Tag: house

For the week ending Feb. 9, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates advanced several bills this week as the 60-day regular legislative session passed the halfway point.

The House adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, which awarded the First Responders Honor Board’s three nominees for the Medal of Valor. The Medal of Valor is presented to firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical services personnel and other professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty in their professional capacities.

All three nominees were recognized and honored in the House Chamber Tuesday: West Virginia State Police Cpl. David S. Fry, Upshur County Department of Homeland Security/County Emergency Manager Deputy Director Derek V. Long and Upshur County Sheriff John Michael Coffman.

House Bill 5127, which would expand the state’s “Learn and Earn” program, overwhelmingly passed the House Monday. The bill, sponsored by Economic Development and Tourism Committee Chairman Gary Howell, R-Mineral, would include WVU Potomac State College in the state Community and Technical College system’s “Learn and Earn” program of paid internship opportunities.

“The employer gains a highly qualified employee and a skilled labor pool,” Howell explained. “With this arrangement, students earn valuable on-the-job training while attending school, meaning they don’t have to quit one job to go to school; they can do both.”

House Bill 5179, also known as “Jaycie’s Law,” passed the full House by a unanimous vote Wednesday. The measure would require the West Virginia Department of Education to support pregnant and parenting students so they can stay in school while taking enough time for the proper medical recovery. Excused absences for labor, delivery, prenatal and postnatal medical appointments, sick children, as well as at least eight weeks of excused absences for the mother and two weeks for the father after the birth of the child all would be required. County boards of education also would be required to provide academic support options, such as virtual schoolwork and weekly visits with a homebound instructor to ensure the students remain on track for graduation. The bill also calls for schools to refer pregnant and parenting students to pregnancy help organizations.

Also Wednesday, House members unanimously passed House Bill 4933, which would exclude dentures from the current $1,000 yearly Medicaid limit. That limit includes diagnostic, preventative and restorative dental services, which excludes cosmetic services but prevented many West Virginians from getting both upper and lower plates at the same time.

A total of 1,542 bills have been introduced in the House, and 86 of those have passed the full House. Twelve bills have completed the legislative process. The deadline for House bills to be introduced is Feb. 13. The session ends at midnight Saturday, March 9.

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

For the week ending Feb. 2, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates voted to pass 27 bills this week as the 60-day regular legislative session approaches the halfway mark.

Nearly half a minute of applause filled the House Chamber Friday after members unanimously approved House Bill 5014. The measure would direct $2 million to the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute to expand groundbreaking research already being done in Morgantown to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, drug addiction and other diseases with ultrasound.

“I want to tell you about a team of heroes we have here in West Virginia today and why this bill is important,” said House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, speaking from his desk on the House floor to explain the bill before the vote.

Hanshaw said the team has FDA clearance to extend their clinical trial to treat PTSD, specifically targeted veteran populations, and obesity, two disorders that plague West Virginians in disproportionately high amounts. He said with a one-time allocation of $2 million, RNI would begin treating West Virginians in April.

Hanshaw told members the opportunity was too substantial to wait.

“I cannot think of a better way to spend this $2 million and spend it now, as opposed to putting it somewhere else, as opposed to doing it in our budget process; we need to do it,” he said. “We need to do it now, and that’s the reason I’ve left that podium to talk about this today.

“We have an opportunity to continue leading the world — not leading the nation, not leading the state, leading the world — in delivering a groundbreaking treatment, a groundbreaking therapeutic technology that was published two weeks ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, the world’s foremost journal for academic medicine, and deliver that technology to West Virginians who suffer from conditions that deserve our attention.”

House Bill 5014, which goes now to the Senate for consideration, would devote $2 million in surplus funds that had not yet been allocated from the 2024 budget.

Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia, represents the district where the WVU Health Sciences Center is located, and is a co-sponsor of the bill. He asked members to be mindful of the decisions that made their vote possible.

