Friday, March 14, 2025 – 31st Day of Session

 

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

  • SR 28: Designating March 14, 2025, as West Virginia State University Day
  • SR 29: Designating March 14, 2025, as WV American Academy of Pediatrics Child Health Advocacy Day
  • SR 30: Recognizing 80th anniversary of Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
  • SR 31: Designating March 14, 2025, as Suicide Prevention Awareness Day

 

THIRD READING

 

  • Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 592: Relating generally to aboveground storage tanks
  • Eng. SB 712: Relating to retirement provisions of systems managed by CPRB (original similar to HB 3180)
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 715: Relating to personally identifiable information of member, retirant, beneficiary, or alternate payee of retirement system (original similar to HB 3183)
  • Eng. SB 716: Relating to failure to pay required contributions and interest payments for certain retirees who transfer between retirement systems (original similar to HB 3193)
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2042: Relating to allowing a guardian ad litem to request the appointment of a court appointed special advocate – (Com. title amend. pending)

 

SECOND READING

 

  • Com. Sub. for SB 102: Modifying form of certain deeds
  • Com. Sub. for SB 220: Authorizing child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention program and in-service training in child sexual abuse prevention
  • Com. Sub. for SB 449: Permitting compressed air and rimfire shooting teams in public schools
  • Com. Sub. for SB 526: Creating Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act
  • Com. Sub. for SB 548: Creating Safety and Violence Education for Students Act

 

FIRST READING

 

  • Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 586: Relating to requirements for filling vacancies in certain elected federal, state, and county offices
  • Com. Sub. for SB 686: Relating to WV commercial feed law
  • Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2222: Relating to authorizing certain agencies of the Department of Administration to promulgate legislative rules

Scheduled Committee Meetings

 

There are no committee meetings scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2025.

 

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

 

Senate Bills to be Introduced Friday, March 14, 2025

  • SB 755: Establishing WV Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act (Fuller, Deeds, Hamilton, Morris; Education then Finance)
  • SB 756: Supplemental appropriation to DNR, Wildlife Resources [By Request of the Executive] (Smith, Woelfel; Finance)
  • SB 757: Creating private cause of action for deprivation of right granted by state constitution or by state law (Garcia, Helton, Rose, Rucker, Taylor, Woelfel; Judiciary then Finance)
  • SB 758: Creating Vape and Smoke Shop Location and Operating Requirements Act (Taylor, Stuart; Health and Human Resources then Judiciary)
  • SB 759: Relating to having no requirement for immunization (Chapman; Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 760: Modifying rate of tax due on licensee’s adjusted gross receipts (FN) (Chapman; Finance)
  • SB 761: Creating Joel Archer Substance Abuse Intervention Act (Stuart; Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health then Judiciary)
  • SCR 19: US Army ST4 Gregory Kent Stephens Memorial Bridge (Phillips, Stuart)
  • SCR 20: Recognizing and commending NCSL on its 50th anniversary (Smith)
  • SR 32: Designating March 17, 2025, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day (Weld)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Thursday, March 13, 2025

9:30 a.m.: Government Organization

  • Com. Sub. for SB 538: Allowing certain entities to purchase qualifying tax-delinquent properties before they are offered at public auction
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • Com. Sub. for SB 731: Repealing article creating Design Build Procurement Act
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • SB 734: Repealing section creating A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • Com. Sub. for SB 736: Relating to publication of registered lobbyist information
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • SB 738: Terminating Employee Suggestion Award Board
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

 

9:30 a.m.: Education

  • Com. Sub. for SB 477: Requiring ambulance at middle school or high school football game
  • Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

  • Com. Sub. for SB 516: Providing extra state aid to school districts for students enrolled in extremely remote schools
  • Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

  • SB 531: Defining assault and battery on sports officials
  • Bill laid over to a future meeting

  • SB 631: Relating to eligibility for WV Invests Grant Program
  • Bill, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

