Member's Press Release

Release Date: 03/25/2025
Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 357-7999

State Senate

Senate Calendar and Committee Schedule for Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – 42nd Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

SCR 21: Requesting study of sexual assault crime rates in WV

THIRD READING

Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 128: Preventing courts from ordering services at higher rate than Medicaid
Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 595: Creating Mountain Bike Responsibility Act
Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 721: Authorizing use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track certain mortally wounded wild animals
Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 800: Relating to insurance holding company systems
Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2158: Relating to removal of a sunset clause for the West Virginia spay and neuter program - (Com. title amend. pending)

SECOND READING

Com. Sub. for SB 10: Exempting certain meat processes from consumers sales and service tax (original similar to HB 2146)
Com. Sub. for SB 35: Permitting campus police officers to participate in Deputy Sheriffs Retirement System
Com. Sub. for SB 54: Requiring age-appropriate instruction on Holocaust in public schools
SB 249: Expanding employment and training requirements necessary for SNAP benefits
SB 292: Allowing doula services be covered by Medicaid and PEIA
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 464: Creating license plate for recipients of Medal of Valor
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 474: Ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (original similar to HB 2005)
Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 526: Creating Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act - (Com. amend. pending)
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 587: Relating generally to government contracting
Com. Sub. for SB 617: Discouraging gang activity
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 646: Increasing non-traditional instruction days for WV teachers
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 652: Expanding cardiac arrest provisions to be applicable to elementary schools
SB 655: Providing limited immunity for mental health providers who are involved in mental hygiene checks (original similar to HB 3093)
Com. Sub. for SB 705: Allowing Board of Education to promulgate rules for submission to Legislature
SB 725: Relating to unlawful expenditures by local fiscal bodies
Com. Sub. for SB 864: Clarifying inference of criminal intent in burglary prosecution
Com. Sub. for SB 899: Protecting coal and gas minerals from carbon capture practices
Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2382: Camping ban on certain public property - (Com. amend. pending)
Eng. HB 2402: Relating to providing access to medical records; providing access to a minor’s medical record - (Com. amend. pending)
Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 2411: To provide and change graduation requirements and change duties relating to academic content standards

FIRST READING

Com. Sub. for SB 505: Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Electricity Act

Scheduled Committee Meetings

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

Com. Sub. for SB 690: Authorizing county commissions to increase compensation of elected county officials
Com. Sub. for SB 871: Removing persons who perform drywall services from within the definition of “contractor” in Contractor Licensing Act
SB 862: Repealing antiquated language related to Voluntary Gilding Dome Check-Off Program
SB 863: Removing reference to Information Services and Communications Division
SB 876: Terminating certain requirements for Tax Commissioner to submit reports, publish information, and provide notice
Com. Sub. for SB 861: Updating references to reflect consolidation of Information Services and Communications Division into Office of Technology
SB 856: Removing certain reporting requirements to Joint Committee on Government and Finance
Com. Sub. for SB 823: Clarifying and separating duties between Division of Emergency Management and DEP
Com. Sub. for SB 829: Modifying classes of state of preparedness declared by Governor or Legislature

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

SB 261: Reorganizing School Building Authority as School Maintenance Authority
SB 89: Creating alternative high-risk population public charter schools
SB 881: Modifying authority of certain higher education entities to sell and transfer property
SB 529: Relating generally to liability insurance coverage for Board of Education
SB 866: Requiring WV Board of Education to promulgate legislative rule in consultation with WV Board of Physical Therapy
SB 911: Relating to adjunct teaching permits

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

SB 825: Permitting higher education institutions enter agreements with non-profit organizations for economic development and job creation

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

SB 252: Requiring coverage of home blood pressure monitoring devices for certain Medicaid recipients
SB 821: Requiring child protective services workers to wear body-worn cameras
SB 822: Requiring Department of Human Services use mobile technology to assist in certain investigations
SB 865: Relating to best interests of child standard
SB 887: Creating intermediate conservatorship or guardianship process prior to individual being involuntarily committed
SB 905: Requiring PEIA and other health insurance providers to provide payment parity for certain services
SB 913: Relating to brain injury screening training
SB 922: Streamlining and enhancing early childhood education and child care services in WV

3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)

SB 225: Expanding powers of National Park Service law-enforcement officers
SB 472: Requiring transparency from Department of Human Services
SB 745: Strengthening and reforming lobbying requirements

3 p.m.: Finance (451M)