“I’m thinking of, in the 1950s, when Gov. Okey Patteson decided that we ought to have a medical school in West Virginia and it ought to be in located in Morgantown,” he said. “And that initial investment that is continued to West Virginia University’s medical school throughout the years has made this possible. It helped Dr. (Ali) Rezai come to Morgantown, and it helped us have the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, and so I would say that when we look at those past investments, I would just ask my friends to keep that in mind when we have future financial questions before us relating to West Virginia University.

“In the budget hearing this week, we learned that for every $1 that this Legislature gives to WVU, it creates about $20 more in our local economy. And when you consider that this $2 million is going to help go to an FDA trial that is going to potentially cure PTSD and cure eating disorders, it’s no doubt why that dollar stretches so far at a rate of one to 20.”

The new House Committee on Artificial Intelligence advanced its first bill this week. House Bill 5161 would create a “digital wallet” through an addition to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s one-stop business portal website where certifications and licensures could be stored.

Artificial Intelligence Committee Chairman Jarred Cannon, R-Putnam, said the measure, whose lead sponsor is Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, would put West Virginia ahead of other states in digital initiatives.

“From software engineers to welders and beauticians, keeping track of your educational certificates and work licensures can be a big inconvenience,” Cannon said. “With this legislation, West Virginians will have an innovative and easy-to-use portal that will allow for the upload and online storage of those documents, accessible from any electronic device at any time, should they choose to do so.”

The House also returned to 100 members to start the week as Delegate David Green, R-McDowell, took the oath of office Monday to represent District 36.

A total of 1,423 bills have been introduced in the House, and 50 of those have passed the full House. The deadline for House bills to be introduced is Feb. 13. The session ends at midnight Saturday, March 9.

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 – 21st Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• SCR 20: Proclaiming fourth Saturday of November to be annually designated as Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Remembrance Day
• SR 18: Designating January 30, 2024, as West Virginia University Day

THIRD READING

• Eng. SB 189: Providing for substantial deference to state school superintendent’s interpretations of school laws
• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 451: Directing Prosecuting Attorneys Institute to make training available to certain new prosecuting attorneys
• Eng. SB 461: Relating to county economic opportunity development districts

SECOND READING

• SB 265: Increasing value at which municipal property must be sold through public auction
• SB 402: Authorizing US Concealed Carry Association to provide concealed carry classes in WV
• Com. Sub. for SB 474: Creating critical incident review team
• Com. Sub. for SB 475: Relating to recovery residences
• Com. Sub. for SB 477: Prohibiting public disclosure of personal information on internet
• SB 487: Requiring periodic review of professional development for teachers and education staff
• Eng. HB 4252: Uniform Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Domestic Violence Protective Orders Act

FIRST READING

• Com. Sub. for SB 320: Removing requirement for wineries to serve food when serving wine

Scheduled Committee Meetings

10 a.m.: Government Organization (208W)

• Com. Sub. for SB 251: Creating Closed Captioning Act
• Com. Sub. for SB 331: Eliminating cap on maximum amount of money in county’s financial stabilization fund

10 a.m.: Education (451M)

• Presentation: West Virginia Department of Education Presentation of Survey Results
• SB 466: Requiring development of safety while accessing technology education program
• SB 529: Including Salem University in PROMISE Scholarship program

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

• HB 4594: Relating to extending managed care.