12:30 p.m.: Energy, Industry and Mining

  • SCR 18: Recognizing intent to create WV Coal Renaissance Act
  • Resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • SB 505: Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Electricity Act
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

1 p.m.: Economic Development

  • SB 570: Requiring economic impact statements for certain legislative rules
  • Bill, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Government Organization

  • Com. Sub. for SB 639: Creating WV Small Business Appreciation and Acknowledgement Act
  • Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

1 p.m.: Health and Human Resources

  • Com. Sub. for SB 83: Allowing Foster Care Ombudsman access to child protective records
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • SB 594: Relating to right to try individualized treatments
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

  • Com. Sub. for SB 719: Relating to age at which minor can consent to certain medical decisions and services
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Judiciary

  • SB 598: Permitting judges to refer parents to prosecuting attorney for making certain false allegations in child custody proceedings
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • SB 621: Authorizing digital court records
  • Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Finance

  • Com. Sub. for SB 547: Creating Charter Schools Startup Fund
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 37: Allowing certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation
  • Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

  • Com. Sub. for SB 450: Establishing WV Guardian Program
  • Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Subcommittee for HB 2129, Creating the Parents Bill of Rights

  • Subcommittee will report recommended changes to the full Judiciary committee

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (76 – 72 Senate; 4 House)

 

  • SB 5: Establishing Adopt-A-Road program (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 8: Providing additional sites and devices for newborn safe surrender (H Second Reading, 03-14)
  • SB 22: Applying penalties for nonpayment of royalties under terms of oil and natural gas leases (House Judiciary)
  • SB 29: Allowing physicians assistants to own practice (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 50: Requiring municipal elections to be held on same day as statewide elections (House Judiciary)
  • SB 92: Glucagon for Schools Act (House Education)
  • SB 103: Exempting certain records from public release (House Judiciary)
  • SB 117: Exempting certain physicians from specified traffic laws when responding to emergencies (House Judiciary)
  • SB 121: Updating language and increasing penalties for indecent exposure (House Judiciary)
  • SB 124: Reducing statute of limitations on actions to recover on oral and written contracts (House Judiciary)
  • SB 136: Increasing penalties and parole eligibility requirements for homicide (House Judiciary)
  • SB 138: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer (Passed House; pending Senate concurrence to House amendment)
  • SB 139: Relating to filling of vacancies in Legislature (House Judiciary)
  • SB 151: Creating crime of assault on police dogs and other public safety animals (House Judiciary)
  • SB 154: Prohibiting sexual orientation instruction in public schools (House Education)
  • SB 155: Establishing Summer Feeding for All Program (House Education)
  • SB 196: Lauren’s Law (House Judiciary)
  • SB 198: Prohibiting creation, production, distribution, or possession of artificially generated child pornography (House Judiciary)
  • SB 199: Relating to elementary behavior intervention and safety (House Education)
  • SB 234: Increasing value at which municipal property must be sold through public auction (House Government Organization)
  • SB 240: Updating crime of sexual extortion (Passed House; pending Senate concurrence to House amendment)
  • SB 257: Providing protection for property owner when someone visiting private cemetery causes damage to property (House Judiciary)
  • SB 267: Extending time for renewal and restoration of commercial driver’s licenses (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 269: Modifying requirements for public water systems or businesses having backflow preventers (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 270: Declaring sale and manufacture of firearms essential business during declared emergency (House Judiciary)
  • SB 275: Removing requirement school cooks or custodians have high school diploma or equivalent (House Education)
  • SB 280: Displaying official US motto in public schools (House Education)
  • SB 282: Modifying provisions for employment of retired teachers as substitutes in areas of critical need and shortage (House Education)
  • SB 283: Expanding grade levels of personal finance course requirements needed for graduation (House Education)
  • SB 284: Relating to county board of education member orientation and compensation (House Education)
  • SB 291: Extending time frame for pharmacies to register from annually to biennially (Passed House; Pending Senate concurrence to House amendment)
