State Senate

Thursday, March 20, 2025 – 37th Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• SR 37: Recognizing Energy Council on its 50th anniversary
• SR 38: Designating March 20, 2025, as Mingo County Day

THIRD READING

• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 450: Establishing WV Guardian Program
• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 731: Terminating Design Build Board
• Eng. SB 734: Repealing section creating A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan
• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 736: Relating to publication of registered lobbyist information
• Eng. SB 738: Terminating Employee Suggestion Award Board

SECOND READING

• SB 75: Changing distribution of income from excess lottery fund
• Com. Sub. for SB 76: Increasing WV Natural Resources Police Officer Retirement System accrued benefit for certain members
• Com. Sub. for SB 601: Relating to fees and charges for municipality-provided fire services
• SB 615: Eliminating accelerated tax payment requirements (original similar to HB 2012)
• Com. Sub. for SB 683: Relating to land sales by Auditor
• Com. Sub. for SB 710: Relating to the practice of teledentistry (original similar to HB 3196)
• SB 733: Relating to membership composition of Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability
• Com. Sub. for SB 746: Allowing State Board of Education to delegate its Medicaid provider status to public charter schools
• Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2129: Creating the Parents Bill of Rights - (Com. amend. pending)
• Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for HB 2441: To make those who fail drug test ineligible for unemployment

FIRST READING

• Com. Sub. for SB 1: Requiring utility work and road paving coordination
• 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 (original similar to SB192)
• Com. Sub. for SB 578: Relating to pet food packages
• SB 579: Relating to Home Rule Reform
• SB 743: Adjusting percentage of tax retained by clerk of county commission for certain purposes
• SB 747: Relating to Real Estate License Act (original similar to HB 2010)
• Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2331: Relating to authorizing certain agencies of the Department of Commerce to promulgate legislative rules - (Com. amend. pending)

Scheduled Committee Meetings

9 a.m.: Military (208W)

• Com. Sub. for SB 765: Establishing Troops to Teachers Program

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

• Com. Sub. for SB 569: Relating to homeowners' bill of rights
• Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 587: Relating generally to government contracting
• SB 593: Relating to electronic voting and preserving voting data
• Com. Sub. for SB 810: Clarifying requirements for administration of anesthesia

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

• 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
• SB 755: Establishing WV Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act
• HB 2411: To provide and change graduation requirements and change duties relating to academic content standards

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

• Com. Sub. for SB 626: Allowing members of regional airport boards to be residents of area in which airport is located.

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

• Presentation: Deb Harris, Manager, Jobs and Hope WV
• SB 718: Relating to hospital transparency
• SB 817: Regulating private alternative adolescent residential or outdoor programs
• HB 2402: Relating to providing access to medical records; providing access to a minor’s medical record
• SB 811: Creating Child Care Subsidy Pilot Program

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

• HB 2382: Camping ban on certain public property
• SB 655: Providing for immunity for mental health providers who are involved in mental hygiene checks
• SB 705: Allowing Board of Education to promulgate rules for submission to Legislature

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

• Budget Presentation: West Virginia Department of Health
• Budget Presentation: West Virginia Department of Human Services