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

• SB 539: Creating cold case database

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

• Budget Presentation: West Virginia Department of Homeland Security
• Budget Presentation: West Virginia Department of Education

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

Senate Bills to be Introduced Tuesday, January 30, 2024

• SB 592: Authorizing DMV to provide images to Secretary of State for voter identification purposes (FN) (Rucker, Maynard, Taylor; Transportation and Infrastructure then Finance)
• SB 593: Prohibiting ranked choice voting (Rucker; Government Organization then Judiciary)
• SB 594: Modifying appropriation requirements of certain economic development funds (Rucker; Economic Development then Finance)
• SB 595: Amending embalmer licensing requirements (Deeds, Woodrum; Military then Government Organization)
• SB 596: Relating to administration of WV Water Pollution Control Act and Underground Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Storage (Smith, Phillips; Energy, Industry, and Mining then Judiciary)
• SB 597: Providing permanent partial disability awards for occupational pneumoconiosis (FN) (Woelfel, Caputo, Plymale; Banking and Insurance then Finance)
• SB 598: Relating to Hope Scholarship Program and micro schools (Rucker; School Choice then Finance)
• SB 599: Exempting certain military veterans and their dependents from tuition (Weld; Military then Finance)
• SB 600: Revising criteria for receiving reenlistment or retention bonus (Weld; Military then Finance)
• SB 601: Creating WV Women’s Bill of Rights (Grady, Boley, Chapman, Rucker; Judiciary)
• SB 602: Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Act (Grady; Health and Human Resources then Education)
• SJR 8: Cannabis Legalization Amendment (Woelfel, Plymale, Caputo; Judiciary then Finance)
• SCR 21: US Army MSG James E. Jackson Jr. Memorial Road (Woodrum)
• SCR 22: US Army and Marine Corps Major and Olympic Gold Medalist Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road (Woodrum)
• SR 19: Designating January 31, 2024, as Marshall University Day (Plymale, Takubo, Grady, Maynard, Queen, Woelfel)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Monday, January 29, 2024

1 p.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure

• Com. Sub. for SB 436: Relating to prohibition of certain additives to diesel fuel
• Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 441: Regulating driving in left lane on four lane interstate highways in WV
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SCR 11: US Marine Corps PFC Noel Harper Fields Memorial Bridge; Com. Sub. for SCR 14: US Army PFC William Gorman Memorial Bridge
• Committee substitutes for the resolutions reported to the full Senate with the recommendation they be adopted

• SCR 18: Stanley W. and Evelyn C. See Memorial Bridge; SCR 19: US Army PFC Henry W. Baldwin Memorial Bridge
• Resolutions reported to the full Senate with the recommendation they be adopted

2 p.m.: Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Com. Sub. for SB 397: Exempting high tunnels and greenhouses from personal property taxes
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

2 p.m.: Banking and Insurance

• Com. Sub. for SB 455: Relating generally to banking authority of State Treasurer’s Office
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 470: Uniform Special Deposits Act
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

3 p.m.: Judiciary

• Com. Sub. for SB 50: Revenue Bundle – Includes SB 50, Insurance Commissioner rule relating to AIDS regulations; SB 51, Insurance Commissioner rule relating to health benefit plan network access and adequacy; SB 52, Insurance Commissioner rule relating to bail bondsmen in criminal cases; SB 53, Racing Commission rule relating to thoroughbred racing; SB 54, Tax Department rule relating to aircraft operated under fractional ownership program; SB 55, Tax Department rule relating to citizen tax credit for property taxes paid; SB 56, Tax Department rule relating to income tax paid at entity level by electing pass-through entities; SB 57; Tax Department rule relating to income tax credits for property taxes paid; SB 58, Tax Department rule relating to administration of tax on purchases of wine and liquor inside and outside of municipalities; SB 59, Tax Department rule relating to privilege tax on sales of hemp-derived cannabinoid and kratom products
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• HB 4026: Authorizing the Department of Administration to promulgate a legislative rule relating to state owned vehicles
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (64 – 63 Senate; 1 House)