  • SB 299: Modifying WV regulations on pubertal modulation, hormonal therapy, and gender reassignment (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 325: Department of Health rule relating to general provisions of Medical Cannabis Program (Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 336: Authorizing Department of Homeland Security to promulgate legislative rules (House Judiciary)
  • SB 358: Authorizing Department of Transportation to promulgate legislative rules (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 369: Authorizing miscellaneous boards and agencies to promulgate legislative rules (House Government Organization)
  • SB 427: Permitting certain teenagers to work without obtaining work permit (House Government Organization)
  • SB 443: Authorizing Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of Examiners to conduct criminal background checks for licensing (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 456: Defining “men” and “women” (Signed, 03-12)
  • SB 458: Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025 (House Government Organization)
  • SB 459: Requiring county planning commission members be state residents (House Government Organization)
  • SB 460: Relating to vaccine requirements (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 462: Permitting Board of Occupational Therapy to require criminal history record checks (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 482: Certified Professional Midwife Licensing and Regulation (House Government Organization)
  • SB 483: Increasing civil penalties for failure to file required campaign finance reports (House Judiciary)
  • SB 485: Exempting West Virginia Secretary of State from competitive bidding process (House Government Organization)
  • SB 486: Clarifying eligibility requirements to vote in WV elections (H First Reading, 03-14)
  • SB 487: Removing ineligible voters from active voter rolls (H Second Reading, 03-14)
  • SB 488: Clarifying definition of electioneering (House Judiciary)
  • SB 490: Prohibiting ranked-choice voting in elections in West Virginia (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 492: Removing outdated provisions governing political committees (House Judiciary)
  • SB 496: Removing reflexology and other energy-based work from definition of “massage therapy” (House Government Organization)
  • SB 500: Transferring audits of volunteer fire departments to Legislative Auditor (House Government Organization)
  • SB 501: Relating to loan form (House Finance)
  • SB 503: Allowing sheriffs to appoint more than one chief deputy with consent of county commission (House Government Organization)
  • SB 521: Requiring party affiliations be listed for all candidates (House Judiciary)
  • SB 522: Clarifying procedure for administrative dissolution of limited liability companies by Secretary of State (House Government Organization)
  • SB 525: Clarifying procedure for administrative dissolution of nonprofit corporations by Secretary of State (House Government Organization)
  • SB 532: Making ad valorem taxes on property payable only to county in which property is located (House Finance)
  • SB 534: Clarifying qualifications to be licensed to administer polygraphs (House Government Organization)
  • SB 537: Establishing WV Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 552: Relating to Certified Business Expansion Development Program (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 561: Relating to Uniform Special Deposits Act (House Finance)
  • SB 565: Relating generally to practice of optometry (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 573: Relating to restrictions on use or sale of motor vehicles based on power source (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 581: Relating to school attendance and student participation in 4-H activities (House Education)
  • SB 606: Relating to notification of breast density (House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 612: Making rules and regulations of PSC subject to legislative rule-making review procedures (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 627: Removing prohibition against leasing state-owned pore spaces underlying lands designated as state parks (House Energy and Public Works)
  • SB 649: Supplementing and amending appropriations to Department of Health, Office of Inspector General (House Finance)
  • SB 650: Relating to full-time interventionists (House Education)
  • SB 658: Prohibiting certain persons from receiving compensation for advising or assisting with veterans’ benefits (Pending House introduction)
  • HB 2024: Updating the meaning certain terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2025: Updating terms in the Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2053: Relating to including the United States Space Force in the definition armed forces (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • HB 2354: Banning certain products from food in West Virginia (Passed Senate; pending House concurrence to Senate amendment)

Senate Resolutions that Have Been Adopted by the Senate as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (3)

  • SCR 1: Adopting Joint Rules of Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 01-08)
  • SCR 2: Authorizing payment of joint expenses (Adopted, 01-08)
  • SCR 4: Amending Joint Rules of Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 02-12)

