[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6290132,"mediaKeyId","2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0","parentId",2531554,"title","Committee backs bill to bar state devices from apps or AI owned by listed ‘countries of concern’","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1836000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0&start=1836&end=1836","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0/thumbnail_1836000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6290132/West-Virginia/Committee-backs-bill-to-bar-state-devices-from-apps-or-AI-owned-by-listed-countries-of-concern","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290132-cd3193cb0dbabc18d6cb798a9096efe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184921&Signature=SORZ2Jvq59av3lUB2UMu-7nxy6gYeltSshoylSwKhCYf4KXtu~JW53IHqUpWfrGsxUst3eYDcolyFJHkcXtgY5VMuo~lAKjH2QkFBXSeYZ2mNZ-EtylVv8lCq9GnUNUu8CbPujsL8ojdIPHU~~4WshSh9sXdHNcYFS8G9Znr5APBOk7guuUmPOE2jY80HBnqjGp2-22-OlUkxm4KHBzGBQGKqsDQCsTr2GWNNBdMYxbpo1LWKYRYfDepozqbwc9JhpF37dQAiCs2sMGUI-CAr1NOTf94lcqubolRyOdd7W76iccD6VEO3JeEXjd70Z0NlcLy58bM6XhTxQtYjkILuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Government Organization voted to report Senate Bill 694 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and to refer the bill first to the Judiciary Committee under its original double committee reference.

Committee counsel explained that SB 694 would create a new article in Chapter 5 of the West Virginia Code, Article 32, requiring state agencies, their employees and contractors to prohibit state‑owned or leased internet‑capable devices (for example computers, laptops or cell phones) from downloading or accessing any app, channel, website or platform owned by an entity in a \"foreign country of concern.\" The bill’s list of countries of concern given in the committee testimony includes the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and the Maduro regime of Venezuela. Counsel said the prohibition would also cover AI, algorithms and software owned by entities in those countries.

Counsel said the bill contains a waiver process: state officials, employees or contractors could obtain a waiver limited to performance of duties, and waivers would be issued by the Secretary of State. Counsel also said that law enforcement officers, as defined in the code section cited, are excluded from the prohibition. When asked whether public universities are covered, counsel said the universities would not be covered under the bill’s definition of state agency. On enforcement, counsel said agency enforcement would be left to the agencies themselves.

Senator from Summers asked whether prior, narrower language (for example measures aimed at a particular app) became law; counsel said he did not recall whether a prior TikTok‑directed provision ultimately was enacted. Counsel said there is not a current database listing which apps are controlled by which foreign entities and that the Office of Technology was not reached for assistance while drafting the bill.

After no amendments were offered, the vice chair moved to report SB 694 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass, and to refer the bill to the Judiciary Committee as required. The motion passed on a voice vote; no recorded roll‑call tally was given.

The committee’s recommendation moves SB 694 toward a Judiciary Committee review and a later Senate floor consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Government Organization Committee in Session Mar 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 694 would prohibit state‑owned or leased internet‑capable devices from downloading or accessing apps, websites, channels or AI owned by entities in specified foreign 'countries of concern'; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate with referral to Judiciary.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6290138,"Committee approves change to racetrack video lottery income distribution to per‑capita shares",415,1551000,1966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0&start=1551&end=1966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0/thumbnail_1551000.jpg","/articles/6290138/West-Virginia/Committee-approves-change-to-racetrack-video-lottery-income-distribution-to-percapita-shares","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290138-1cab2b168ed145bd4933d0032ed2ac2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184921&Signature=DTWfgHDxARwiiHjD4GN8u9Cyv1nFqcXMNzD0HholeLC65cFf96QVFb667EopCVeeCef4BHGpKkog5gY4A5CpjB2D8GJ3L8RAKVky-nvnRD94sqdWEmfuJPEC-CuCvXxf7eEVlISnPWN3y5lS~3tJKcsojrsfTsSHt8cu8xHOdr4qEYOmBBirz4EN49OvrKoAAB-fgAcVtvmjMaxKfMV-njUPMFHAlU-gSF3j05pfzKoYUL9RZ6wN5qPh2vS721Ut8qrmDis0T90WFdyAnjYXXROIxoD21iieKLK-Zj6K70aj1vFFfoxg0WvPBS40o3YxZLDiQYLKS3UVbTMAwTElXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Government Organization voted to report Senate Bill 513 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and directed the bill, under its original double committee reference, to the Finance Committee.