• SB 2: Authorizing DEP to promulgate rules (House Judiciary)
• SB 17: Department of Health rule relating to public water systems operators (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 31: Department of Human Services rule relating to collection and exchange of data related to overdoses (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 36: Authorizing Department of Homeland Security to promulgate legislative rules (Pending House introduction)
• SB 60: Authorizing DOT to promulgate legislative rules (House Judiciary)
• SB 142: Clarifying deadline to file annual report for companies authorized to do business in WV (House Government Organization)
• SB 143: Creating WV Guardian Program (House Education)
• SB 144: Requiring each county board to ensure that its meetings are open to public through in-person attendance and broadcast live on its website (House Judiciary)
• SB 146: Creating adult education taskforce (House Education)
• SB 147: Adding definition of “ammunition” for purposes of obtaining state license to carry concealed deadly weapon (House Judiciary)
• SB 148: Establishing auto-renewal program for wildlife licenses (House Government Organization)
• SB 149: Relating to municipalities required to be represented on county authority boards (House Political Subdivisions)
• SB 150: Clarifying when magistrate vacancies shall be filled (House Judiciary)
• SB 151: Clarifying terms and offense of human smuggling (House Judiciary)
• SB 152: Displaying official US motto in public schools (House Education)
• SB 154: Increasing penalties for drug possession and updating list of offenses (House Judiciary)
• SB 155: Creating Violent Crime Prevention Act (House Judiciary)
• SB 156: Requiring certain documents that contain wage records be considered confidential (House Government Organization)
• SB 157: Requiring one-year residency within district or county to fill vacancy in Legislature (House Judiciary)
• SB 158: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer (House Judiciary)
• SB 159: Prohibiting persons convicted of certain crimes against minors from holding positions on boards of education (House Judiciary)
• SB 160: Updating language and increasing penalties for indecent exposure (House Judiciary)
• SB 162: Establishing Summer Feeding for All Program (House Education)
• SB 163: Establishing aggravated felony offense of reckless driving resulting in death (House Judiciary)
• SB 164: Relating generally to trespassing (House Judiciary)
• SB 165: Creating pilot program for recovery residences in Cabell County (House Judiciary)
• SB 166: Updating contested elections procedures (House Judiciary)
• SB 168: Granting municipal fire marshal authority to assist law-enforcement officer (House Political Subdivisions)
• SB 169: Allowing physician assistants to own practice (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 170: Relating to compensable diseases of certain firefighters covered by workers’ compensation (House Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services)
• SB 171: Prohibiting county commissions from adopting authorization that exceeds state law regarding agriculture operations (House Government Organization)
• SB 172: Revising requirements of local school improvement councils (House Education)
• SB 173: Modifying certain guidelines for motor vehicle dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SB 175: Updating offenses of extortion and attempted extortion (House Judiciary)
• SB 176: Relating to permissible expenditures by Water Development Authority from Infrastructure Fund (House Finance)
• SB 177: Protecting consumers against automatic renewals without consent (House Judiciary)
• SB 178: Relating to dental health care service plans (House Banking and Insurance)
• SB 179: Requiring sheriff to serve child abuse and neglect petitions (House Judiciary)
• SB 196: WV Rail Trails Program (Pending House introduction)
• SB 217: Authorizing state and subdivisions to negotiate price for construction when all bids received exceed maximum budget (House Government Organization)
• SB 219: Relating to Uniform Controlled Substances Act (House Judiciary)
• SB 222: Exempting WV veterans from certain fees and charges at state parks (Pending House introduction)
• SB 240: Increasing fees charged by sheriff (House Government Organization)
• SB 261: WV Veterans’ Home Loan Mortgage Program of 2024 (Pending House introduction)
• SB 262: Clarifying procedure for administrative dissolution of corporations by Secretary of State (House Government Organization)
• SB 269: Excluding test strips from definition of drug paraphernalia (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 280: Allowing teachers in public schools to discuss scientific theories (House Education)
• SB 293: Creating the Glucagon for Schools Act (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 300: Relating to organization of Office of Inspector General (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 318: Modifying process of when parental rights are terminated (Pending House introduction)
• SB 354: Relating to the WV Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority (House Economic Development and Tourism)
• SB 357: Permitting dental hygienist to perform tobacco cessation education (House Health and Human Resources)
• SB 399: Creating crime of assault on a police dog (House Judiciary)
• SB 400: Creating limited waiver from certificate of public convenience and necessity requirement for certain water or sewer services projects (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SB 426: WV Recreational Trails Development Act (House Government Organization)
• SB 428: Establishing appeals from administrative rulings are to be filed with Intermediate Court of Appeals (House Government Organization)
• SB 429: WV Farm Use Vehicle Tag Placement Act (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SB 430: WV Rent-to-Own Act (House Government Organization)
• SB 438: Modifying roster requirements of authorizing entities (House Government Organization)
• SB 439: Authorizing certain 911 personnel to be members of Emergency Medical Services Retirement System under certain circumstances (House Pensions and Retirement)
• SB 445: Reducing certification periods and renewal fees for EMS personnel (Pending House introduction)
• SB 462: Updating definitions of certain terms used in Personal Income Tax Act (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 483: Amending Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• HB 4274: Renaming the Department of Health and Human Resources (Signed, 01-26)

