West Virginia Legislature

Journal of the House of Delegates

Eighty-Fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

Charleston, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

[MR. SPEAKER, MR. HANSHAW, IN THE CHAIR]

Pursuant to the adjournment taken on January 13, 2021, in accordance with Section 18, Article VI of the Constitution of the State, the House of Delegates assembled in its Chamber in the Capitol Building at 12:00 noon this day, and was called to order by the Speaker.

      Prayer was offered and the House was led in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.   

Messages from the Executive

The following communication was read by the Clerk:

State of West Virginia

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

West Virginia Legislature

January 27, 2021

The Honorable Mac Warner

Secretary of State

State Capitol

Charleston, West Virginia 25305

Dear Secretary Warner:

      Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 3-10-5, I have this day appointed Joshua Booth, 220 Hidden Valley Road, Kenova, Wayne County, West Virginia 25530, as a Delegate representing the Nineteenth District of the House of Delegates, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Derrick Evans.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Jim Justice

                                                                                                Governor

Note:  Delegate Booth took the oath of office prior to the floor session on February 10, 2021.  Delegate Foster was absent on January 13, 2021 but took the oath of office on January 22, 2021.

The Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of Wednesday, January 13, 2021, being the first order of business, when the further reading thereof was dispensed with and the same approved.

Resolutions Introduced

      Delegate Hanshaw, Mr. Speaker, offered the following resolution, which was read by its title:

H. C. R. 3 - “Extending an invitation to His Excellency, the Governor, to deliver an address to the Legislature and raising a Joint Assembly therefor.”

Whereas, His Excellency, the Governor, has advised that he will be pleased to address a Joint Assembly of the Senate and House of Delegates at the convenience of the two houses; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That His Excellency, the Governor, be hereby invited to address a Joint Assembly of the Legislature at 7:00 o’clock postmeridian this day; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates appoint three members of each of the respective houses of the Legislature as a committee to wait upon His Excellency, the Governor, and escort him into the Hall of the House of Delegates at the time herein appointed for hearing the address.

      At the request of Delegate Summers, and by unanimous consent, reference of the resolution (H. C. R. 3) to a committee was dispensed with, and it was taken up for immediate consideration and adopted.

      Whereupon,

      In accordance with the provisions of the resolution, the Speaker appointed as members of the committee to wait upon His Excellency, the Governor, the following:

      Delegates Rowan, Phillips and Lovejoy.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the House communicate to the Senate the action of the House of Delegates and request concurrence therein.

Delegate Hanshaw, Mr. Speaker, offered the following resolution, which was read by its title:

H. R. 6 - “Amending House Rules 104, 112, and 131, relating to the Delegate Console System.”

      Resolved by the House of Delegates:

      That House Rule 104 be amended to read as follows:

“Bills - Printing and Availability to Members

104. Electronic versions of all bills shall be made available promptly on the Chamber Automation System Delegate Console System once introduced and printed version of all bills will be made available when requested from the Legislative Print Shop. (HR31, Reg. Sess., 1971; HR4, Reg. Sess., 2002; HR7, Reg. Sess., 2005; HR1, Reg. Sess., 2017; HR6, Reg. Sess., 2021)

Effect of the 1971 amendment. The amendment rewrote the rule. The last paragraph was added.

Effect of the 2002 amendment. The last paragraph was added as a result of the installation of the Chamber Automation System.

Effect of the 2005 amendment. Provides that the House may consider bills, resolutions and other documents in case of failure of the Chamber Automation System or failure of the Clerk to provide reproduced copies of the measures to be considered.

Effect of the 2017 amendment. Updated the rule to reflect current printing practices.

Effect of the 2021 amendment.  Updated language to reflect the new electronic system used in the House of Delegates.”

And,

That House Rule 112 be amended to read as follows:

“Forms For

112.  Amendments are to be submitted to the Clerk in writing and a duplicate copy is to be filed electronically for viewing in the Chamber Automation System Delegate Console System. (HR1, Reg. Sess., 2017; HR6, Reg. Sess., 2021)

Effect of the 2017 amendment. The rule was rewritten to reflect current technology.

Effect of the 2021 amendment.  Updated language to reflect the new electronic system used in the House of Delegates.”

And,

That House Rule 131 be amended to read as follows:

“Journal to Be Printed Daily

131. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to furnish a copy of each day’s proceedings of the Journal to the Legislative Print Shop.  An electronic version of the Journal is to be posted on the Chamber Automation System Delegate Console System and printed copies are to be available on request prior to the start of the next session. (HR1, Reg. Sess., 2017; HR6, Reg. Sess., 2021)

Effect of the 2017 amendment. The rule was revised to reflect current technology and practice.

Effect of the 2021 amendment.  Updated language to reflect the new electronic system used in the House of Delegates.”

At the request of Delegate Summers, and by unanimous consent, reference of the resolution (H. R. 6) to a committee was dispensed with, and it was taken up for immediate consideration and adopted.

Bills Introduced

      Bills were introduced, pursuant to House Rule 92, and severally referred as follows:

      By Delegates Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Queen, Barrett, G. Ward, Hott, Maynard, J. Pack,       Riley, L. Pack, Rowan and Westfall:

H. B. 2001 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto two new sections, designated §11-21-12m and §11-21-25; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-24-10a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-30A-1, §18-30A-2, §18-30A-3, §18-30A-4, §18-30A-5, §18-30A-6, §18-30A-7, §18-30A-8, §18-30A-9, §18-30A-10, §18-30A-11, §18-30A-12, §18-30A-13, §18-30A-14, §18-30A-15, §18-30A-16, §18-30A-17, §18-30A-18, and §18-30A-19, all relating generally to creating the West Virginia Jumpstart Savings Program; providing a short title; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring the program be operable by a certain date; creating the West Virginia Jumpstart Savings board; establishing requirements for board membership, appointment, and procedure; setting forth the powers of the board; authorizing the board to promulgate legislative rules; setting forth the duties and powers of the Treasurer related to the program; establishing the Jumpstart Savings Trust Fund and Expense Fund and requirements for said funds; authorizing the board to use financial organizations as program depositories and managers and providing requirements therefor; establishing requirements for opening a Jumpstart Savings account and making deposits to an account; providing requirements for distributions from an account; providing when distributions from an account are treated as income for taxation purposes; specifying expenditures of account distributions that are qualified expenses; allowing a personal income tax deduction for certain contributions to an account; allowing a personal income tax deduction for distributions from an account used for qualified expenses; allowing a tax credit against personal income tax or corporate net tax for certain matching contributions to accounts of employees; allowing a personal income tax deduction for a rollover of distributions from a college savings account to a Jumpstart Savings account; allowing a personal income tax deduction for a rollover of distributions from a Jumpstart Savings account to a West Virginia ABLE account; providing reporting and auditing requirements for the Jumpstart Savings Program; authorizing certain training and educational entities and employers to share information with the board and the Treasurer related to program participation; exempting certain personal information regarding program participation from disclosure under the state’s Freedom of Information Act; limiting liability of the Treasurer related to the program; and requiring the board to promulgate certain legislative rules”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Linville, Capito, Holstein, Ferrell, Miller, Riley, Barnhart, Sypolt, Statler, Rowan and Reed:

H. B. 2002 - “A Bill to repeal §31G-1-6, §31G-1-7, §31G-1-9, and §31G-1-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §17-2E-2, §17-2E-3, §17-2E-5, §17-2E-6, §17-2E-7, §17-2E-8, and §17-2E-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §24D-1-1, §24D-1-2, §24D-1-9, §24D-1-15, §24D-1-16, §24D-1-21, and §24D-1-26 of said code; to amend and reenact §31G-1-2 and §31G-1-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §31G-4-1 and §31G-4-2 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §17-2E-10 and §17-2E-11; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §31G-1A-1, §31G-1A-2, §31G-1A-3, §31G-1A-4, §31G-1A-5, §31G-1A-6, §31G-1A-7, §31G-1A-8, §31G-1A-9, and §31G-1A-10; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §31G-3-3; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §31G-6-1 and §31G-6-2 of said code, all relating to providing statutory framework to support, encourage, and expedite the expansion of broadband throughout the state of West Virginia; modifying the definition of ‘telecommunications carrier’; establishing requirements for agreements between the Division of Highways and an entity seeking to install telecommunications facilities; providing for in-kind contribution as a required term of agreement; establish process for Division of Highways to approve or deny application; requiring the Division of Highways provide a consolidated checklist or flow chart of all state or federal regulatory requirements; requiring notice to the Office of Broadband of a telecommunication entity’s intent to seek construction in division’s right-of-way; allowing a utility to apply to share trench with telecommunications carrier; providing the Office of Broadband the authority to issue certificates of compliance to the Division of Highways and applicant; requires Office of Broadband create, seek approval for, and update a formula or matrix to determine fair market value and in kind compensation for carriers use of rights of way or telecommunications facilities owned by the Division of Highways; providing Division of Highways the authority to allow carriers the use of excess telecommunications facilities; allowing Division of Highways to transfer or assign ownership of in-kind compensation or excess telecommunications facilities to another state agency upon approval by Governor; requiring that telecommunications facilities who share trench share responsibility of compensating Division of Highways; allowing Division of Highways to require a carrier bear joint and several liability; requiring agreements to provide that two or more carriers sharing obligations must allow Division of Highways to review or audit those agreements; providing rulemaking authority to Division of Highways; establishing additional requirements for Division of Highways related to broadband installation, permitting, pathways, access, and contractor requirements; adding broadband telecommunications to Chapter on cable television and cable television system act for certain purposes; defining ‘broadband’ or ‘broadband service’ and ‘broadband operator’; establishing requirements for broadband operators related to installation and construction; requiring broadband operators to indemnify the state for installation, operation, and maintenance; establishing requirements for broadband operator related to easement; providing requirements for broadband operators to restore interrupted service; requiring broadband operator to credit subscribers for interruptions in service of more than 24 hours; establishing that broadband providers may not deny access based upon certain factors; providing that broadband service is not a utility or subject to utility regulation; defining ‘applicable codes’ and ‘underserved area’; providing the Broadband Enhancement Council and actions of the same be subject to review and approval of the Office of Broadband; provide Broadband Enhancement Council report to the Office of Broadband on or before December 1 annually; creating the Office of Broadband within the Economic Development Office and under the Department of Commerce; creating the position of, and requirements for, the Director of the Office of Broadband; establishing the powers and duties of the Office of Broadband; requiring the Office of Broadband report annually to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance; requiring the Office of Broadband to map broadband in the state and establish an interactive public map; requiring certain executive agencies to cooperate and provide information to the Office of Broadband regarding AREA maps; requiring Office of Broadband Report to the Joint Committee on Technology regarding AREA maps at specified times; allowing Office of Broadband to retain outside expert consultants; providing authority to Office of Broadband to educate public on broadband service issues; allowing Office of Broadband to establish a voluntary data collection program; providing that information collected in program not subject to the Freedom of Information Act; establishing, by Office of Broadband, requirements of data collection program to be submitted to the Legislature; requiring the Office of Broadband to create guidelines for voluntary donation of rights away and similar structures to facilitate broadband development; allowing Office of Broadband to create guidelines and recommend to legislature an easement program to facilitate broadband service; allowing Office of Broadband to seek funding and grants; establishing process to protect proprietary business information provided to the Office of Broadband; excluding proprietary business information from production under the Freedom of Information Act; providing criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of confidential and proprietary information; providing rulemaking authority to the Office of Broadband; establishing requirements for municipalities regarding installation of conduit; defining ‘applicable codes’; providing for preemption of West Virginia Code and Code of State Rules over ordinances or private agreements relating to installation of broadband equipment; and requiring broadband operators receiving public funds to testify, upon request, under oath before the Legislature”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Summers, McGeehan, Phillips, Smith, Toney, Bruce, Kimes, Ellington, Riley, D. Jeffries and Worrell:

H. B. 2003 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §15-5-2 and §15-5-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to the authority and obligations of the Governor and Legislature when in declared states of preparedness and emergency; clarifying the authority and obligations of the Governor during periods of preparedness and emergency; providing requirements for any proclamation or resolution issued relating to a state of preparedness or emergency; defining terms; specifying new criteria for the duration and termination of states of preparedness and emergency; providing directives for lawsuits filed challenging actions taken pursuant to the authority granted herein; and updating references to a state agency”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Summers, Rohrbach, Worrell, Tully, B. Ward, L. Pack, Reynolds, Rowan, Westfall, J. Pack and Espinosa:

H. B. 2004 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §30-1-25 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to healthcare practitioners being licensed in the state in which he or she practices and being registered with the appropriate board in West Virginia for the purposes of telehealth”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates D. Jeffries, B. Ward, Rohrbach, G. Ward, Holstein, Worrell, Sypolt, Tully, Summers, Pinson and Burkhammer:

H. B. 2005 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-29B-6; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §33-60-1, §33-60-2, §33-60-3, §33-60-4, §33-60-5, §33-60-6, §33-60-7, §33-60-8, and §33-60-9; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §33-61-1, and §33-61-2; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §47-29-1, all relating to health care costs generally; providing a review process by the Attorney General’s office for nonprofit hospitals; providing for the regulation of out-of-state healthcare providers and non-network facility based providers; providing for the disclosures of a healthcare facility and the publication of a carrier’s network; defining the responsibilities of a carrier inadvertent to out-of-state network services; providing for binding arbitration in the event of payment disputes; providing for healthcare savings cost calculations, violations and legislative rules; providing for price transparency and a publication of prices; and providing a cost of healthcare appointment prices”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Howell, Espinosa, Foster, Horst, Hamrick, Miller, Steele, Holstein, Clark, Keaton and Burkhammer:

H. B. 2006 - “A Bill to repeal §21-11-1, §21-11-2, §21-11-3, §21-11-4, §21-11-5, §21-11-6, §21-11-7, §21-11-8, §21-11-9, §21-11-10, §21-11-10a, §21-11-11, §21-11-12, §21-11-13, §21-11-14, §21-11-15, §21-11-16, §21-11-17, §21-11-18, and §21-11-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §5-11A-3a of said code; to amend and reenact §5-22-1 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-1-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-3C-10a, §21-3C-10b, and §21-3C-11 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-9-2 and §21-9-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-11A-2 and §21-11A-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-16-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §21A-10-11 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30-42-1, §30-42-2, §30-42-3, §30-42-4, §30-42-5, §30-42-6, §30-42-7, §30-42-8, §30-42-9, §30-42-10, §30-42-11, §30-42-12, §30-42-13, §30-42-14, §30-42-15, §30-42-16, §30-42-17, §30-42-18, §30-42-19, §30-42-20, and §30-42-21; and to amend and reenact §48-15-201 of said code, all relating to the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act; providing for relocating the licensing of contractors from Chapter 21 to Chapter 30 of this code; providing a short title and declaration of policy with definitions; continuing the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, composition, terms, qualifications and appointment; administrative duties of board and legislative rules; providing for necessity for contractor license and exemptions; providing for procedure for licensing; providing for expiration date, fees and renewal of license; providing for revocation for unlawful use, assignment or transfer of license; providing for prerequisites to obtaining building permit and mandatory written contracts; providing for requiring informational list for basic universal design features; providing for injunction and criminal penalties for violation of article; providing for specific administrative duties of board and record keeping by the board; establishing authorization to grant reciprocity and to provide training to students who desire to obtain a West Virginia contractor license; providing for misdemeanor criminal penalties for violations of article; providing for limitations on municipalities, local governments, and counties from requiring a license to perform contractor work; and providing for technical updates which updates code references to contractors throughout this code to the correct code”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Espinosa, Foster, Horst, Hamrick, Howell, Miller, Steele, Holstein, Clark, Keaton and Burkhammer:

H. B. 2007 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §21-17-1, §21-17-2, §21-17-3, §21-17-4, §21-17-5, §21-17-6, §21-17-7, §21-17-8, §21-17-9, §21-17-10, §21-17-11, and §21-17-12; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §29-33-1, §29-33-2, §29-33-3, §29-33-4, §29-33-5, §29-33-6, §29-33-7, §29-33-8, §29-33-9, §29-33-10, §29-33-11, and §29-33-12; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30-1F-1, §30-1F-2, §30-1F-3, §30-1F-4, §30-1F-5, §30-1F-6, §30-1F-7, §30-1F-8, §30-1F-9, §30-1F-10, §30-1F-11, and §30-1F-12, all relating to occupational licensing or other authorization to practice; providing for definitions; providing for an application method for persons with a valid license in another state to be licensed in this state; establishing that an applicant seeking licensure in this state not have ever had a license revoked or suspended in another state; providing that an applicant seeking licensure in this state not have any pending investigations or disciplinary proceedings in another state; providing that the boards in every state where a person is licensed hold an applicant in good standing for licensure in this state; providing that an applicant pay all applicable fees; providing that an applicant meet all state bonding requirements for licensure in this state; providing for an application fee that may be assessed by the board; and requiring recognition for qualified applicants from other states”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Foster, Horst, Hamrick, Howell, Espinosa, Miller, Steele, Holstein, Clark, Keaton and Burkhammer:

H. B. 2008 - “A Bill to repeal §21-3D-4, §21-3D-5, §21-3D-6, §21-3D-7, and §21-3D-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §21-3C-10a of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §21-3C-14; to amend and reenact §21-3D-1, §21-3D-2, §21-3D-3, and §21-3D-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-14-2 and §21-14-7 of said code; to amend and reenact §21-16-2, §21-16-3, §21-16-5, and §21-16-8 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §21-16-11; to amend and reenact §29-3B-2, §29-3B-3, §29-3B-4, §29-3B-6, and §29-3B-8 of said code; and to amend and reenact §29-3D-2, §29-3D-3, §29-3D-4, §29-3D-6, and §29-3D-7 of said code, all relating to licensure in this state; providing for national certification programs to qualify persons working as elevator mechanics; providing for national certification programs to qualify persons working as accessibility technicians; providing for persons working as elevator mechanics or accessibility technicians provide his or her certification to the commissioner to perform work; providing for state code precedence over local ordinances; providing for a national standard and national certification for crane operators; providing for legislative appropriation of the Crane Operators Certification Fund on a certain date; providing for altered definitions of a Journeyman and Master plumber; providing for monetary penalties for improperly performing plumbing work under certain conditions; providing for altered definitions of HVAC Technician; providing that an applicant for a HVAC technician license must only provide documentation of up to 2,000 hour work, training, and experience; providing for monetary penalties for improperly performing HVAC work under certain conditions; providing for veterans who meet certain conditions be permitted to take the HVAC technician licensing exam; providing for altered definitions of Journeyman and Master electricians; providing for exemptions for licensure under certain conditions; providing for extended time frames for electricians to renew a license without retesting; providing for monetary penalties for improperly performing electrical work under certain conditions; providing for definitions of fire protection workers; providing for an altered definition of Journeyman sprinkler fitter; providing for an exemption from licensure when meeting certain conditions; providing for monetary penalties for improperly performing fire protection work or damper work; and providing for other minor technical changes”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Foster, Nestor, Burkhammer, Kimes, Higginbotham, Forsht, Keaton, Espinosa and Pritt:

H. B. 2009 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §3-8-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §21-1A-4 of said code; and to amend and reenact §21-5-1 of said code, all relating to limitations on the use of wages and agency shop fees by employers and labor organizations for political activities; prohibiting any person from coercing or intimidating any employee into making a political contribution or engaging in any form of political activity; prohibiting employers and any other persons responsible for the disbursement of wages and salaries from withholding or diverting any portion of an employee’s wages or salary for political activities without express, written authorization; providing for employee modification or withdrawal of wage withholding or diversion authorization; providing that the prohibition against withholding or diverting wages for political activities applies to any written or oral contract or agreement entered into, modified, renewed or extended on or after July 1, 2017, and shall not otherwise apply or abrogate a written or oral contract or agreement in effect on or before June 30, 2017; providing for criminal penalties; setting forth requirements for employees to provide written authorization for disbursement of wages and salaries by an employer or other person for political activities; requiring the Secretary of State to promulgate forms; defining terms ‘political activities’ and ‘agency shop fees’; modifying definition of ‘deductions’ to exclude amounts for union or club dues; and making it an unfair labor practice under the Labor-Management Relations Act for the Private Sector for a labor organization to use agency shop fees paid by nonmembers for political activities, unless expressly authorized by the individual”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Howell, Capito, L. Pack, Reynolds, Clark, Linville, Espinosa and Storch:

H. B. 2010 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-16-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §60-8-3 of said code, all relating to sales of nonintoxicating beer and wine; providing for sales of nonintoxicating beer for off premises consumption; providing that nonintoxicating beer sold for off premises consumption must meet certain requirements; providing that the commissioner may not require a separate, additional license or an additional fee for licensees to sell nonintoxicating beer for off premises consumption; providing that the commissioner may not require a separate, additional license or an additional fee for licensees to sell wine for off premises consumption”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Capito, Howell, L. Pack, Reynolds, Clark, Linville, Espinosa and Storch:

H. B. 2011 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29-6-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eliminating any time requirements for part time personnel to work during a working year”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Smith, Clark, Kimble, Higginbotham and Wamsley:

H. B. 2012 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-5G-1, §18-5G-2, §18-5G-4, §18-5G-5, §18-5G-6, §18-5G-9, §18-5G-10, and §18-5G-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto three new sections, designated §18-5G-13, §18-5G-14, and §18-5G-15, all relating to public charter schools; providing for a liberal interpretation; prohibiting the conversion of private schools; prohibiting any sort of profit or monetary consideration by elected officials in relation to charter schools; limiting the authorization of public charter school; creating a process by which to appeal the authorizer’s decision to the West Virginia Board of Education; creating virtual public charter schools in West Virginia; establishing the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board; providing for members, appointments, and meetings; and making technical improvements and corrections”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Ellington, Higginbotham, Summers, Hanna, Pinson, Wamsley, Kimble and D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2013 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-8-1, §18-8-1a, and §18-9A-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-31-1, §18-31-2, §18-31-3, §18-31-4, §18-31-5, §18-31-6, §18-31-7, §18-31-8, §18-31-9, §18-31-10, §18-31-11, §18-31-12, and §18-31-13, all relating to establishing the Hope Scholarship Program; providing for a short title and definitions; establishing the framework for the scholarship and establishing guidelines; creating the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board and providing for membership qualifications therein; creating a process for awarding scholarships; establishing funding mechanisms for the scholarships; establishing qualified expense requirements; creating a renewal process for the scholarship; creating an administration process for the scholarships; establishing an auditing mechanism for the scholarships and potential suspension system for providers; creating requirements and right of education service providers; establishing responsibilities of resident school districts; and providing for legal proceedings and severability”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Kimes, Fast, Pritt, Ferrell, Bridges, Hanna, Mandt, Toney, Reynolds, Statler and Storch:

H. B. 2014 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §4-11-1, §4-11-2, §4-11-3, §4-11-4, §4-11-5, §4-11-6 and §4-11-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §5-1A-1 of said code; to amend and reenact §11B-1-1 and §11B-1-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §11B-2-11, §11B-2-21 and §11B-2-23 of said code; to amend and reenact §12-2-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §12-3-12 and §12-3-17 of said code; to amend and reenact §12-4-2 and §12-4-3 of said code; and to amend and reenact §15-5-6 of said code, all relating to disposition of moneys received by the state generally; specifying the role of the Legislature in appropriating federal funds; updating references to types of federal funds; providing for appropriation of federal funds in accordance with the state constitution; updating and clarifying statutory cross-references; limiting gubernatorial authority to spend federal funds without appropriation of the Legislature; continuing and limiting spending of certain emergency funds for natural disasters without additional enactment; requiring reports to the Legislature on proposed and actual spending of those funds; removing certain emergency federal fund exclusion language from the provisions governing appropriations of federal funds; establishing controlling provisions in case of conflict of law; clarifying statutes applicable to preparation of state budget; clarifying meaning of certain terms; conditioning the Secretary of Revenue’s receipt and expenditure of federal funds; providing copy of certain reports to the Legislature; enlarging matters to be reported to the Legislature regarding revenue estimates, collections and appropriations; requiring any budget reductions be made before end of fiscal year; enlarging matters to be reported in the annual Consolidated Federal Funds report; authorizing funds to be reappropriated from one fiscal year to the next, and providing circumstances under which those funds expire to the general revenue fund instead of being reappropriated; modifying certain terms; updating references to public officers; and prohibiting the suspension of any statute governing the appropriation or expenditure of public funds by the exercise of gubernatorial emergency powers”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Rohrbach, Anderson, Mandt, Tully, Pritt, Phillips, Toney, J. Jeffries, Bruce, Barnhart and Reynolds:

H. B. 2015 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-2-11 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to requiring rules of local boards of health to be approved by the county commission except in cases of a public health emergency”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Burkhammer, Pinson, Higginbotham, Reed, Hott, Keaton, Anderson, Haynes, Barnhart, Rohrbach and Ellington:

H. B. 2016 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §55-19-1, §55-19-2, §55-19-3, §55-19-4, §55-19-5, §55-19-6, §55-19-7, §55-19-8, §55-19-9, §55-19-10, §55-19-11, §55-19-12, §55-19-13, §55-19-14, §55-19-15, §55-19-16, §55-19-17, and §55-19-18, all related to  the ‘COVID-19 Essential Jobs Protection Act’; provide a short title; provide definitions; provide legislative findings and statutory purpose; establish  requirements for civil actions related to COVID-19 exposure; establish relevant expert qualifications; establish property owner’s duty of care for COVID-19 exposure related to safe harbor requirements; provide limited civil immunity to premises owners or possessors for COVID-19 claims; with noted exceptions provide civil  immunity for COVID-19 exposure where act is consistent with established legal guidance; provide land owner or occupant immunity for COVID-19 invitee injury with designated exceptions; exclude liability for civil damages where acts are in substantial compliance with state or federal law, regulation, order or guidance; with designated exceptions establish immunity exception for gross, willful or intentional misconduct; provide civil  immunity to health care providers for care of COVID-19 exposure, including screening and prescribing pharmaceuticals; provide civil  immunity to health care providers for COVID-19 exposure care, including: actions in support of state response, delay or cancelling nonurgent procedures, alteration of diagnosis or treatment in accordance with regulation, order or public health  guidance; diagnosis outside normal scope of practice; use of medical devices or supplies outside normal scope of approved use; conducting tests or providing treatment outside a healthcare facility; actions taken where staff, facilities, medical devices or other resources are unavailable; failure to use protective equipment; establish that decisions resulting from short staffing are not gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional infliction of harm; provide immunity to volunteers engaged in health care services; other defenses or immunities for healthcare facilities and workers not affected; persons involved with the design, manufacture, distribution or other endeavor related to a  qualified COVID-19 product, are immune unless actual knowledge of a defect existed or actions involved actual malice, criminal conduct, or intent; provide a statute of limitations for claims related to COVID injury; establish that a new cause of action, expanded liability or limitations for defense are not provided; provide retroactive application; providing a civil penalty for failure to obey COVID-19 order, rule or regulation; providing severability for any provision declared invalid or unconstitutional; restricting a cause of action against public institutions of higher learning arising for injury or death from COVID-19; license to conduct a business, profession, or service including religious institution or nonprofit organization may not be suspended for violation of any executive order related to COVID-19 state of emergency; compliance with legalities of testimonial, signature, acknowledgement notarization requirements including video teleconference generated documents; retroactive application; and expiration date”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Steele, D. Kelly, B. Ward, Bruce, Miller, G. Ward, Haynes, Westfall, Higginbotham, Smith and Reynolds:

H. B. 2017 - “A Bill to repeal the following sections: §61-1-4, §61-1-5, §61-1-7, §61-1-8, §61-1-9, §61-2-5a, §61-2-9a, §61-2-9b, §61-2-9c, §61-2-9d, §61-2-10, §61-2-10a, §61-2-10b, §61-2-14a, §61-2-14b, §61-2-14c, §61-2-14d, §61-2-14e, §61-2-14f, §61-2-14g, §61-2-14h, §61-2-15a, §61-2-16a, §61-2-26, §61-2-27, §61-2-27a, §61-2-28, §61-2-29, §61-2-29a, §61-2-29b, §61-2-30, §61-3-20a, §61-3-22a, §61-3-24a, §61-3-24b, §61-3-24c, §61-3-24d, §61-3-24e, §61-3-24f, §61-3-24g, §61-3-24h, §61-3-39, §61-3-39a, §61-3-39b, §61-3-39c, §61-3-39d, §61-3-39e, §61-3-39f, §61-3-39g, §61-3-39h, §61-3-39i, §61-3-39j, §61-3-39k, §61-3-39m, §61-3-39n, §61-3-39o, §61-3-39p, §61-3-39q, §61-3-40, §61-3-41, §61-3-42, §61-3-43, §61-3-44, §61-3-45, §61-3-45a, §61-3-46, §61-3-47, §61-3-48, §61-3-48a, §61-3-49, §61-3-49a, §61-3-49b, §61-3-50, §61-3-51, §61-3-52, §61-3-53, §61-3-54, §61-3-55, §61-3-56, §61-3-57, §61-3-58, §61-3-59, §61-3A-4a, §61-3C-14a, §61-3C-14b, §61-3C-14c, 61-3E-13, §61-5-12a, §61-5-12b, §61-5-25a, §61-5-27a, §61-5-28 §61-5-29, §61-6-2, §61-6-3, §61-6-7, §61-6-14a, §61-6-18, §61-6-19, §61-6-20, §61-6-21, §61-6-22, §61-6-23, §61-6-24, §61-6-25; §61-7-9, §61-8-2, §61-8-9a, §61-8-10, §61-8-20, §61-8-25, §61-8-26, §61-8B-18, §61-8D-6, §61-8E-1, §61-8E-2, §61-8E-3, 61-9-9, §61-9-10, §61-9-11, §61-10-7, §61-10-8, §61-10-13, §61-10-14, §61-10-19, §61-10-34, §61-11-1, §61-11-3, and §61-11A-7 and of the code of West Virginia 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §15-12-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-1-1, §61-1-2, and §61-1-3 of said code; to amend and reenact  §61-2-1, §61-2-2, §61-2-3, §61-2-4, §61-2-5, §61-2-6, §61-2-7, §61-2-8, §61-2-9, §61-2-11, §61-2-12, §61-2-13, §61-2-14, §61-2-15, and §61-2-16 of said code; to amend and reenact  §61-3-1, §61-3-2, §61-3-3, §61-3-4, §61-3-5, §61-3-6, §61-3-7, §61-3-8, §61-3-11, §61-3-12, §61-3-13, §61-3-14, §61-3-15, §61-3-16, §61-3-18, §61-3-19, §61-3-20, §61-3-21, §61-3-22, §61-3-23, §61-3-24, §61-3-25, §61-3-26, §61-3-27, §61-3-28, §61-3-29, §61-3-30, §61-3-31, §61-3-32, §61-3-33, §61-3-34, §61-3-35, §61-3-36, §61-3-37, and §61-3-38 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3A-3 and §61-3A-7 of said code; to amend and reenact  §61-3B-2, §61-3B-3, §61-3B-4, §61-3B-5, §61-3B-6, and §61-3B-7 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3C-2, §61-3C-3, §61-3C-4, §61-3C-5, §61-3C-6, §61-3C-7, §61-3C-8, §61-3C-9, §61-3C-10, §61-3C-11, §61-3C-12, §61-3C-13, §61-3C-14, §61-3C-15, §61-3C-16, §61-3C-17, §61-3C-18, §61-3C-19, §61-3C-20, §61-3C-21; to amend and reenact §61-3D-2 and §61-3D-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3E-1, §61-3E-3, §61-3E-4, §61-3E-5, §61-3E-6, §61-3E-7, §61-3E-8, §61-3E-9, §61-3E-10, and §61-3E-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-4-1, §61-4-2, §61-4-3, §61-4-4, §61-4-5, §61-4-6, §61-4-7, §61-4-8, and §61-4-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-5-1, §61-5-2, §61-5-3, §61-5-4, §61-5-5, §61-5-6, §61-5-7, §61-5-8, §61-5-9, §61-5-10, §61-5-11, §61-5-12, §61-5-13, §61-5-14, §61-5-15, §61-5-16, §61-5-17, §61-5-18, §61-5-19, §61-5-20, §61-5-21, §61-5-22, §61-5-23, §61-5-24, §61-5-25, §61-5-26, and §61-5-27 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-5A-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-6-6, §61-6-11, §61-6-12, §61-6-13, §61-6-14, §61-6-15, §61-6-16, and §61-6-17; §61-6-1, §61-6-1a, and §61-6-1b of said code; to amend and reenact §61-7-3, §61-7-4, §61-7-4a, §61-7-7, §61-7-10, §61-7-11, §61-7-11a, §61-7-12, §61-7-14, §61-7-15, and §61-7-15a of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8-1, §61-8-5, §61-8-6, §61-8-7, §61-8-8, §61-8-9,  §61-8-11, §61-8-12, §61-8-14, §61-8-15, §61-8-16, §61-8-19, §61-8-19a, §61-8-19b, §61-8-19c, §61-8-21, §61-8-22, §61-8-23, §61-8-27, 61-8-27a, §61-8-28, §61-8-28a, §61-8-29, §61-8-30, and §61-8-31 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8A-1, §61-8A-2, §61-8A-4, and §61-8A-5 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8B-3, §61-8B-4, §61-8B-5,  §61-8B-7, §61-8B-8, §61-8B-9, §61-8B-9b,  §61-8B-10 and §61-8B-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8C-1, §61-8C-2,  §61-8C-3,  §61-8C-3a, and §61-8C-3b of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8D-1, §61-8D-2, §61-8D-2a, §61-8D-3, §61-8D-3a, §61-8D-4, §61-8D-4a, §61-8D-5, §61-8D-5a, §61-8D-7, §61-8D-8, and §61-8D-10 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-9-1, §61-9-2, §61-9-3, §61-9-4, §61-9-5, §61-9-6, §61-9-7, and §61-9-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-10-1, §61-10-2, §61-10-3, §61-10-4, §61-10-5, §61-10-6, §61-10-9, §61-10-10, §61-10-11, §61-10-11a, §61-10-11b, §61-10-15, § 61-10-16, §61-10-17, §61-10-20, §61-10-21, §61-10-22, §61-10-23, §61-10-30, §61-10-31, §61-10-32, and §61-10-33, of said code; to amend and reenact §61-11-1a, §61-11-6,  §61-11-8, and §61-11-8a of said code; to amend and reenact §61-12-8, §61-12-9, and §61-12-13 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-13-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-14-2, §61-14-3, §61-14-4, §61-14-5, §61-14-6, §61-14-7, and §61-14-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-15-2 and §61-16-2 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-29-9a; to amend said code by adding a new section, designated §55-2-23; to amend said code by adding thereto nine new sections, designated §61-2-17, §61-2-18, §61-2-19, §61-2-20, §61-2-21, §61-2-22, §61-2-23, §61-2-24, and §61-2-25; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, §61-3-9, §61-3-10, and §61-3-17; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3B-8; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, §61-3C-22 and §61-3C-23; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §61-3F-1, §61-3F-2, §61-3F-3, §61-3F-4, §61-3F-5, §61-3F-6, §61-3F-7, §61-3F-8, §61-3F-9, §61-3F-10, §61-3F-11, §61-3F-12, §61-3F-13, §61-3F-14, §61-3F-15, §61-3F-16, and §61-3F-17; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section designated §61-4-10; to amend said code by adding thereto following five new sections, designated §61-8-5a, §61-8-6a, §61-8-8a, and §61-8-8b, to amend said code by adding thereto six new sections, designated §61-8B-4a, §61-9-6a, §61-10-1a, §61-10-9a, §61-10-9b, and §61-10-10a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article designated §61-17-1, §61-17-2, §61-17-3, §61-17-4, §61-17-5, and §61-17-6; and to amend said code by adding a new article designated §61-18-1, §61-18-2, §61-18-3, and §61-18-4; all relating to railroad employees being conservators of the peace; special railroad policemen; and the powers and duties of the same; relating to shooting ranges; limitations on nuisance actions; and noise ordinances; relating generally to criminal activity and the punishment thereof; relating to crimes against the government, treason, the definition of the crime of treason, and penalties therefor, the crime of failure to give information of treason and its penalty, and the  crime of desecration of the flag, and its penalty; relating to crimes against the person, first and second degree murder defined, and punishment for the same; delineating provisions for allegations in indictment for homicide; defining voluntary manslaughter and the penalty thereof; defining involuntary manslaughter, and specifying the penalty for the same; defining concealment of a deceased human body, and specifying the penalty for the same; clarifying that Homicide is punishable within the state if injury occurs within and death without, or vice versa; defining an attempt to kill or injure by poison, and specifying the penalty for the same; defining the crime of abortion and the penalty for the same; defining malicious or unlawful assault, assault, and battery, and specifying the penalties for each and aggravated factors and enhanced penalties; explaining provisions of sentencing for such acts committed by incarcerated persons; defining assault during the commission of or attempt to commit a felony, and specifying the penalty for the same; delineating that for violent crimes against the elderly a sentence is not subject to suspension or probation; defining harassment, and providing penalties, and certain definitions for the same; defining strangulation, suffocation, and asphyxiation and providing definitions and penalties for the same; defining robbery or attempted robbery and specifying the penalties for the same; defining extortion, and attempted extortion by threat, and