SB 891: Creating State Central Legal Advertising website
SB 934: Relating to low-proof spirit alcohol products
Com. Sub. for SB 707: Providing increase in salary to WV Birth-to-Three contracted therapists and employees
SB 833: Excluding pharmaceutical medication from prior authorization gold card process

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

Senate Bills to be Introduced Tuesday, March 25, 2025

SB 935: Supplementing and amending appropriations to Department of Homeland Security [By Request of the Executive] (Smith, Woelfel; Finance)
SB 936: Supplementing and amending appropriations to Department of Arts, Culture, and History [By Request of the Executive] (Smith, Woelfel; Finance)
SB 937: Supplementing and amending appropriations to Department of Economic Development [By Request of the Executive] (Smith, Woelfel; Finance)

Committee Action on Bills from Monday, March 24, 2025

Government Organization

Com. Sub. for SB 810: Clarifying requirements for administration of anesthesia
Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for SB 820: Whistleblower Protection Fund Act
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

Com. Sub. for SB 802: Establishing absent voter ballot tracking system to display status of early ballots and absent voter ballots to voters
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. SB 570: Requiring economic impact statements for certain legislative rules
Committee substitute for the committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

SB 839: Requiring Division of Labor establish separate rules for residential or commercial plumbing
Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

Originating SCR 1: Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study incentives to promote location of beverage container recycling and redemption centers in West Virginia
Originating concurrent resolution reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it be adopted

Education

Com. Sub. for SB 755: Establishing WV Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act
Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

SB 261: Reorganizing School Building Authority as School Maintenance Authority
Bill laid over to a future meeting

SB 89: Creating alternative high-risk population public charter schools
Bill laid over to a future meeting

Committee on Rules (219M – Senate President’s Conference Room)

Com. Sub. for SB 526: Creating Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act
Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Transportation and Infrastructure

SB 722: Creating WV Short Line Railroad Modernization Act
Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

SB 792: Requiring drivers to observe same safety requirements regarding railroad crossing when on-track equipment is present
Bill laid over to a future meeting

Com. Sub. for SB 794: Designating certain roads as permitting high clearance 4x4 vehicles only
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

SB 807: Exempting automobiles 25 years or older from personal property taxes
Bill laid over to a future meeting

Energy, Industry and Mining

Com. Sub. for SB 505: Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Electricity Act
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Government Organization

Com. Sub. for SB 730: Establishing Forest Carbon Registry
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

Com. Sub. for SB 763: Creating Public Electrical Savings Act
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for SB 899: Protecting coal and gas minerals from carbon capture practices
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Pensions

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 589: Providing pay increases to members of judiciary
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for SB 874: Permitting current home confinement officers to participate in Emergency Medical Services Retirement Plan
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

Judiciary

Com. Sub for SB 617: Discouraging gang activity
Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for SB 864: Clarifying inference of criminal intent in burglary prosecution
Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Finance

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 464: Creating license plate for recipients of Medal of Valor
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 585: Relating to Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 646: Increasing non-traditional instruction days for WV teachers
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 652: Expanding cardiac arrest provisions to be applicable to elementary schools
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

SB 840: Relating to nonresident income tax for natural resources royalty payments received from lessees
Bill not taken up

SB 725: Relating to unlawful expenditures by local fiscal bodies
Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for SB 474: Ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
Committee substitute for the committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Com. Sub. for SB 439: Relating to taxation of wind power projects
Bill not taken up

SB 577: Clarifying prohibited practices by manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch when providing new motor vehicle to dealer
Bill not taken up

Bills that Have Passed the Senate as of Monday, March 24, 2025 (116 – 107 Senate; 9 House)(108 – 101 Senate; 7 House)

Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Monday, March 24, 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 Monday, March 24, 2025 (12 – 8 Senate; 4 House)

SB 138: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer (Signed, 03-24)
SB 240: Updating crime of sexual extortion (Signed, 03-24)
SB 291: Extending time frame for pharmacies to register from annually to biennially (Signed, 03-24)
SB 358: Authorizing Department of Transportation to promulgate legislative rules (Signed, 03-20)
SB 443: Authorizing Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of Examiners to conduct criminal background checks for licensing (Signed, 03-24)
SB 456: Defining "men" and "women" (Signed, 03-12)
SB 462: Permitting Board of Occupational Therapy to require criminal history record checks (Signed, 03-24)
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 (Signed, 03-21)
HB 2354: Banning certain products from food in West Virginia (Signed, 03-24)

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.

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