Committee counsel explained that SB 513 amends two code sections involving distribution of excess net terminal income from racetrack video lottery terminals. Under current law the counties where video lottery terminals are located receive 2% of net terminal income; one percent goes to the county and one percent is distributed among municipalities. SB 513 would change the municipal share from equal shares to distribution on a per‑capita basis, aligning this language with other provisions that already use per‑capita distribution.

Counsel said the change also corrects an unintended consequence from 2023 House Bill 3450 that would have excluded the City of Weirton from receiving any municipal allocation because the city lies in two counties (Brooke and Hancock). Counsel noted that Mountaineer is the only racetrack in West Virginia affected by this bill because other tracks are located within a single municipality.

A senator asked whether the bill raises taxes; counsel replied that it is only an allocation change and does not raise taxes. Committee members also clarified that per‑capita calculations include all residents of the municipality even if portions of the municipality lie in a different county.

After no amendments were offered, the vice chair moved to report SB 513 to the full Senate with recommendation that it do pass and to first refer it to the Finance Committee, as required by the bill’s double reference. The motion passed on a voice vote; no recorded roll‑call tally was given.

The committee action advances SB 513 to the Finance Committee and ultimately to the full Senate for further consideration.","Senate Bill 513 would change distribution of one percent of net terminal income from equal shares to per‑capita allocations among municipalities and correct an exclusion that would have denied a city that spans two counties its share; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate under double referral to Finance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6290142,"Senate committee advances bill to let pharmacists prescribe limited low‑risk medications",533,1109000,1642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0&start=1109&end=1642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531554-dccea511356409ead312e35ad99d2ba0/thumbnail_1109000.jpg","/articles/6290142/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-let-pharmacists-prescribe-limited-lowrisk-medications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290142-0ce257ecf4319a0f945257e77741392c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184921&Signature=OO0WWLYQ6My5qdi06rERpzFC71aftzV9nkBoWuqwZqudnIppdWgjWvqlasJ9UbGWT8~N78QgJ4ClGYa4ycmt2qPXLNh5Smxj7K2QDr-JVqRjOIlNpai8NSfyFdDmeEty6IVgmgP9j3Iuw7ayyt119GZNsOgw8NhwW9CI0lo33bulje6Nx0tW3lyL6lrHEJ-hgya2JSg-wORq-~tcCMNs01PJWdJttdPkMBSk0CXf-Iku4BEnkrJejK3v8AWTmzHDRtndzriu0cTAJZJP0IVIRJWQbQlaurGJT7jpPjSvRDmTEI7hMMtKyJDX87E2qI9W-YFqKDpdXcdc2RBwnheRUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Government Organization on an voice vote agreed to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 526 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

The bill, titled the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, would create a new article in Article 5 of the West Virginia Code to authorize pharmacists to prescribe low‑risk medications when conditions meet specified limits, explicitly prohibit pharmacists from prescribing controlled substances, and add a final section exempting the act from a Sunrise examination.

Committee counsel told the panel the substitute clarifies that pharmacists’ prescribing must follow FDA‑approved labeling for products and that prescribing under the act would be limited to conditions that do not require a new diagnosis, are minor and self‑limiting, are guided by tests that are CLIA‑waived, or are pharmacist‑judged patient emergencies. The counsel also said the bill was reported earlier by the Health Committee.

Krista Capehart, director of professional regulatory affairs for the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, told the committee that similar laws exist in about two dozen states and that pharmacists already carry professional liability insurance. \"Pharmacists currently already carry medical malpractice insurance,\" Capehart said. She explained that premiums vary by the type of pharmacy practice and added that other states \"have not seen significant increases in their premiums.\" The committee record shows a senator asked whether the Medical Professional Liability Act applies to pharmacists; counsel confirmed it does.

Committee members asked about liability and the bill’s scope. The Senator from Summers asked whether premiums would rise; Capehart responded that insurance typically adjusts to services provided and cited other states’ experience. A junior senator from the fifteenth asked whether the committee should expand the bill; the chair replied that supporters feared broader language could jeopardize passage.

After discussion concluded with no amendments offered, the vice chair moved to report the committee substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The motion carried on a voice vote; no recorded roll‑call tally was given.

The committee action sends SB 526 to the full Senate for further consideration.","The Senate Committee on Government Organization voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 526, the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, which would allow pharmacists to prescribe certain low‑risk medications, preclude controlled substances and exempt the change from a Sunrise review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs bill to bar state devices from apps or AI owned by listed ‘countries of concern’

Committee approves change to racetrack video lottery income distribution to per‑capita shares

Senate committee advances bill to let pharmacists prescribe limited low‑risk medications