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West Virginia Senate receives committee reports, advances multiple bills to first reading
Summary
The West Virginia Senate on the floor received committee reports on education, pensions, insurance and other measures and advanced several bills to first reading or referred them to the Finance and Judiciary committees for further review. Committee meetings were scheduled for the following morning.
The West Virginia Senate convened and heard a string of committee reports that advanced a number of bills to first reading or referral for further review.
Committee reports from select and standing panels covered measures on school choice, homeschool instruction, charter school financing, rural education, retirement benefits, insurance authority and other topics. The select committee on school choice reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 644 (requiring the state treasurer to participate in a federal tax‑bracket scholarship program) and recommended the substitute "do pass," the report concluded "Respectfully submitted, Patricia Puertas Rucker, chair." The clerk read the bill for first reading after the chair heard no objection to unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
Other measures the Senate received included a report on Senate Bill 966 (changing requirements for homeschool instruction) and a committee report on Senate Bill 1,017 establishing a charter school direct‑loan program and a charter school credit enhancement program; the latter was recommended to pass but—under the original double committee reference—was referred first to the Committee on Finance. The Finance Committee itself reported several bills, among them Senate Bill 63 (creating the Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act), Senate Bill 141 (adjusting accrued benefits in the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officer retirement system for certain members), and Senate Bill 194 (updating the definition of "disabled veteran" for taxpayer status); those committee reports carried recommendations that the measures "do pass."
The Banking and Insurance Committee reported Senate Bill 725 (a first‑time homebuyer savings account act) and Senate Bill 954 relating to health insurance coverage for living organ donors; SB 725 was returned with direction that it first be referred to Finance under the original double committee reference, while SB 954 was read for first time and advanced. The committee also submitted Senate Bill 1,082 relating to the authority of the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency to investigate and prosecute fraudulent acts; Senator from Wood requested unanimous consent to refer SB 1082 to the Judiciary Committee, noting "The bill contains criminal penalties," and the chair ordered the referral after hearing no objection.
The Pensions Committee reported Senate Bill 1,074 to allow newly hired emergency medical vehicle operators to participate in the EMS retirement system; the committee recommended passage but directed that, under the original double committee reference, the measure be referred first to the Committee on Finance. The Agriculture Committee sent a committee substitute for Senate Bill 898 (valuing certain buildings used solely for agricultural purposes) that likewise was directed first to Finance. The Finance Committee reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 1,065 addressing licenses related to sale of alcohol and certain non‑intoxicating alcohol products.
Senate business concluded with scheduling announcements: the Education Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m., and the Government Organization Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. in Room 208 West. Subject to announcements, the Senator from Lewis moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 11:00 a.m. the following day, and the presiding officer declared the Senate adjourned after a voice vote in which "the ayes do have it."