Resolutions that Have Been Adopted by the Senate as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (10)

• SCR 1: US Army PFC Leon Charles Trader Memorial Bridge (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 2: US Army PFC John Henry Trail Memorial Bridge (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 5: US Army 1LT Herschel Jarrell Memorial Road (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 6: US Army SSG Orland Jackson “Tom” Meikles Memorial Road (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 8: US Army Corporal Clemon Knapp Memorial Bridge (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 12: US Army Private Raymond Lee Perkins Memorial Bridge (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 15: Chief Edward “Eddie” Keesecker Memorial Bridge (House Technology and Infrastructure)
• SCR 10: Urging WV congressional delegation support legislation authorizing county governments to sell FEMA property (House Government Organization)
• SCR 16: Urging US Congress enact reforms to federal permitting policies to accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure (Adopted, 01-24)
• SCR 17: Reaffirming support of WV Legislature for State of Israel and Jewish people (Adopted, 01-24)

Action on House Bills in the Senate as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (28)

• HB 4026: Authorizing the Department of Administration to promulgate a legislative rule relating to state owned vehicles (Judiciary)
• HB 4190: Relating to the establishment of an alert system for missing cognitively impaired persons (Judiciary)
• HB 4205: Relating to changing the process of election litigation (Judiciary)
• HB 4252: Uniform Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Domestic Violence Protective Orders Act (S Second Reading, 01-30)
• HB 4274: Renaming the Department of Health and Human Resources (Signed, 01-26)
• HB 4302: Modifying the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian or custodian for child abuse (Judiciary)
• HB 4428: Requiring candidates to live in the state or local election district for the office for which they are seeking (Judiciary)
• HB 4431: Permitting the cremation of unidentified remains (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4432: Relating to midlevel practitioners (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4433: Relating to exempting the acquisition and utilization of a mobile facility which performs mammography or low density computerized tomography (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4552: To ensure party affiliation is consistent with candidate’s voter registration (Judiciary)

• HB 4594: Relating to extending managed care (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4595: Relating to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability (Health and Human Resources)

• HB 4620: Removing the expiration date from the food handler card (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4666: Relating to establishing criminal penalties for human trafficking (Judiciary)
• HB 4683: Requiring parents or guardians to participate in programs for juveniles in an out-of-home placement (Judiciary)
• HB 4697: Add protections for WV residents who reside out of state for certain time periods from non-renewal of licenses and registration (Pending Senate introduction)
• HB 4756: Creating a state Alzheimer’s plan task force (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4759: Relating to E-Verify, the federal employment authorization program (Pending Senate introduction)
• HB 4764: Provide one trip temporary vehicle permits to be purchased and printed online (Pending Senate introduction)
• HB 4766: Require Division of Highways to place signage up 30 days prior to road closure (Pending Senate introduction)
• HB 4768: Relating to increasing the number of out-of-state medical students receiving in-state tuition rates who agree to practice for a specific time within West Virginia (Education)
• HB 4769: Clarifying appropriate and inappropriate duties for school counselors while also providing the definition of a school counselor (Education)
• HB 4783: Relating to the practice of optometry (Pending Senate introduction)
• HB 4793: Relating to moonshine (Government Organization)
• HB 4814: Relating to extending the reporting and sunset dates of the State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals (Education)
• HB 4874: Relating to fatality and mortality review team (Health and Human Resources)
• HB 4908: Relating to permitting the state agencies to contract with the West Virginia public health Institute (Pending Senate introduction)