specifying the penalty for these; defining kidnapping and specifying penalties for the same; defining concealment or removal of a minor child from custodian or from person entitled to visitation; and setting forth penalties and defenses for the same; providing that one aiding or abetting in kidnapping or in concealing or removing a minor child is guilty as a principal, and explaining venue for those offenses; defining unlawful restraint and providing penalties for the same; prohibiting the purchase or sale of a child, setting the criminal penalty for the same, and providing definitions and exceptions; the failure to remove doors from abandoned refrigerators, freezers and other appliances, and providing penalties for the same; providing definitions for various forms of domestic violence and criminal penalties; providing definitions and criminal penalties for the abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult; providing criminal penalties for the death of an incapacitated adult by a caregiver; defining and providing criminal penalties for the financial exploitation of an elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult; recognizing an embryo or fetus as a distinct unborn victim of certain crimes of violence against the person; relating to crimes against property; arson; the degrees of arson, and definitions and criminal penalties for the same; burning, or attempting to burn, insured property and the criminal penalty for the same; causing injuries during an arson-related crime, and the criminal penalties for the same; recovery of costs incurred in fighting fires caused by arson; defining burglary, the entry of dwelling house or outbuilding, and providing criminal penalties for the same; defining entry of a house, building, vehicle, or enclosed property, the criminal penalties for the same, and specifying counts in indictment for the same; manufacture or possession of burglary tools, and the criminal penalties for the same; setting forth criminal offenses involving theft detection shielding devices, their criminal penalties and providing for detention of persons suspected of this offense; grand larceny, aggravated grand larceny, and petit larceny distinguished, setting forth the criminal penalties for each, defining larceny of bank notes, checks, writings of value and book accounts, and delineating the determination of value in larceny; explaining receiving or transferring stolen goods and providing a criminal penalty; providing a criminal penalty for bringing into this state, receiving or disposing of property stolen in another state; embezzlement, and the criminal penalties for the same; falsifying accounts, and the criminal penalties for the same; Possession or use of automated sales suppression devices, and the criminal penalties for the same; the offenses of destroying or concealing a will, and embezzlement by fiduciary, and the criminal penalties for the same; obtaining money, property and services by false pretenses, disposing of property to defraud creditors, and the criminal penalties for each of these; the offenses of attempted or fraudulent use, forgery, traffic of credit cards, possession and transfer of credit cards and credit card making equipment, the false or fraudulent use of telephonic services, and the criminal penalties for these offenses; intercepting or monitoring customer telephone calls, and the criminal penalties for the same; requirements for finding fraudulent schemes  and provisions for the cumulation of amounts where a common scheme exists, and the criminal penalties for the same; the casting away, destroying, or interfering with floating craft or material, and the criminal penalties for the same; interference with or destruction of buoys, signal lights or other aids to navigation, and the criminal penalties for the same; the offense of malicious killing of animals by poison or otherwise, and the criminal penalties for the same; the removal out of a county of property securing a claim, and the criminal penalties for such offense; the fraudulent disposition of personal property in possession by virtue of lease, notice to return, failure to return, and penalties where such property is not returned; noting a right to immediate possession in such instances; making a false statement as to financial condition of person, firm or corporation, and the criminal penalty for the same; publication of false advertisements, and the criminal penalty for the same; fraudulently obtaining food or lodging, and the criminal penalty for the same; intoxication of a person in charge of locomotive engine or car, and the criminal penalty for the same; the offenses of jumping on or off car or train in motion; driving vehicle upon track or bridge except at crossings, and the criminal penalty for the same; procuring gas, water or electricity, by device, with intent to defraud, and the criminal penalty for the same; placing a dam or obstructions in watercourses, and the criminal penalty for the same; setting forth requirements for the purchase of scrap metal by scrap metal purchasing businesses, salvage yards, or recycling facilities; requiring certificates, records, and reports of such purchases; providing criminal penalties for violations of these provisions; setting forth requirements for the purchase of items by precious metals and gem dealers, records to be kept by them, and delineating prohibited acts, and the criminal penalty for the same; criminalizing the unauthorized use of dumpsters and setting forth penalties; defining the offense of identity theft and providing a penalty; criminalizing the failure to pay for gasoline and providing a penalty; the offense of scanning device or re-encoder fraud, delineating when it is a felony; providing definitions; and setting forth criminal penalties for the same; the offense of possession of bogus receipts or universal product codes with intent to defraud, and the criminal penalties for the same; the offense of misrepresentation of past or present military status or military awards to obtain anything of value, and delineating criminal penalties for the same; relating to shoplifting; prescribing penalties; defining the crime of organized retail theft, and providing penalties for that offence, all relating to trespass; trespass in a structure or conveyance and penalties for the same; trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance and penalties for the same; trespass on student residence premises or student facility premises of an institution of higher education and penalties for the same; trespass on state government property; aiding and abetting; penalties for each of those offenses; defining the offense of mine trespass, and penalties for the same; defining animal or crop facilities trespass; providing penalties for the same; allowing for injunctive relief  in such instances; offenses involving damage to shrubbery, flowers, trees and timber; providing for a limitation of application of the relevant subsection, and providing penalties; prohibiting cutting, damaging, or carrying away without written permission, any timber, trees, growing plants or the products thereof; treble damages provided for the same; creating the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act; defining terms relevant to the same; prohibiting certain acts, including trespass and conspiracy to trespass against property designated a critical infrastructure facility; providing criminal penalties; and, allowing for certain forms of civil action in such instances; relating to the West Virginia Computer Crime And Abuse Act, defining terms; computer fraud; access to legislative or state-owned computer; criminal penalties for the same; unauthorized access to computer services and criminal penalties for the same; unauthorized possession of computer data or programs and criminal penalties for the same; alteration, destruction, etc., of computer equipment, and criminal penalties for the same; unauthorized possession of computer information, and criminal penalties for the same; disclosure of computer security information and criminal penalties for the same; computer invasion of privacy and criminal penalties for the same; fraud and related activity in connection with access devices, and criminal penalties for the same; endangering public safety, and criminal penalties for the same; obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening communications by computer, cell phones and electronic