Committee reports a package of bills and two originating resolutions to the full Senate

The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report multiple bills and two originating concurrent resolutions to the full Senate. Committee action ranged from brief explanations by counsel to adopted striking‑insert amendments and recommendations that bills do pass; most measures were reported without recorded roll‑call tallies in the transcript.

Key measures advanced

House Bill 2,389 — Dietitian Licensure Compact: Committee counsel said the bill enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact and that the compact becomes active once seven states enact it. Counsel noted five states have already enacted the compact and legislation is pending in multiple additional states. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 3,174 — Water/sewer extensions and low‑hazard inspection frequency (strike and insert adopted): Counsel said the bill requires municipalities, when potential customers apply for new service, to determine extension costs and customer share; municipalities must extend service if potential customers pay the customer share up front or request that the municipality apply for grants through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (application costs are paid up front by customers). The striking‑insert also adds a review requirement by the PSC for large‑quantity users and limits inspection frequency by the Department of Health for low‑hazard water supply systems to once every three years (high‑hazard systems inspected annually). The committee adopted the striking‑insert amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass as amended; the bill was referred first to the Committee on Finance under its double committee reference.

House Bill 3,373 — Tourism development sunset extension: Counsel said the bill would extend the sunset date for tourism development projects from Jan. 1, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2031; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 3,000 — Feed and commercial feed updates: Counsel described technical updates, revised definitions, new adulteration criteria, and alignment with federal Food and Drug Administration language and other states; the bill removes sunset dates for a spay and neuter assistance fund related to pet food registration fees. The committee adopted a striking‑insert and reported the bill with the recommendation that it do pass as amended.

House Bill 2,120 — Ethics Commission forms and lobbyist rules (strike and insert adopted): Counsel said the bill requires the West Virginia Ethics Commission to prescribe and publish disclosure forms online, removes certain rulemaking authority where statutory code already prescribes the content, requires recusal by commission members on matters involving candidates to whom they contributed, mandates an electronic lobbyist registration and reporting system, accepts electronic signatures, increases required filer reports from three to four per year, strengthens reporting for grassroots campaigns over $5,000 by outlet, and makes other technical changes. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass as amended and, under its original double committee reference, first be referred to the Committee on Finance.

House Bill 3,440 — Repeal of Small Business Linked Deposit Program: Counsel said the statute creating the program is being repealed; the Treasurer’s Office informed the committee the last loan account under the program was closed in 2016. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 3,133 — Memoranda of understanding for demolition of dilapidated structures: Counsel said the bill permits counties and municipalities to enter into memoranda of understanding to coordinate demolition efforts for dilapidated structures; the bill is permissive, not mandatory. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 2,479 — County development authority membership: Counsel said the bill reduces the minimum membership of a county development authority from 12 to 7 to make quorum attainment easier in smaller jurisdictions; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 2,742 — Limited waiver from certificate of public convenience and necessity for certain water/sewer projects: Counsel described a limited waiver available when projects are reviewed and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council; the committee reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.

Originating concurrent resolutions

Originating Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2: The committee adopted and reported an originating resolution requesting a joint committee on government and finance to study incentives and policies to best fund public libraries in West Virginia. Counsel summarized current funding sources (local property taxes and levies, the West Virginia Library Commission, and limited federal LSTA grants) and said the study would report findings and potential draft legislation.

Originating Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1: The committee adopted and reported an originating resolution to study the rising number of unmatched medical school graduates and ways to expand residency opportunities and potential supervision or internship pathways; the study would report in the 2026 regular session and be funded from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and finance.

Votes at a glance (committee action)

- House Bill 2,389 (Dietitian Licensure Compact): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 3,174 (Water/sewer extension rules; inspections): striking‑insert adopted; reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass as amended; first referral to Finance. - House Bill 3,373 (Tourism development sunset extension to 01/01/2031): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 3,000 (Feed commercial definitions and spay/neuter fund sunset removal): striking‑insert adopted; reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass as amended. - House Bill 2,120 (Ethics Commission forms and lobbyist reporting): striking‑insert adopted; reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass as amended; first referral to Finance. - House Bill 3,440 (Repeal Small Business Linked Deposit Program): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 3,133 (MOUs for demolition): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 2,479 (County development authority membership reduction): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 2,742 (Limited waiver for water/sewer CPPCN): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass. - House Bill 2,491 (Charitable raffles for qualifying colleges): reported to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass (see separate item for fuller discussion). - Originating Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2 (library funding study): adopted and reported. - Originating Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1 (study on unmatched medical graduates and residency funding): adopted and reported.

What to watch next: Most bills were reported to the full Senate; some carry a double committee reference and will be referred to the Committee on Finance first. The transcript records committee rulings that “the ayes have it” and motions adopted, but it does not include roll‑call vote tallies for these items.

Committee procedure note: Several items moved by the vice chair were reported under the recommendation that they do pass; where the transcript indicates a double committee reference, the committee specifically directed first referral to the Committee on Finance.