Bills that Have Completed Legislation as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (4 – 3 Senate; 1 House)

• SB 269: Excluding test strips from definition of drug paraphernalia (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 462: Updating definitions of certain terms used in Personal Income Tax Act (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 483: Amending Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• HB 4274: Renaming the Department of Health and Human Resources (Signed, 01-26)

Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (4)

• HCR 1: Raising a Joint Assembly to hear remarks of the Governor (Adopted, 01-10)
• HCR 13: Commemorating the life of Marilyn Kay Parsons (Adopted, 01-11)
• SCR 16: Urging US Congress enact reforms to federal permitting policies to accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure (Adopted. 01-24)
• SCR 17: Reaffirming support of WV Legislature for State of Israel and Jewish people (Adopted. 01-24)

Bills Signed by the Governor as of Monday, January 29, 2024 (1 – 1 House)

• HB 4274: Renaming the Department of Health and Human Resources (Signed, 01-26)

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

For the week ending Jan. 26, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates voted to complete two bills this week.

The first, House Bill 4274, was a utilitarian measure signed into law by the governor Jan. 26. It will update the language throughout state code to reflect the newly divided Department of Health, Department of Human Services and Department of Health Facilities.

The second, Senate Bill 269, would expand a 2022 law that decriminalized testing strips for the drug fentanyl. All other testing strips used to identify controlled substances are still classified as “drug paraphernalia,” subject to a misdemeanor charge. This bill, now with the Governor for action, would exempt any drug test strips from that definition.

Deputy Speaker Matt Rohrbach, R-Cabell, serves as Chairman of the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse. He explained the bill just before the vote, saying it would permit all test strips for deadly drugs without the Legislature revisiting the issue each time a new drug is developed.

“As we’ve seen, as time has gone, unfortunately, we’ve got fentanyl, now we’ve got carfentanil, now we’ve got xylazine,” he said.

The bill came from the Joint Committee on Health studying the issue during the interim committee process. It passed the full House by unanimous vote.

The West Virginia Senate has already introduced House Bill 4595, which also passed the House by unanimous vote this week. The bill would update the authority already given to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, which was created in 1995.

The measure would allow members of that committee to privately meet in executive session to confidentially investigate child abuse, nursing home abuse, IDD waiver, adult protective service matter, child protective services and hospital abuse.

Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, who serves as Minority Chairman of the House Health and Human Resources Committee, spoke in favor of the bill before the vote, saying it was “incredibly unfortunate that a bill like this is necessary.”

A total of 1,242 bills have been introduced in the House. The deadline for House bills to be introduced is Feb. 13. The 60-day, regular legislative session ends at midnight Saturday, March 9.

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

For the week ending Jan. 19, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates passed four bills in the first full week of the regular legislative session.

House Bill 4190 would direct the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety to create a statewide “Purple Alert Plan” for cognitively impaired, at-risk individuals who go missing. The framework would be similar to existing Amber Alert and Silver Alert programs. House Bill 4252 would close a gap in the current law related to Domestic Violence Protective Orders. It would create a mechanism for West Virginia law enforcement officers to be able to recognize and enforce a Canadian Domestic Violence Protective Order.

House Bill 4274 continues the work that began last year in the separation of the former West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. It would restructure state code to reflect the newly reorganized and renamed Department of Health, Department of Human Services and Department of Health Facilities.

