WV Senate floor roundup: multiple bills and resolutions approved, tourism lodging added to tax credit
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Summary
On Jan. 30, 2026 the West Virginia Senate adopted several resolutions and passed multiple bills on third reading — largely by unanimous machine votes — including Senate Bill 167 (levying-body reporting extensions), SB 233 (polygraph licensing clarifications), SB 403 (expanding tourism tax credit to lodging) and SB 506 (county-owned wireless tower use).
The West Virginia Senate on Jan. 30 adopted several resolutions and passed a package of bills during a floor session in Charleston, moving many measures by recorded machine vote, frequently unanimous.
Resolutions: The Senate adopted multiple ceremonial and recognition resolutions, including Senate Resolution 14 honoring James and Lucille Pennington as the 2025 West Virginia Loggers of the Year, and resolutions designating Marshall University Day and Future Farmers of America Day (floor actions taken by voice; SEG 252–299; SEG 318–329).
Key bills passed by the Senate (floor actions and vote tallies): - Senate Bill 167: Engrossed committee substitute allowing the state auditor for good cause to extend the May 1 filing deadline for levying bodies; passed 34–0 (SEG 503–527). Sponsor: senator from Randolph. - Senate Bill 233: Engrossed committee substitute clarifying qualifications for polygraph licensure (modifies degree requirements and preempts division rules); passed 34–0 after brief remarks including floor anecdote about historical polygraph practice (SEG 534–592). Sponsor: senator from Raleigh. - Senate Bill 403: Engrossed measure expanding the tourism development act tax credit to include lodging; passed 34–0 (SEG 671–692). Sponsor: junior senator from the sixteenth. - Senate Bill 506: Engrossed committee substitute permitting county commissions to permit use of county-owned wireless towers by entities not designated as foreign adversaries or listed as supporting terrorism, requires due diligence and insulates commissions from liability; passed 34–0 (SEG 724–769). Sponsor: senator from Randolph.
Other floor business: a number of administrative and regulatory bundles (department and committee rule packages) and financial/insurance measures advanced or were passed on second/third reading with no floor amendments recorded. Several first-reading bills were placed on the calendar for later consideration (SEG 771–816).
Floor procedure and scheduling: senators introduced guests and honorary pages, announced committee meetings and adjourned until the next day at 11 a.m.; clerks will communicate the Senate’s actions to the House for bills that require interchamber action (SEG 900–952).
Quote from the floor: "This bill would expand the tourism development act tax credit to include lodging," the junior senator from the sixteenth said in explaining SB 403.
Outcome and next steps: The clerk will communicate the Senate’s passed measures to the House; items requiring the House’s concurrence or that originated in the House will follow interchamber procedures.