Senate Finance Committee reports six bills to full Senate, including judges' retirement change and student-athlete safety act

The West Virginia Senate Finance Committee heard explanations and voted to report six bills to the full Senate, the chair announced after each voice vote. Committee counsel explained the bills and senators discussed warranty, education and funding details before voting to recommend passage.

Committee counsel summarized Senate Bill 952, saying: "The purpose of this bill is to transfer the administration of the court security fund from the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, which is now Homeland Security, to the Supreme Court of Appeals." Counsel told the committee the court security fund (Fund 6804) holds $458,193.18 and has $1,500,000 in spending authority. After no questions, the vice chairman moved to report SB 952 to the full Senate with the recommendation it pass; the committee voted in favor.

On Senate Bill 1035, the committee substitute would collapse a two-tier structure for the judges' retirement system instituted in 2005. Counsel said the substitute reduces vesting for judges from 16 to 12 years (actuarially prorated), sets a tier-2 judge annuity at 75% of a sitting judge's salary as set by code, and raises tier-2 survivor benefits to the tier-1 level. Counsel acknowledged a "significant actuarial impact" but noted the plan is currently very well funded. Senators voiced support for the substitute as an alternative to earlier proposals; the committee then voted to report the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.

The committee agreed to a committee substitute for a committee substitute on Senate Bill 502, the "Women's Collegiate Sports Protection Act," which would allow institutions and the Higher Education Policy Commission to establish women's athletic endowments, certify verified cost savings for matching contributions (subject to appropriation and annual caps), and prohibit savings derived from cutting academic programs or actions that impair compliance with Title IX. Counsel said the substitute removed a previously included private-contribution tax provision to maintain revenue neutrality. The committee adopted the substitute and voted to report the bill.

Committee counsel presented the committee substitute for Senate Bill 657, the Kone Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, explaining it grants the State Board of Education rulemaking authority—"in consultation with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy"—to adopt concussion education, protocols and training. Counsel described an effective date of 07/01/2026 allowing use of impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers during school football practice, noted that schools or county boards may require their use, and said the bill establishes a grant program (special revenue account) to help schools acquire the equipment. A senator raised a warranty concern; counsel clarified that the substitute states nothing in the article authorizes or prohibits a helmet manufacturer from establishing or enforcing warranty terms, meaning a manufacturer could still lawfully void a warranty if it chooses. Senators from Cabell and Senator Mason praised the educational and safety provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and voted to report SB 657.

The committee substitute for Senate Bill 1038 would grant a 15% salary increase to unemployment compensation administrative law judges at level 1 and level 2, effective on passage and in addition to any increases from the 2026 legislative session. A senator noted the chief ALJ was omitted from definitions and offered an amendment to include the chief; the committee adopted that amendment and then voted to report the substitute, as amended, to the full Senate with the recommendation it pass.

Finally, committee counsel explained Senate Bill 1053, which would create an "unemployment automation and administration fund" administered by the commissioner of Workforce West Virginia to modernize agency systems. Counsel said the substitute directs 7% of the existing employer contribution to the new fund (leaving 93% to the unemployment compensation fund), with two guardrails: contributions to the automation fund would stop for the remainder of a fiscal year if the automation fund receives $18,000,000 or more, and contributions would also cease until a $300,000,000 unemployment compensation fund balance is restored if that fund falls below that threshold. Counsel said the fund is effective 07/01/2026 and may be supported by legislative appropriation, federal funds, donations and other monies. The vice chairman moved to report SB 1053 to the full Senate with the recommendation it pass; the committee voted in favor.

The chair closed the meeting after a motion to adjourn passed. No formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; motions on each bill were passed by voice vote and the chair declared each bill would be reported to the full Senate with the committee's recommendation to pass.

Votes at a glance (committee action): - SB 952 — transfer of court security fund administration: reported to full Senate with recommendation to pass (committee voice vote). - SB 1035 — judges' retirement system changes (committee substitute): reported to full Senate with recommendation to pass (committee voice vote). - SB 502 — Women's Collegiate Sports Protection Act (committee substitute for committee substitute): substitute adopted and reported with recommendation to pass (committee voice vote). - SB 657 — Kone Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act (committee substitute for committee substitute): substitute adopted and reported with recommendation to pass (committee voice vote); includes grant fund and effective date 07/01/2026; warranty language clarified to preserve manufacturer authority. - SB 1038 — ALJ salary adjustment (committee substitute, amended to include chief ALJ): amendment adopted; substitute, as amended, reported to full Senate with recommendation to pass. - SB 1053 — unemployment automation and administration fund (committee substitute): reported to full Senate with recommendation to pass; directs 7% of employer contributions (subject to $18,000,000 and $300,000,000 thresholds).

The meeting adjourned following the votes; the transcript records voice votes with the chair declaring motions adopted but does not list recorded roll-call tallies or individual yea/nay votes.