House Bill 4433 would allow private practices to acquire and use certain tomography scanners as well as allowing mobile facilities to perform mammography and low-dose tomography both without going through the state’s certificate of need process.

Delegate Heather Tully, R-Nicholas, is vice chair of the House Health and Human Resources Committee and a sponsor of the bill. She spoke in favor of it just before the vote, saying increased access to scans for lung and breast cancers saves lives.

“This does bring health care into the rural communities, and even though we do have a hospital, we still have individuals who are not willing or do not have transportation to get to the hospital,” she said.

All four measures passed unanimously and now are with the Senate for debate.

The week started with newly appointed Delegate Thomas C. Clark, R-Webster, taking the oath of office to represent the 48th House District just before the day’s floor session.

House Majority Leader Eric Householder, R-Berkeley, announced new leadership roles for two members this week. Delegate Jon Paul Hott, R-Grant, has been named an Assistant Majority Leader, serving in that role with Dean Jeffries, R-Kanawha, and Laura Kimble, R-Harrison. Delegate Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, has been tapped to serve as a Deputy Majority Whip, alongside Delegate Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha.

“The hard work of thoroughly deliberating important bills while efficiently managing our time began last session as members of the House rolled up their sleeves to perform the work the people of West Virginia sent us here to do,” Householder said. “That level of organization is only possible with a well-organized leadership structure that helps coordinate each of the many pieces that make up a Legislature and a legislative session.”

A total of 936 bills have been introduced in the House, and the deadline for bills to be introduced is Feb. 13. The 60-day, regular legislative session ends at midnight Saturday, March 9.

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

For the week ending Jan. 12, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When members of the West Virginia House of Delegates gaveled in for the second regular session of the 86th Legislature Wednesday, Jan. 10, they did so in a freshly renovated chamber, enjoying several improvements both to safety and accessibility.

Several new faces among the membership resulted in House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, adjusting a few leadership roles, including a new Judiciary Committee Chairman.

Tom Fast, R-Fayette, who served as vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee since 2020, has been named its chairman. Delegate David Kelly, R-Pleasants, will serve as vice chair while continuing as chairman of the Committee on Jails and Prisons.

“Tom is not only a well-respected attorney in his private life, but he also has a reputation for asking the kinds of detailed questions that help us create effective laws,” Hanshaw said. “And with Delegate Kelly’s perspective from his background in law enforcement, I know that committee will continue to do the deliberative, heavy lifting it’s become known for.”

The House unanimously passed an organizational resolution on the first day of session to establish the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Delegate Jarred Cannon, R-Putnam, was appointed as chairman of the select committee, and Delegate Jordan Maynor, R-Raleigh, will serve as its vice chairman.

“I am honored to serve as the inaugural chairman for this committee,” Cannon said. “In the face of the rapid evolution of AI technology, it is critically important that West Virginia positions itself at the forefront to ensure it is integrated responsibly.

“This committee will dedicate itself to a thorough examination of potential legislative actions that align with the best interests of all West Virginians.”

Deputy Speaker Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell, started the session with a new role in the National Conference of State Legislatures, having been selected to serve a two-year term as vice chair of the organization’s Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The committee works on the national level to protect states’ interests in federal decisions across a variety of matters, including behavioral health, Medicaid, maternal and child health, health workforce and prescription drugs.

“As we continue to work closely on health matters here in West Virginia, it’s an honor and a privilege to collaborate with states throughout the country while we work together to protect our individual independence on the federal level,” Rohrbach said.

The Committee on Workforce Development has a new vice chairman in Delegate Kathie Hess-Crouse, R-Putnam, who will work alongside its continuing chairman Evan Worrell, R-Cabell.

Less than 24 hours before the first gavel of the 2024 regular session, a new member took the oath of office. Republican James Robert “JB” Akers II, who was appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term for the 55th House District, will represent the southwestern portion of Kanawha County.

