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Committee approves several child‑welfare and juvenile bills and constitutional amendments
Summary
In the same session the Judiciary Committee advanced the SB 937 substitute, it also agreed substitutes for a placement bill (adding step‑siblings), a foster‑child rights bill, and two joint resolutions on voting citizenship and homestead exemption changes; each item was reported to the full Senate with recommendations.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After lengthy consideration of SB 937, the Senate Judiciary Committee took up multiple shorter items and committee substitutes and reported them to the full Senate with recommendations.
What passed committee:
• Committee substitute for Senate Bill 459 (placement law): Amends placement considerations to explicitly include step‑siblings who have an established bond and lived with the biological parent; the committee agreed the substitute and will report it to the full Senate.
• House Bill 4,749 (Foster Child Bill of Rights expansion): Adds three rights for foster children aged 13 and older — timely notice of hearings with legal implications, the right to have an attorney explain hearings and outcomes, and the right to attend hearings when appropriate — with the guardian ad litem to advise on attendance; the committee agreed a title amendment and reported the bill.
• Senate Joint Resolution 9 (citizenship requirement to vote): Committee agreed a technical committee substitute reaffirming that West Virginia voters must be U.S. citizens and will refer the resolution to the finance committee as part of its double referral.
• Senate Joint Resolution 11 (homestead exemption): Committee agreed a substitute to raise the constitution’s minimum homestead exemption for seniors and permanently disabled homeowners from $20,000 to $25,000 and permit counties to increase exemptions via ballot initiative; the substitute will be reported to the full Senate with a referral to finance.
Procedural notes: Each of the above items passed the committee by voice vote or unanimous consent after brief counsel explanations; roll calls were held only for larger measures such as SB 937.