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

Senate Bills to be Introduced Thursday, March 20, 2025

• SB 821: Requiring child protective services workers to wear body-worn cameras (Chapman; Health and Human Resources then Finance)
• SB 822: Requiring Department of Human Services use mobile technology to assist in certain investigations (Chapman; Health and Human Resources then Finance)
• SB 823: Clarifying and separating duties between Division of Emergency Management and DEP (Rucker; Government Organization)
• SB 824: Amending procedures for regulation of scope of practice for occupations and professions (Chapman; Government Organization)
• SB 825: Permitting higher education institutions enter agreements with non-profit organizations for economic development and job creation (Jeffries; Economic Development)
• SB 826: Modifying survivor’s benefit payments on first responders for payment of funeral expenses (Rucker; Finance)
• SB 827: Updating requirements for parole hearings and notifications (Rucker; Judiciary)
• SB 828: Clarifying requirements for persons employed by Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation include contracted vendor staff (Rucker; Judiciary)
• SB 829: Modifying classes of state of preparedness declared by Governor or Legislature (Rucker; Government Organization)
• SB 830: Eliminating short-term loans provided to released inmates for costs related to reintegration (Rucker; Workforce)
• SB 831: Establishing Troops-to-Teachers Program (Weld; Education)
• SB 832: Providing for administration of cost-sharing calculations (Chapman; Finance)
• SB 833: Excluding pharmaceutical medication from prior authorization gold card process (Chapman; Finance)
• SB 834: Relating to tax credit for qualified rehabilitated buildings investment (Weld; Economic Development then Finance)
• SB 835: Decreasing service period for notice of tax lien sales (FN) (Azinger; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 836: Modifying requirements for payment of property taxes by co-owners or other interested parties (Azinger; Judiciary)
• SB 837: Eliminating WV Office of Equal Opportunity (Rucker; Government Organization)
• SB 838: Prohibiting law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras on private property (Thorne; Judiciary)
• SB 839: Requiring Division of Labor establish separate rules for residential or commercial plumbing (FN) (Clements; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 840: Relating to nonresident income tax for natural resources royalty payments received from lessees (FN) (Clements; Finance)
• SB 841: Prohibiting state entities from promoting or engaging in any activity related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning (Maynard, Azinger, Bartlett, Charnock, Deeds, Fuller, Grady, Helton, Martin, Roberts, Rose, Rucker, Tarr, Taylor, Thorne, Willis; Judiciary)
• SB 842: Establishing Fueling Modern Life Act (FN) (Hart; Natural Resources then Finance)
• SB 843: Allowing Board of Education to prohibit individuals on sex offender registry from being on school property (FN) (Clements; Judiciary then Finance)
• SB 844: Exempting coturnix quail from game farm requirement if they are owned for agricultural purposes (Rucker; Agriculture)
• SB 845: Relating to National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act (Willis; Judiciary then Finance)
• SB 846: Relating to heating, ventilation, and air-condition technicians employed by State Board of Education or county boards of education (Morris; Government Organization)
• SB 847: Eliminating provisions limiting number of investigators in criminal investigation division of Tax Division (FN) (Stuart; Finance)
• SB 848: Enacting bank protections for eligible adults from financial exploitation (Willis; Judiciary)
• SB 849: Providing enhanced pay for State Police (Willis; Finance)
• SB 850: Creating Protecting Investors Act (Willis; Banking and Insurance)
• SB 851: Creating Child Protection Investigations Reform Act (FN) (Rose, Chapman, Helton, Maynard, Rucker, Willis; Judiciary then Finance)
• SB 852: Relating to regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (FN) (Takubo; Health and Human Resources then Finance)
• SB 853: Clarifying terms of registration for tax abandoned land auctions and sales held by auditor (Jeffries, Clements, Deeds, Fuller, Hamilton, Helton, Queen, Roberts, Rose, Takubo, Tarr, Willis; Government Organization)
• SB 854: Creating Academic Quality in Public Education Act (Roberts, Rucker; Education)
• SB 855: Relating to incentive program to promote beverage container recycling (FN) (Rucker; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 856: Removing certain reporting requirements to Joint Committee on Government and Finance (Rucker; Government Organization)
• SB 857: Establishing economic incentives for data centers to locate within state (FN) (Helton; Economic Development then Finance)
• SB 858: Relating to controlled substance schedules and to clean-up errors identified in code sections (Rucker; Judiciary)
• SR 39: Designating March as Kidney Disease Awareness Month (Chapman)
• SR 40: Designating March 21, 2025, as WV Arts Day (Smith)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Wednesday, March 19, 2025

9:30 a.m.: Select Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health

• Com. Sub. for SB 761: Creating Joel Archer Substance Abuse Intervention Act
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

1 p.m.: Natural Resources

• Com. Sub. for SB 721: Providing penalties for damages resulting to farm property and critical infrastructure from use of drones
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

2 p.m.: Agriculture

• SB 751: Prohibiting manufacture, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat products
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

• Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2158: Relating to removal of a sunset clause for the West Virginia spay and neuter program
• Bill, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Government Organization

2 p.m.: Banking and Insurance

• Com. Sub. for SB 6: Exempting life insurance cash value from Medicaid eligibility calculations
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• SB 776: Creating Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination Act
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

• Com. Sub. for SB 800: Relating to insurance holding company systems
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Judiciary

• SJR 13: Constitutional Officer Term Limit Amendment
• Joint Resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it be adopted; second reference to Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 128: Preventing courts from ordering services at higher rate than Medicaid
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 595: Mountain Bike Responsibility Act
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 10: Exempting certain meat processes from consumers sales and service tax
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 35: Permitting campus police officers to participate in Deputy Sheriff's Retirement System
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• SB 292: Allowing doula services be covered by Medicaid and PEIA
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• SB 249: Expanding employment and training requirements necessary for SNAP benefits
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (94 – 88 Senate; 6 House)

Senate Resolutions that Have Been Adopted by the Senate as of Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (7)

• 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 3: US Army Warrant Officer Joseph Rose III Memorial Bridge (Pending House introduction)
• SCR 4: Amending Joint Rules of Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 02-12)
• SCR 15: Opposing China's use of UN Resolution 2758 against Taiwan (Adopted, 03-19)
• SCR 18: Recognizing intent to create WV Coal Renaissance Act (House Energy and Public Works)
• SCR 20: Recognizing and commending NCSL on its 50th anniversary (Adopted, 03-18)

Bills that Have Completed Legislation as of Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (16 – 11 Senate; 5 House)

• SB 8: Providing additional sites and devices for newborn safe surrender (Completed legislation; awaiting action by Governor)
• 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 486: Clarifying eligibility requirements to vote in WV elections (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 (Signed, 03-18)
• 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 2222: Relating to authorizing certain agencies of the Department of Administration to promulgate legislative rules (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 Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (10 – 5 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)
• SCR 15: Opposing China's use of UN Resolution 2758 against Taiwan (Adopted, 03-19)
• SCR 20: Recognizing and commending NCSL on its 50th anniversary (Adopted, 03-18)
• 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 Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (4 – 2 Senate; 2 House)

• SB 456: Defining "men" and "women" (Signed, 03-12)
• SB 490: Prohibiting ranked-choice voting in elections in West Virginia (Signed, 03-18)
• 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.