“Growing up in a rural area and my years in Charleston have instilled in me a deep understanding of this diverse district: its urban pulse and rural heartbeat,” Akers said. He will serve on both the Judiciary Committee and the Banking and Insurance Committee.

Both the Judiciary and the Health and Human Resources committees advanced legislation this week. A total of 682 bills have been introduced in the House, and the 60-day, regular legislative session ends at midnight March 10.

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia House of Delegates is completely renovated for only the second time since the Capitol was dedicated in 1932, bringing fresh color and polish to original fixtures, marrying them with brand-new technology and accents, but more importantly eliminating the fire hazards of the previous electrical system. These updates and upgrades, many performed by the same vendors who did the first renovation project in 1995, were completed at a total cost of about $2.36 million.

The carpet is new, adding a navy-blue studded gold starburst pattern to the familiar shade of red. The 100 member desks are the same black walnut desks, more than 90 years old, each with a fresh sand and stain. Their dings and scratches all varied, but nearly every desk was heavily pocked with marks left by a continual banging of the wooden armrests on distinguished, but oversized, red leather chairs with nail head trim that never quite fit underneath. The new, smaller chairs selected from among five options by a majority of House members who were present during the August 2023 extraordinary session, are a deep shade of blue similar to the carpet accents. Each chair option was presented after careful measurement to allow more comfortable movement throughout the Chamber aisles. Tall chairs at the front of the Chamber received reupholstery work. A full duct cleaning has been set off by new brass vent covers accented by a small outline of the state of West Virginia in the center, adding a point of pride to an often-unnoticed utilitarian piece. Any damaged pieces of rock crystal discovered among the 10,000 that make up the chandelier are being replaced.

The previous electrical system which had been shorting out, leaving the voting system unstable, has been upgraded. Microphones and microphone reels were replaced at each of the 100 members’ desks, and upgrades to the sound system better integrate technology that had been piecemeal added and always adjusted throughout the years. Additional high-speed internet cable connections and updated connections were added to the House Clerk’s desk and member desks. Nearly 90 miles of cable were installed throughout the entire Chamber as part of this project. The burgundy corner curtains were removed following extensive sound testing, revealing even more white polished marble. Additional acoustic panels were added to the galleries in addition to replacing the old and worn panels throughout the Chamber.

The 1995 House renovation project improved the two press tables situated in the front of the Chamber with “modesty panels” and telephone installation. The most recent renovation removed the need for media with floor privileges who use the tables to climb under them for electrical outlets. Panels with USB and electrical outlets that rise and recede from the tops of the tables have been installed, and additional outlets with hookups have been added to the rear corner of the Chamber where television cameras can plug into the House audio feed for clear recording.

The 1995 renovation required scaffolding to fill every inch of the Chamber as walls were repaired and repainted. That process was repeated this fall by the same vendor, but this time three new House members took the oath of office amid construction. When former House Speaker Chuck Chambers announced the previous restoration project, he told the public it was “being done to ensure the preservation of the magnificent and historic building of the people of West Virginia,” and current House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, has said this renovation will again serve the same purpose.

“I often talk about how everything we do in this building has the potential to affect all 1.8 million West Virginians, and I hope all West Virginians are able to take the time to come visit the people’s building and feel the pride I’m honored to experience every day when I come here to work,” Hanshaw said. “We have the most beautiful state capitol in the entire United States, and with this project we’ve been able keep our House Chamber looking its best while also improving safety, accessibility and modern-day functions.”

(high-resolution photos available here: https://westvirginialegislature.zenfolio.com/f847330676) (time-lapse video available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNhx2I2iRYY)

Contact: Ann Ali at (304) 340-3323

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates met for another Saturday session and in one day, secured the long-term stability and viability of the Public Employees Insurance Agency, passed a balanced budget, approved pay raises for state employees and finalized the largest tax cut in 37 years.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates met and passed 16 bills during a Saturday session this week as legislative deadlines approach.