[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6106148,"mediaKeyId","2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814","parentId",2784319,"title","Votes at a glance: Key Senate actions March 25, 2025","audioSeconds",4993,"startMs",910000,"endMs",5903000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814&start=910&end=5903","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814/thumbnail_910000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106148/West-Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Key-Senate-actions-March-25-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106148-8f71a3bd282c19e58c5d558e2a8a4ff1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165353&Signature=Usj4SSjqyOZU99fN5XG0h5Exm~ZRSm9ov3KH4dPTpoZ7E42zex8qSekdy2Jd~Rd2RMNmMPbdYWMK0seXqsEeESvbvJQvVJJPJxFIJfsfeQRmlr1qsZXk7vh-YzOxS2k6riQp6i56Dr-UVII-gof6Txcg00BmyB2xj9nGcfFVzlbY0jKLWQ6xJ3mEPrav2r8RWwFHULGqCNQ0VaMb9Or0-lc7B99sJccv9zP9eihtIr3Ak~dcK61wZ9~4jfuD4Qq4WfvhTDoSL7s4hIVpDlePmZeFLYglKNx8G2dQjYP7d35wmOPp9gcXlTfz1DvTKrBXiGFRNZ4hCwarehjEaaFBKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The West Virginia Senate recorded the following roll-call outcomes and formal actions during its March 25, 2025 session. Where the transcript named the bill number and recorded a tally, that tally is listed; where the transcript discussed a bill but did not provide a roll-call by name, the identifier is shown as “not specified.”

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 199 (committee substitute relating to elementary behavior intervention and safety): Senate concurred with House amendment; recorded vote 34 yays, 0 nays. Clerk to communicate action to the House.

- Senate Bill 283 (expanding grade levels for personal finance credit): Senate concurred with House amendment; recorded vote 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 10 (exempting certain meat processing services from consumer sales and service tax): Passed 33 yays, 1 nay.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 35 (permitting campus police to participate in deputy sheriff retirement system): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 54 (requiring age-appropriate Holocaust instruction): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill expanding employment and training requirements for SNAP recipients (Senate Bill 249 referenced on floor): Motion and passage recorded; roll-call not specified in the transcript excerpt.

- Doula services coverage in Medicaid and PEIA (bill number not specified in transcript excerpt): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays; bill requires coverage definitions, reimbursement levels, and sets a state-plan amendment filing date.

- Engrossed committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate Bill 464 (license plate for recipients of Medal of Valor): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate Bill 474 (ending DEI programs): Passed 32 yays, 2 nays (detailed in separate article).

- Engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 526 (pharmacist prescribing authority act): Passed 33 yays, 1 nay (title amendment adopted and communicated to House).

- Engrossed committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate Bill 587 (government construction management/CMAR contracting): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 617 (discouraging gang activity / organized-crime statute expansion): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed committee substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 646 (increasing non traditional instruction days): Passed 33 yays, 1 nay.

- Senate Bill to make certain bills effective from passage (as moved on floor): In at least one instance the Senate voted to make a bill effective from passage with a 34-0 vote where recorded.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 652 (expanding cardiac arrest provisions to elementary schools): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed Senate Bill 655 (limited immunity for mental health providers involved in mental hygiene checks): Passed 26 yays, 8 nays.

- Engrossed Senate Bill 705 (rulemaking review, discussed at length): Passed 19 yays, 15 nays (detailed in separate article).

- Engrossed Senate Bill 725 (unlawful expenditures by local fiscal bodies): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 899 (protecting certain coal and gas minerals from carbon capture projects): Passed 34 yays, 0 nays.

Notes and limitations: Where the transcript provided vote tallies, they are listed above; some bill numbers and details were announced on the floor without a full roll-call result in the transcript excerpt provided, and those items are labeled “not specified.” All passed items were communicated to the House by the Senate clerk as recorded on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate in Session Mar 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A summary list of bills and floor outcomes recorded in the West Virginia Senate on March 25, 2025, with recorded roll-call tallies where the transcript includes them.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106153,"Senate narrowly approves bill asserting legislative oversight of State Board of Education rulemaking, 19-15",1618,4130000,5748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814&start=4130&end=5748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814/thumbnail_4130000.jpg","/articles/6106153/West-Virginia/Senate-narrowly-approves-bill-asserting-legislative-oversight-of-State-Board-of-Education-rulemaking-19-15","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106153-07fb0436acd5258386e1a2718f6a3774/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165353&Signature=JCva24cCWybIJRYPYohsZPC1kqJYbLUr35gvbY3NMYp-WnCqpgjwPcoEql2w6nUfSxbOQwC26W0gwPIYjc1ATDMLgKFrNpynZZ-gE1xK804q3kNK4r9nu~B~A6FbDWgj7kYEyfGSma9~tgS7Ah1T4yeDKjRMC6AYHDEX9fjKMeRhn6yJTJyKDmdSN78IRpFOB1VADI0knD-htez6G9def8SEC2~T2~BSfYJWt8ZaW30DjG0zZ5Tcwh-UKuvNtesoIt~9GSLcREgnQeEghyL6bC5LA~uOjgDYZi2MUeK77R4SYrZukNO-gX3s4MzboYM99UQg03e30LdkqQONdxB4Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Virginia Senate on March 25 passed Senate Bill 705 by a 19-15 vote, a measure that requires new legislative review and submission to the full Legislature of certain rules proposed by the State Board of Education and shortens the effective-notice timeframe for emergency rules issued by the board.

