West Virginia Senate approves dozens of bills, adopts resolution memorializing Jerry West

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on April 3, 2025, approved a series of bills affecting school substitute-teacher rules, vehicle permit procedures, environmental rulemaking and several supplemental appropriations, and adopted a resolution memorializing basketball great Jerry West.

The actions move changes to substitute-teacher and bus-operator rules, add an athletic trainer seat to the Board of Physical Therapy, allow online purchase of temporary vehicle movement permits, clear a Department of Environmental Protection rules bundle and authorize multiple supplemental appropriations for state agencies and programs.

Senators said the votes address administrative processes and funding needs across state government. The chamber also paused for a resolution honoring Jerry West; several senators described West’s scholarship and charitable work in West Virginia during debate on the resolution.

The most substantive debated item on the floor was the concurrence and passage of the house amendment to Senate Bill 282, which delays the expiration of special rules allowing retired teachers and retired bus operators to substitute teach without hitting a 140-day limit when certain posting conditions are met. The senator moving concurrence explained the change would permit a position to remain filled for an entire school year when the position is posted once at the start of the year and once midyear. The Senate concurred and passed the bill on a recorded vote of 34-0; a subsequent roll-call to make the bill effective from passage carried 33-0 with one absent.

On third reading and passage, the Senate recorded votes on multiple bills, including: - Engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 21-57 (temporary vehicle movement stickers available online; doubles validity from 48 to 96 hours): passed 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 21-72 (adds a certified athletic trainer to the Board of Physical Therapy): passed 29-4, 1 absent. - Engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 22-33 (Department of Environmental Protection rules bundle): passed 31-2, 1 absent; the Senate later voted 33-0, 1 absent to make that bill effective from passage. - Engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 23-97 (prevents immediate family from acting as joint fiduciaries for the same governmental authority): passed 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 26-78 (clarifies 15 mph school zones to include public, public charter and private schools that request designation): passed 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 27-09 (allows voters who change address within a county to vote in their new precinct during early voting with proof of address): passed 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 33-13 (expands opportunities for high school students and community colleges; adds Braxton County to a region): passed 31-2, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 33-47 (supplemental appropriation for the Diamond Building): passed 33-0, 1 absent; the Senate voted to make it effective from passage 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 33-63 (supplemental appropriation for public defender services, $22.6 million total: $2.6 million to the public defenders corporation and $20 million to appointed counsel fees): passed 33-0, 1 absent; made effective from passage 33-0, 1 absent. - Engrossed House Bill 33 (lease rental payments supplemental appropriation of $581,900): passed 33-0, 1 absent; made effective from passage 33-0, 1 absent.

Several committee chairs also presented committee reports and first readings for major measures, including the budget bill reported by Jason Barrett as chair of the Finance Committee and multiple reorganization and rules bills reported by the Government Organization and Education committees.

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 44, memorializing the life of Jerry West. The senior senator from the thirteenth led the remarks and described West’s West Virginia roots, his scholarship giving and charitable support for local children’s facilities. Other senators, including the senator from Logan and the senator from Taylor, offered brief remarks about West’s influence in their communities. The resolution was adopted 33-0 with one senator absent and the sponsors asked that the remarks be printed in the Senate Journal.

In remarks not tied to a specific bill, the senator from Logan spoke about repeated flooding in Logan County and urged a resolution and federal involvement for stream restoration; he also raised concerns about rising electricity rates and the accessibility of the Public Service Commission and governor’s office for constituents on fixed incomes.

The Senate adjourned and set the next session for Monday at 11 a.m.; several committees announced Monday morning meetings.

Votes at a glance: all recorded tallies cited in this report come from the Senate roll-call results entered into the record during the April 3, 2025 session.