Senate receives multiple committee reports, hears Bailey’s Law message and schedules committee meetings before adjourning

The Senate received a series of committee reports from standing committees covering a range of matters and double committee references. Committee chairs reported on items including taxation of wind power projects, updates to the West Virginia medical imaging and radiation therapy practice act, EMS retirement participation, judges’ mileage and expenses, pension-related items, and workforce-related salary and modernization bills. Several of these bills were reported back as committee substitutes and—under original double committee references—were to be referred to the Finance Committee.

The clerk also announced that the House had passed committee substitute for House Bill 4712, increasing criminal penalties for DUI causing death (referred on the floor as Bailey’s Law); that message was received and HB 4712 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators made a series of scheduling announcements: the Health subcommittee on SB114 will meet tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in Room 215, and the Government Organization committee will meet tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at 208 West. The Senate granted a leave of absence for the day to the senator from Summers by unanimous consent and then adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.

Why it matters: the committee reports signal the next steps for a bundle of bills—many with double committee references—moving work to the Finance Committee and other committees for further consideration. Bailey’s Law (HB 4712) was noted for referral to Judiciary, marking the bill’s continued legislative path.

What happens next: committees will convene per scheduled notices; referred bills will proceed through committee consideration as noted on the floor.