The bill’s sponsor, Junior Senator from the Fifteenth, told the Senate the measure “ensures accountability under the legislature's primacy of authority provided by the West Virginia constitution,” and urged passage. Supporters argued it clarifies the Legislature’s supervisory role over education rulemaking and creates a structured review process through the Legislative Rule Making Review Committee.

Opponents said the legislation conflicts with settled state-court precedent and disrespects voters who rejected a 2022 constitutional amendment that some senators said was tied to the same issue. Senator from Marion cited the West Virginia Supreme Court’s opinion in the Heckler decision, quoting its syllabus: “Syllabus point number 2, which says, rule making by the state board of education is within the meaning of general supervision of state schools pursuant to article 12, section 2 of the West Virginia constitution. And any statutory provision that interferes with such rule making is unconstitutional.” She argued the court’s syllabus is “black letter law in the state of West Virginia.”

Supporters, including the bill sponsor and other senators, countered that Heckler did not definitively resolve the primacy question between Article 12, sections 1 and 2 of the state constitution and that the bill clarifies the Legislature’s role.

The debate included cross‑chamber history, references to the 1872 and 1958 constitutional language and claims about voter confusion during the 2022 ballot campaign. Several senators urged putting a clarifying constitutional amendment to the voters rather than adopting the statutory approach.

After floor debate, the Senate voted 19 in favor and 15 opposed. The clerk recorded the action and the Senate communicated the result to the House.","Senate Bill 705 passed 19-15 after a heated floor debate over whether the Legislature may assert primacy over the State Board of Education's rulemaking authority; opponents cited the West Virginia Supreme Court's Heckler decision and voter rejection of a 2022 constitutional amendment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106158,"Senate passes bill ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state agencies and public K-12 schools, 32-2",1524,2112000,3636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814&start=2112&end=3636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784319-b5f99965e112cb7d27da5b7dc6d09814/thumbnail_2112000.jpg","/articles/6106158/West-Virginia/Senate-passes-bill-ending-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-programs-in-state-agencies-and-public-K-12-schools-32-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106158-e0aae2835775a482d335c0e09d47aa4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165353&Signature=b-Rub5tAtl4ATFJCxULbIaSXl25SSPCGNlqvprmnx6iXZXeGSRPyqyISG-~bnpDKhzF0pqkAziPmH5r30ik70ZPt9ZsIQzb9gTcxGVXNO85auzmi6g72jJzmhDnakKMMIXuhFOnzzA2vS2K38rle4AlnPQMVMod9qt8h51C~DDxvMeV6qQjgkPgby3yaych~X8bSZDV0Cx9bgosEhXOwB~0x-5TC-xPsvxBbLlZoCdNTRurBFvOq8nJ0b9lw07IUR8FWGLyrvWDXZdT6-QryFxmLvytP0yAigUbgSoVj01ZISJrG~DUWW1N1RuiLTYmH9xjbTIk2OZqt~49BFYbSPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 474 on March 25, a bill that would eliminate offices, programs, training and policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from state departments, divisions, agencies, boards, public primary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning. The measure passed by a 32-2 roll call.

The measure’s sponsor, Junior Senator from the Fifteenth, described the bill as a sweeping prohibition on DEI offices and stated on the floor that “this is a bill that will eliminate DEI from our classrooms once and for all. I urge passage.” Supporters said the bill protects students and employees from what they described as coercive or divisive instruction and employment practices.

Opponents warned the bill would restrict curriculum and reduce local control. Senator from Marion said lawmakers should focus on funding public education rather than enacting what she called constitutionally dubious restrictions, telling the chamber: “How about we stop defunding our public education system.” Several Democrats and some Republicans pressed that the bill risks chilling classroom discussion and administrative compliance with federal requirements.

The bill’s text defines prohibited practices to include instruction that teaches that any race, ethnicity or sex is inherently superior or that individuals should feel guilt or psychological distress because of their race, ethnicity or sex; sponsors said the measure still permits historical instruction and does not limit freedom of speech outside the classroom. The legislation also bars public school and county board employees from being required to use a student’s preferred pronouns that the employee considers inconsistent with the student’s biological sex and provides civil-action immunity to employees who refuse. It creates a complaint-and-appeal process allowing parents and guardians to file grievances; the bill requires county-level appeal steps followed by an appeal to the state superintendent if local remedies do not resolve the complaint.

Senator Tom Willis, who spoke in favor of the measure, urged passage and offered a practical outreach line for constituents: “We will put an end to woke teaching in the state of West Virginia,” adding he had arranged a website and phone contact for people who believe they have been harmed by DEI instruction. Opponents said the offer of personal contact underscored concerns about the bill’s effect on higher-education campuses and the lack of an analogous complaint process for universities.

Senators debated exceptions in the bill allowing offices or activities required to maintain compliance with federal law — including Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act — and a carve‑out for legal compliance offices at higher-education institutions. Sponsors said those exceptions preserve federal compliance; critics said the language is unclear and could prompt litigation.

After the roll call (32 yays, 2 nays), the clerk recorded the passage and the Senate communicated the action to the House.

The vote follows similar measures introduced in recent legislative sessions and comes amid broader national debates over K‑12 curriculum, university policies and workplace training.","The West Virginia Senate on March 25 passed Senate Bill 474, a measure that would remove DEI offices, programs and related policies from state agencies, boards and public schools and set new complaint and appeal procedures; the measure passed 32-2 after extended floor debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Key Senate actions March 25, 2025

Senate narrowly approves bill asserting legislative oversight of State Board of Education rulemaking, 19-15

Senate passes bill ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state agencies and public K-12 schools, 32-2