Senate receives House messages, committee reports, introduces dozens of bills and adjourns

The West Virginia Senate on Jan. 19 handled routine session business including communications from the House, committee reports, a block introduction of senate bills and scheduling of committee meetings before adjourning.

The clerk reported the House passage of House Bill 4574 (condition-based emergency funding for a financially distressed county) and House Bill 4575 (a supplemental appropriation to the State Board of Education). Those messages were received and the bills were referred to the committee on finance (and education and finance as appropriate).

Committee reports were read from standing committees including Energy, Industry and Mining; Government Organization; Judiciary; and Education. Committee chairs reported committee substitutes and recommendations that several Senate bills (including SB15, SB66, SB76→CS/SB104, SB118, SB137, and SB166) ‘‘do pass’’ with references to Finance under original double-references where applicable; the clerk recorded those reports and referrals.

Senator from Lewis requested unanimous consent to introduce Senate Bills 510 through 548, read their titles and refer them to committees as listed in the Chamber Automation System; the presiding officer heard no objection and the bills were introduced and referred. Senators also announced committee meeting times: Finance at 3:00 p.m. in Room 451M; Health and Human Resources at 1:00 p.m.; Judiciary at 3:00 p.m. in Room 208 West.

Senator from Lewis moved that the Senate stand adjourn until tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.; the motion was adopted by voice vote and the Senate adjourned.