Action on House Bills in the Senate as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (58)

 

  • HB 2008: Executive Branch Reorganization (Government Organization)
  • HB 2009: Relating to the merging and reorganizing of the executive branch (Government Organization)
  • HB 2024: Updating the meaning certain terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2025: Updating terms in the Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2042: Relating to allowing a guardian ad litem to request the appointment of a court appointed special advocate (S Third Reading, 03-14)
  • HB 2047: Prohibiting cameras and recording devices in bedrooms and bathrooms of foster children (Health and Human Resources)
  • HB 2053: Relating to including the United States Space Force in the definition armed forces (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • HB 2065: To allow Gold Star parents to receive one free Gold Star vehicle registration for personal use (Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • HB 2066: Creating a crime for the destruction of first responder equipment (Judiciary)
  • HB 2117: Relating to when Mail In Ballots are Due (Government Organization)
  • HB 2123: Modifying the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian or custodian for child abuse (Judiciary)
  • HB 2129: Creating the Parents Bill of Rights (Judiciary)
  • HB 2131: Relating to changing the process of election litigation (Pending Senate introduction)
  • HB 2157: Provide one trip temporary vehicle permits to be purchased and printed online (Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • HB 2158: Relating to removal of a sunset clause for the West Virginia spay and neuter program (Agriculture)
  • HB 2164: To allow for public and private schools in West Virginia to employ security personnel (Pending Senate introduction)
  • HB 2165: Allowing disabled purple heart recipients park free at municipal metered parking spaces (Pending Senate introduction)
  • HB 2170: Allowing volunteer fire departments to use fire protection funding for certain purchases (Government Organization)
  • HB 2190: Including Potomac State College in the definition of community and technical college education program for participation in the “Learn and Earn Program” (Education)
  • HB 2217: Relating to penalties for conspiracy to commit murder (Judiciary)
  • HB 2222: Relating to authorizing the Department of Administration to promulgate a legislative rule relating to retention and disposal scheduling (S First Reading, 03-14)
  • HB 2233: Authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate legislative rules (Judiciary)
  • HB 2267: Authorizing Department of Revenue to Promulgate Legislative Rules (Judiciary)
  • HB 2331: Relating to authorizing the Office Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the certification, recertification, and training of EMT-Miners and the certification of EMT-M instructors (Judiciary)
  • HB 2344: Relating generally to traffic safety (Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • HB 2347: Relating generally to the creation of mental hygiene regions by the Supreme Court of Appeals (Judiciary)
  • HB 2354: Banning certain products from food in West Virginia (House concurs with further amendment; pending Senate concurrence)
  • HB 2360: Clarifying the victims of crimes against law-enforcement officers (Judiciary)
  • HB 2362: Relating to recognizing the law-enforcement powers of correctional officers employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Government Organization)
  • HB 2363: Clarifying the groups of persons to whom the criminal prohibitions related to child pornography are inapplicable when such persons are performing their official or employment duties (Judiciary)
  • HB 2382: Camping ban on certain public property (Judiciary)
  • HB 2387: To repeal the class A1 Pistol stamp for hunting (Pending Senate introduction)
  • HB 2402: Relating to providing access to medical records; providing access to a minor’s medical record (Health and Human Resources)
  • HB 2411: To provide and change graduation requirements and change duties relating to academic content standards (Education)
  • HB 2434: Relating to establishing the Stop Squatters Act (Judiciary)
  • HB 2437: Clarification of penalties for offenses involving Fentanyl (Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health)
  • HB 2441: To make those who fail drug test ineligible for unemployment (Workforce)
  • HB 2444: Relating to limiting financial records of limited video lottery permittees that are subject to examination by Lottery Commission (Finance)
  • HB 2473: Increasing and maintaining the bracketed tax rates on the privilege of establishing or operating a health maintenance organization (Finance)
  • HB 2501: Relating to exemptions of property in bankruptcy proceedings (Finance)
  • HB 2511: Relating to charitable bingo and alcohol sales and consumption while such bingo is taking places (Judiciary)

