State Senate

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 – 35th Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• SR 33: Designating March 18, 2025, as WV Homeschool Day
• SR 34: Expressing support for President Feliz Tshisekedi and citizens of Democratic Republic of Congo

THIRD READING

• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 548: Creating Safety and Violence Education for Students Act
• Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 586: Relating to requirements for filling vacancies in certain elected federal, state, and county offices
• Eng. 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

SECOND READING

• Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 37: Allowing certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation
• Com. Sub. for SB 83: Allowing Foster Care Ombudsman access to child protective records
• Com. Sub. for SB 450: Establishing WV Guardian Program
• Com. Sub. for SB 538: Allowing certain entities to purchase qualifying tax-delinquent properties before they are offered at public auction (original similar to HB 3332)
• Com. Sub. for SB 547: Creating Charter Schools Startup Fund
• SB 598: Permitting judges to refer parents to prosecuting attorney for making certain false allegations in child custody proceedings
• SB 621: Authorizing digital court records (original similar to HB 3271)
• Com. Sub. for SB 719: Relating to age at which minor can consent to certain medical decisions and services
• Com. Sub. for SB 731: Terminating Design Build Board
• SB 734: Repealing section creating A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan
• Com. Sub. for SB 736: Relating to publication of registered lobbyist information
• SB 738: Terminating Employee Suggestion Award Board

FIRST READING

There are no bills on First Reading for Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Scheduled Committee Meetings

9:30 a.m.: Government Organization (208W)

• SB 747: Relating to Real Estate License Act
• SB 743: Adjusting percentage of tax retained by clerk of county commission for certain purposes
• SB 1: Requiring utility work and road paving coordination

9:30 a.m.: Education (451M)

• SB 531: Defining assault and battery on sports officials
• SB 506: Relating to enhanced pay for teachers
• SB 737: Creating WV Farm Equipment Repair Pilot Program
• SB 54: Requiring age-appropriate instruction on Holocaust in public schools
• SB 695: Requiring higher education institutions to accept Classic Learning Test

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

• SB 221: Authorizing child or child care tax credit
• SB 697: Creating Caregiver Tax Credit Act
• SB 702: Relating to payment rates for child care services
• SB 472: Requiring transparency from Department of Human Services

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

• SB 579: Relating to Home Rule Reform
• SB 128: Preventing courts from ordering services at higher rate than Medicaid
• Com. Sub. for HB 2331: Commerce Bundle

• Includes: SB 411, Rules Governing the Certification, Recertification and Training of EMT-Miners and the Certification of EMT-M Instructors; SB 412, Transporting and Selling Wildlife Parts and Pelts; SB 413, Boating Rule; SB 414, Special Boating Rule; SB 415, Public Use of Campgrounds in West Virginia State Parks, State Forests, and State Rail Trails under the Division of Natural Resources; SB 416, Special Projects and Grants for West Virginia State Parks, State Forests, and State Rail Trails under the Division of Natural Resources; SB 417, Prohibitions when Hunting and Trapping; SB 418, General Hunting; SB 419, Special Waterfowl Hunting; SB 420, Special Fishing Rule; SB 421, Catching and Selling Baitfish; SB 422, Falconry

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

• SB 100: Allowing members of State Police retirement system to use accrued leave as credit toward retirement
• SB 105: Updating retirement eligibility for certain sheriffs
• SB 578: Relating to pet food packages

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

Senate Bills to be Introduced Tuesday, March 18, 2025

• SB 796: Establishing legal voter identification standards (Bartlett, Azinger, Charnock, Roberts, Rucker; Judiciary)
• SB 797: Relating to Public Water System Supply Commission (Hart; Government Organization)
• SB 798: Exempting new hires and promoted employees within certain state agencies from classified civil service system [By Request of the Executive] (Smith, Woelfel; Government Organization)
• SB 799: Permitting Auditor to hire private auctioneer to conduct annual auction of land sales (Smith; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 800: Relating to insurance holding company systems (Azinger; Banking and Insurance)
• SB 801: Creating WV Public Waterway Access Act (Woodrum; Natural Resources then Government Organization)
• SB 802: Establishing absent voter ballot tracking system to display status of early ballots and absent voter ballots to voters (Woodrum; Government Organization then Judiciary)
• SJR 15: Honorably Discharged Veteran's Property Tax Exemption Amendment (FN) (Charnock; Judiciary then Finance)
• SR 35: Recognizing WV Mothers and Babies Support Program for its outstanding achievements (Rucker)
• SR 36: Recognizing 100th anniversary of WV State Fair (Deeds)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Monday, March 17, 2025

9:30 a.m.: Government Organization

• SCR 15: Opposing China's use of UN Resolution 2758 against Taiwan
• Concurrent resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it be adopted

• Com. Sub. for SB 601: Relating to fees and charges for municipality-provided fire services
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 683: Relating to land sales by Auditor
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 746: Allowing State Board of Education to delegate its Medicaid provider status to public charter schools
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

1 p.m.: Workforce

• Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2441: To make those who fail drug test ineligible for unemployment
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

1 p.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure

• Com. Sub. for SB 274: Prohibiting parking fee for accessible parking space bearing international symbol of access
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 298: Relating to roadable aircraft on WV highways
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 681: Providing internet service providers be considered telecommunications utility by PSC
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• SB 733: Relating to membership composition of Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SCR 3: US Army Warrant Officer Joseph Rose III Memorial Bridge
• Committee substitute for the resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it be adopted

2 p.m.: Energy, Industry and Mining

• Com. Sub. for SB 678: Establishing Coal Based Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 708: Providing state mine inspectors with raise
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Eng. HB 2942: Administration of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Design-Build Pilot Program
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Eng. HB 2943: Administration of the West Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Act
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

2 p.m.: Pensions

• Com. Sub. for SB 191: Modifying retirement and disability benefits for dependents of certain State Police retirees
• Bill laid over to a future meeting

3 p.m.: Judiciary

• SB 605: Requiring certain public or private entities that own, lease, or oversee water or electric supply utility to implement utility continuity rate credit program
• Bill referred to subcommittee; Senators Garcia, Hart, Bartlett, Tarr, and Weld appointed

• Strike and Insert for the Com. Sub. for HB 2129: Creating the Parents Bill of Rights
• Bill, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 589: Providing pay increases to members of judiciary
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate without recommendation; referred to Pensions

• Com. Sub. for SB 76: Increasing WV Natural Resources Police Officer Retirement System accrued benefit for certain members
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 75: Changing distribution of income from excess lottery fund
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• SB 615: Eliminating accelerated tax payment requirements
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 710: Relating to the practice of teledentistry
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Monday, March 17, 2025 (83 – 78 Senate; 5 House)

Senate Resolutions that Have Been Adopted by the Senate as of Monday, March 17, 2025 (5)

• 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)
• SCR 18: Recognizing intent to create WV Coal Renaissance Act (Pending House introduction)
• SCR 20: Recognizing and commending NCSL on its 50th anniversary (Pending House introduction)

Action on House Resolutions in the Senate as of Monday, March 17, 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 Monday, March 17, 2025 (13 – 9 Senate; 4 House)

• SB 138: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 240: Updating crime of sexual extortion (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• SB 291: Extending time frame for pharmacies to register from annually to biennially (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)
• 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 487: Removing ineligible voters from active voter rolls (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)
• HB 2354: Banning certain products from food in West Virginia (Completed legislation; awaiting action by the Governor)

Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Monday, March 17, 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 Monday, March 17, 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.