Release Date: 01/22/2026
Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 357-7999

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State Senate

Friday, January 23, 2026 – 10th Day of Session

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• SR 12: Recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness month
• SR 13: Designating January 23, 2026, as Dental Hygienists Day at Capitol

THIRD READING

• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 15: Protecting coal and gas minerals from carbon capture practices
• Eng. SB 66: Modifying classes of state of preparedness declared by Governor or Legislature
• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 137: Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter
• Eng. Com. Sub. for SB 207: Clarifying sheriff's compensation for collection of taxes

SECOND READING

There are no bills on Second Reading for Friday, January 23, 2026.

FIRST READING

• Com. Sub. for SB 55: Establishing criminal offense for obstructing or hindering home incarceration supervisor or social services worker
• Com. Sub. for SB 281: Authorizing Department of Homeland Security to promulgate legislative rules
• Com. Sub. for SB 309: Authorizing DOT to promulgate legislative rules

Scheduled Committee Meetings

9:30 a.m.: Military (208W)

• SB 194: Updating definition of "disabled veteran taxpayer"
• SB 208: Exempting certain military records from public release

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

Senate Bills to be Introduced Friday, January 23, 2026

• SB 585: [By Request of the Executive] Increasing annual salaries of certain state employees (Smith, Woelfel; Finance)
• SB 586: Modifying requirements for public water systems (Martin; Energy, Industry, and Mining)
• SB 587: Adjusting salary schedule for elected county officials (FN) (Clements, Chapman, Charnock, Deeds, Grady, Hamilton, Helton, Phillips, Takubo, Tarr, Thorne; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 588: Limiting payment of taxes by co-owners or other interested parties (Azinger; Judiciary)
• SB 589: Removing mandatory registration of recovery residences (Helton; Health and Human Resources then Judiciary)
• SB 590: Making adult cabaret performance criminal offense in certain circumstances (Azinger; Judiciary)
• SB 591: Prohibiting teaching of divisive acts and critical race theory in public schools (Azinger; Education)
• SB 592: WV Short Line Railroad Modernization Act (FN) (Thorne, Charnock, Clements, Grady, Helton, Jeffries, Morris, Roberts, Rose, Woodrum; Finance)
• SB 593: Designating September 11 as Patriot Day (Chapman; Finance)
• SB 594: Creating exemption for disabled veterans from vehicle sales tax (Chapman; Military then Finance)
• SB 595: Requiring both parents consent for non-emergency and non-life-threatening procedures on children (Chapman; Health and Human Resources then Judiciary)
• SB 596: Eliminating transfer taxes for siblings and for LLC solely owned by individual transferor (FN) (Chapman; Finance)
• SB 597: Relating to payment of state funds to qualified child care entities (Chapman; Health and Human Resources then Finance)
• SB 598: Relating to statues placed in Capitol rotunda (FN) (Azinger; Government Organization then Finance)
• SB 599: Prohibiting abortifacients (FN) (Rucker; Health and Human Resources then Judiciary)
• SR 14: Recognizing James and Lucille Pennington on receiving the 2025 West Virginia Logger of the Year award (Hamilton, Morris)

* (FN) indicates the bill has a Fiscal Note

* (IB) indicates the bill is an Interim Bill

Committee Action on Bills from Thursday, January 22, 2026

10 a.m.: Education

• SB 388: Requiring public elementary or secondary school make Aitken Bible available to certain classrooms
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• SB 445: Adding Potomac State College as eligible institution for participation in Learn and Earn Program
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

10 a.m.: Government Organization

• Com. Sub. for SB 390: Enhancing Flood Resiliency Disbursements
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• SB 443: Granting municipal fire marshals authority to assist in lawful execution of law-enforcement officer's official duties
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 481: Changing term "precinct" to "polling location"
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

• SB 146: Uniform Unlawful Restriction in Land Records Act
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Judiciary

1 p.m.: Health and Human Resources

• SB 518: Relating to cost-sharing requirements for breast examinations
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 544: Relating to temporary payment to kinship parent of subsidy equal to that of foster parent
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

• SB 524: Relating to monthly status meetings of county entities
• Bill reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass; second reference to Finance

3 p.m.: Finance

• Com. Sub. for SB 400: Relating to updating personal income tax definitions
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

3 p.m.: Judiciary

• Com. Sub. for SB 4: Relating to crimes against public justice
• Committee substitute, as amended, reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

• Com. Sub. for SB 84: Prohibiting law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras on private property
• Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass

Action on House Bills in the Senate as of Thursday, January 22, 2026 (2)

• HB 4574: Relating to providing for condition-based emergency funding for a financially distressed county (Education then Finance)
• HB 4575: Making Supplemental Appropriation to State Board of Education (Finance)

Action on House Resolutions in the Senate as of Thursday, January 22, 2026 (2)

• HCR 1: Extending an invitation to His Excellency, the Governor, to deliver an address to the Legislature and raising a Joint Assembly therefor (Adopted, 01-14)
• HCR 2: Amending Rule 31 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 01-14)

Resolutions that Have Completed Legislation as of Thursday, January 22, 2026 (2 – 2 House)

• HCR 1: Extending an invitation to His Excellency, the Governor, to deliver an address to the Legislature and raising a Joint Assembly therefor (Adopted, 01-14)
• HCR 2: Amending Rule 31 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Delegates (Adopted, 01-14)

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.

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