·       HB 2515: Relating to elementary behavior intervention and safety (Education)

·       HB 2560: Creating Infrastructure Ready Jurisdictions (Economic Development)

  • HB 2634: To double the criminal penalty for anyone found guilty of sexual assault on a minor (Judiciary)

·       HB 2653: Updating the West Virginia Law Institute (Judiciary)

  • HB 2659: Adding a special permit for a non-profit entity to be a qualified permit holder in a private outdoor designated area (Pending Senate introduction)

·       HB 2678: Relating to school zones of public or private schools (Transportation and Infrastructure)

·       HB 2709: Permitting a voter with a change of address to vote in his or her new precinct without having to cast a provisional ballot (Government Organization)

·       HB 2710: Truth in Giving (Judiciary)

·       HB 2711: Relating to the repeal of the common law rule against perpetuities by extending it to 1,000 years for all trusts (Judiciary)

·       HB 2761: Relating generally to magistrate courts (Judiciary)

·       HB 2774: Coach Protection Act (Education)

·       HB 2781: Relating to the meaning of residence for the Purpose of Bail (Judiciary)

·       HB 2867: Relating to Small Estates (Judiciary)

·       HB 2871: Relating to the crime of negligent homicide (Judiciary)

·       HB 2942: Administration of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Design-Build Pilot Program (Energy, Industry and Mining)

·       HB 2943: Administration of the West Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Act (Energy, Industry and Mining)

·       HB 3030: Administration of the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act (Energy, Industry and Mining)

 

Action on House Resolutions in the Senate as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (1)

  • HCR 49: Resolution relating to use of industrial sites and the potential impacts on downstream facilities (Adopted, 03-03)

Bills that Have Completed Legislation as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (8 – 5 Senate; 3 House)

  • SB 358: Authorizing Department of Transportation to promulgate legislative rules (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 443: Authorizing Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of Examiners to conduct criminal background checks for licensing (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 456: Defining “men” and “women” (Signed, 03-12)
  • SB 462: Permitting Board of Occupational Therapy to require criminal history record checks (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • SB 490: Prohibiting ranked-choice voting in elections in West Virginia (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
  • HB 2024: Updating the meaning certain terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2025: Updating terms in the Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2053: Relating to including the United States Space Force in the definition armed forces (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)

Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (8 – 3 Senate; 5 House)

  • SCR 1: Adopting Joint Rules of Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 01-08)
  • SCR 2: Authorizing payment of joint expenses (Adopted, 01-08)
  • SCR 4: Amending Joint Rules of Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 02-12)
  • HCR 1: Raising a Joint Assembly to open and publish election returns (Adopted, 01-08)
  • HCR 2: Extending an invitation to His Excellency, the Governor, to deliver an address to the Legislature and raising a Joint Assembly therefor (Adopted, 01-08)
  • HCR 3: Providing for an adjournment of the Legislature until February 12, 2025 (Adopted, 01-08)
  • HCR 4: Raising a Joint Assembly to hear remarks of the Governor (Adopted, 01-12)
  • HCR 49: Resolution relating to use of industrial sites and the potential impacts on downstream facilities (Adopted, 03-03)

Bills Signed by the Governor as of Thursday, March 13, 2025 (3 – 1 Senate; 2 House)

  • SB 456: Defining “men” and “women” (Signed, 03-12)
  • HB 2024: Updating the meaning certain terms used in West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)
  • HB 2025: Updating terms in the Corporation Net Income Tax Act (Signed, 02-24)

Committee times and agendas are subject to change. Follow @WVSenClerk on X 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: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00289/Harmony/en/View/UpcomingEvents.

Author: [email protected]