for another’s death may not be involved in burial arrangements
  • SB 396: Providing limitations on nuisance actions against fire department or EMS fixed sirens

FIRST READING

  • Com. Sub. for SB 80: Allowing for administration of certain small estates by affidavit and without appointment of personal representative
  • Eng. HB 2019: Elevating Economic Development and Tourism Departments (original similar to SB 274)

Scheduled Committee Meetings

10 a.m.: Workforce (208W)

  • Presentation: Tiffani Dale and Gina Pensule, “Closing the Gap”
  • Presentation: Cammie Chapman, General Counsel, Bureau for Children and Families – “Opportunities for Youth Aging out of Foster Care”
  • Presentation: Marilyn Pearce, Regional Director, Children’s Home Society of West Virginia
  • SB 248: Requiring DHHR collaborate with Workforce Development Board and WV Division of Personnel for purposes of job placement.

1 p.m.: Economic Development (208W)

  • SB 311: Relating to acquisition and disposition of property by urban development authority
  • SB 368: Authorizing DEP to develop Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program

2 p.m.: Agriculture and Rural Development (208W)

  • SB 339: Expanding types of agricultural operations that are protected from nuisance and other legal actions
  • SB 359: Informing landowners when fencing that may contain livestock is damaged due to accident
  • SB 58: Creating WV Farm Fresh Dairy Act

2 p.m.: Pensions (451M)

  • Originating Bill 1: Providing a mechanism for distributing remaining retirement contributions to deceased member’s heirs

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

  • Budget Presentation: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

  • SB 392: Creating penalty for impersonation of law-enforcement officer or official
  • Com. Sub. for SB 5: Relating to claims arising out of WV Consumer Credit and Protection Act

** Committee times and agendas are subject to change **

Senate Bills to be Introduced Wednesday, February 24, 2021

  • SB 433: Authorizing Division of Rehabilitation Services to approve training programs acceptable for training low vision individuals to obtain Class G driver’s license (Swope; Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • SB 434: Requiring training for law-enforcement officers specific to interviewing victims of sexual assault (Woelfel; Judiciary)
  • SB 435: Requiring county superintendents to authorize certain school principals or administrators at nonpublic schools to issue work permits for enrolled students (Roberts; Education)
  • SB 436: Relating generally to solid waste facilities (Rucker; Government Organization)
  • SB 437: Extending contingent increase of tax rate on certain eligible acute care hospitals (FN) (Maroney; Finance)
  • SB 438: Supplementing, amending, and increasing items of existing appropriation from State Road Fund to DMV [By Request of the Executive] (Blair, Baldwin; Finance)
  • SB 439: Allowing use or nonuse of safety belt as admissible evidence in civil actions (Swope; Judiciary)
  • SB 440: Relating to requirements on abandoned or discontinued state highway or road (FN) (Maynard; Transportation and Infrastructure then Finance)
  • SB 441: Supplementing, amending, and increasing an existing item of appropriation from State Road Fund to DOH [By Request of the Executive] (Blair, Baldwin; Finance)
  • SB 442: Relating to Unemployment Insurance Program Integrity Act (FN) (Government Organization then Finance)
  • SB 443: Supplementing, amending, decreasing, and increasing items of existing appropriation from State Road Fund to DOH [By Request of the Executive] (Blair, Baldwin; Finance)
  • SJR 10: Limiting the Terms of Members of the House of Delegates Amendment (Nelson; Judiciary then Finance)
  • SCR 9: Haynie Family Veterans Memorial Bridge (Plymale)
  • SR 9: Designating February 25, 2021, as Fairmont State University Day (Caputo, Weld)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Tuesday, February 23, 2021

10 a.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure (451M)

  • Com. Sub. for SB 321: Clarifying and updating language regarding Fairmont State alumni plates
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SCR 6: US Navy Seaman 2nd Class Wilbur ‘Webb’ Hahn and John W. Hahn Memorial Bridge
  • Resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it be adopted

10 a.m.: Military (208W)

  • SB 16: Providing continued eligibility for developmental disability services to dependents of military members
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance
  • Com. Sub. for SB 102: Allowing disabled purple heart recipients park free at municipal metered parking spaces
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Government Organization

1 p.m.: Health and Human Resources (451M)

  • SB 39: Prohibiting insurance coverage from requiring prior authorization for tests to stage cancer
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • HB 2262: Relating to the controlled substance monitoring database
  • Bill as amended reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 377: Relating to extension for boil water advisories by water utility or public service district
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 387: Relating to drug screening of applicants for cash assistance
  • Bill is laid over

2 p.m. Education (451M)

  • HB 2012: Relating to public charter schools
  • Bill as amended reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 294: Permitting early closure of Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

2 p.m.: Government Organization (208W)

  • SB 338: Creating Fire Service Equipment and Training Fund
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance
  • SB 374: Increasing threshold for bid requirement to $10,000 to be consistent with other state agencies
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 389: Relating to State Resiliency Office responsibility to plan for emergency and disaster response, recovery, and resiliency
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

  • SB 308: Modifying requirement that racetrack participate in WV Thoroughbred Development Fund by certain date
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 358: Removing prohibition on ATMs located in area where racetrack video lottery machines are located
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

  • Com. Sub. for SB 160: All relating generally to authorizing certain agencies of the Department of Revenue to promulgate legislative rules
    • Includes: SB 160: Alcohol Beverage Control Commission rule relating to private club licensing; SB 161: Alcohol Beverage Control Commission rule relating to distilleries, mini-distilleries, and micro-distilleries; SB 162: Division of Financial Institutions rule relating to Fintech Regulatory Sandbox Program; SB 163: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to fingerprinting requirements for applicants for insurance producer and insurance adjuster license; SB 164: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to insurance adjusters; SB 165: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to credit for reinsurance; SB 166: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to continuing education for individual insurance producers and individual insurance adjusters; SB 167: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to mental health parity; SB 168: Insurance Commissioner rule relating to health benefit plan network access and adequacy; SB 169: Municipal Pensions Oversight Board rule relating to exempt purchasing; SB 170: Racing Commission rule relating to thoroughbred racing; SB 171: Racing Commission rule relating to greyhound racing; SB 172: Racing Commission rule relating to advance deposit account wagering; SB 173: Lottery Commission rule relating to WV lottery interactive wagering rule; SB 174: State Tax Department rule relating to tax credit for providing vehicles to low-income workers; SB 175: State Tax Department rule relating to downstream natural gas manufacturing investment tax credit; SB 176: State Tax Department rule relating to high-wage growth business tax credit
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass
  • SB 309: Creating felony offense of aggravated cruelty to animals
  • Motion to report the bill to the full Senate rejected; bill will not be reported

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Tuesday, February 23, 2021 (23 Senate; 2 House)

  • SB 1: Providing for parity of payment for telehealth services between service in-person and service provided through telehealth platform (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 9: Continuing Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund (House Finance)
  • SB 10: Modifying racetrack licensing due date (House Finance)
  • SB 11: Declaring work stoppage or strike by public employees to be unlawful (H First Reading, 02-24)
  • SB 12: Relating to local health department accountability (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 14: Providing for additional options for alternative certification for teachers (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 15: Relating generally to in-field master’s degree (House Education)
  • SB 34: Creating exemption to state sales and use tax for rental and leasing of equipment (House Finance)
  • SB 61: Expanding Coyote Control Program through voluntary assessment on breeding cows (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 66: Creating Voluntary WVU Rifle Team Check-Off Program on hunting and fishing licenses (House Agriculture and Natural Resources)
  • SB 69: Creating “Choose Life” special registration plate supporting adoption (House Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • SB 78: Relating to rehabilitative spousal support (House Judiciary)
  • SB 81: Relating generally to WV Uniform Trust Code (House Judiciary)
  • SB 126: Authorizing Department of Administration to promulgate legislative rules (House Judiciary)
  • SB 140: Division of Rehabilitation Services rule relating to Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Act Board (House Judiciary)
  • SB 156: Authorizing Department of Homeland Security to promulgate legislative rules (House Government Organization)
  • SB 216: Authorizing Department of Commerce to promulgate legislative rules (House Judiciary)
  • SB 244: Making it unlawful for public utility to prohibit customers from hiring contractors to construct, install, or maintain connections to public utility (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 272: Relating to WV Employment Law Worker Classification Act (Pending House introduction)
  • SB 277: Creating COVID-19 Jobs Protection Act (House Judiciary)
  • SB 280: Relating to e-commerce modernization (House Government Organization)
  • SB 293: Clarifying that Economic Development Authority is not authorized to enter into banking contracts without State Treasurer approval (House Government Organization)
  • SB 295: Relating generally to economic development loans and loan insurance issued by state (House Finance)
  • HB 2358: Updating meaning of federal adjusted gross income and certain other terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Completed; awaiting action by Governor)
  • HB 2359: Updating the meaning of federal taxable income and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Completed; awaiting action by Governor)

Resolutions Adopted by the Senate as of Tuesday, February 23, 2021 (1)

  • SCR 4: Recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth Day (House Rules)

Bills and Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Tuesday, February 23, 2021 (2)

  • HB 2358: Updating meaning of federal adjusted gross income and certain other terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Completed; awaiting action by Governor)
  • HB 2359: Updating the meaning of federal taxable income and certain other terms used in the West Virginia Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Completed; awaiting action by Governor)

Committee times and agendas are subject to change. Follow @WVSenClerk on Twitter for updates.

All Senate Committee meetings and floor sessions are available for both live streaming and to watch again in our archives. The link to the Senate’s archived video page can be found here:http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00289/Harmony/en/View/UpcomingEvents.

Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 357-7999

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Member Press Release

This Week in the House of Delegates 2-19-21

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The second week of the regular legislative session was exceptionally busy for the West Virginia House of Delegates. After meeting in a Saturday session Feb. 13, Delegates were poised to end this week having passed a total of 18 bills to the Senate for consideration, with the full Legislature having completed two measures that would make necessary updates to the tax code as well.

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