communication devices, and criminal penalties for the same; soliciting, etc. a minor via computer; soliciting a minor and traveling to engage the minor in prohibited sexual activity; cyberbullying or specific acts of electronic harassment of minors; definitions; criminal penalties for the same; exceptions; use of a computer as an instrument of forgery; civil relief and damages available; defenses to criminal prosecution; venue; prosecution under other criminal statutes not prohibited; personal jurisdiction; and, severability; relating to the theft of cable television services, the acquisition of cable television services, and penalties for wrongfully acquitting the same; sale or transfer of a device or plan intended for acquisition or diversion, and criminal penalties for the same; Illegal possession of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; and the criminal penalty for the same; criminal use of destructive device, explosive material or incendiary device; and the criminal penalty for the same; causing accidental or intentional death or injury; penalties; causing death or injury to an explosives detection animal; and the penalty for the same; manufacture, purchase, sale, advertising for sale, transporting or possession or use of a hoax bomb; possession or use in commission of a felony; and the penalty for the same; theft of explosive material from storage magazines or buildings; and the penalty for the same; receipt, possession, storage, sale or transportation of stolen explosive material; and the criminal penalty; wanton endangerment involving destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; and the criminal penalty; contraband, seizure, forfeiture of explosive devices; relating to crimes involving worthless checks; obtaining property in return for worthless check, and the criminal penalties for the same; making, issuing, etc., worthless checks on a preexisting debt, and the criminal penalties for the same; payment as a defense to such offenses; requiring making a statement for the reason for dishonor a duty of the drawee; defining what constitutes prima facie evidence of knowledge, setting forth requirements   for identity, and providing a criminal penalty for providing false information; requiring a notice of dishonor by payee, and providing for a service charge; prescribing manner of filing complaint for warrant and the form thereof; providing guidance for a complaint, what constitutes notice of complaint, and the issuance of a warrant; delineating payment procedures, and imposing costs; providing for the payment of costs in worthless check cases, and the disposition of certain costs; requiring the preparation of a list of worthless check warrants; the use of that worthless check list upon receipt of complaint for warrant; delineating the duties of a prosecuting attorney upon receipt of notice of multiple worthless check warrants; requiring the magistrate court clerk to advise complainant; providing for the creation and operation of a program for worthless check offenders, and requirements for acceptance of a person in that program; requiring certain notice to persons accepted to the worthless check restitution program; agreement to suspend prosecution of a person accepted into the restitution program; providing for fees for participation in the worthless check restitution program; and, providing that statements by individuals referred to or participating in the worthless check restitution program are criminally inadmissible; relating to forgery, crimes against the currency, the forgery of public records, certificates, returns or attestation of a court or officer; and the criminal penalty for the same; forgery of official seals; keeping or concealing instrument for forging same; and the criminal penalty for the same; counterfeiting, and the criminal penalty for the same; making plates, etc., for forgery; possession of same; and the criminal penalty for that offense; forging or uttering other writing and the criminal penalty for the same; creation of unauthorized demand draft; possession of counterfeit currency with intent to utter; and the criminal penalty for the same; unauthorized currency, and the criminal penalty for the same; passing or receiving unauthorized currency knowingly, and the criminal penalty for the same; and, the unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration or possession of certain benefits and the criminal penalty for the same; payment cards and falsely making or lading the same, and the criminal penalty therefore; relating to crimes against public justice generally; perjury and subornation of perjury defined; false swearing defined, and the criminal  penalties for perjury, subornation of perjury, and false swearing; aiding escape and other offenses relating to adults and juveniles in custody or confinement; and criminal penalties for the same; permitting escape; refusal of custody of prisoner; and criminal penalties for the same; persons in custody of institutions or officers, escapes and aiding in escapes; and criminal penalties for the same; terms of confinement in addition to previous sentence; escapes from, and other offenses relating to, state benevolent and correctional institution, or private prison or mental health facilities and criminal penalties for the same; escape from custody of the commissioner of corrections and criminal penalties for the same; escape from custody of the director of juvenile services; refusal of officer to make, or delay in making, arrest; and criminal penalties for the same; refusal of person to aid officer and criminal penalties for the same; refusal of officer to execute act or process of legislature or order of governor; and criminal penalty for the same; obstructing officer; fleeing from officer; making false statements to officer; interfering with emergency communications; criminal penalties for the same; definition; officer not liable for act done under statute or executive order afterward declared unconstitutional; compounding offenses and misprision and criminal penalties for the same; exacting excessive fees and criminal penalties for the same; issuing fraudulent fee bills  and criminal penalties for the same; alteration, concealment or destruction of public record by officer and criminal penalty for the same; larceny, concealment or destruction of public record by person not officer; and criminal penalty for the same; corrupt summoning of jurors to find biased verdict; and criminal penalty for the same; procuring the summoning of biased juror by party other than officer; and criminal penalty for the same; discrimination against employee summoned for jury duty; and criminal penalty for the same; contempt of court; what constitutes contempt; jury trial; presence of defendant; criminal penalty for the same; fraudulent official proceedings; causing a public employee or official to file a fraudulent legal process and criminal penalty for the same; impersonation of a public official, employee or tribunal; and criminal penalties for the same; impersonation of a public official or tribunal; impersonation of a law-enforcement officer; and criminal penalties for the same; subsequent offense; failure to perform official duties and criminal penalty for the same; the failure to meet an obligation to pay support to a minor and criminal penalties for the same; relating to bribery and corrupt practices, and the criminal penalties for such offenses; relating to crimes against the peace generally; mobs and lynching, and the criminal penalties for the same; liability of county or city in such instances; disturbance of religious worship and the criminal penalty for the same; disturbance of schools, societies, and other assemblies and the criminal penalty for the same; loitering on school property and the criminal penalty for the same; exceptions, camping upon governmental grounds or lawns and the criminal penalty for the same; public nuisance, false reports concerning bombs or other explosive devices and the criminal penalty for the same; falsely reporting an emergency incident and the criminal penalty for the same; willful disruption of governmental processes; offenses occurring at State Capitol Complex; and the criminal penalties for the same; threats of terrorist acts, conveying false information concerning terrorist acts and committing terrorist hoaxes prohibited; and the criminal penalties for the same; prohibiting violations of an individual’s civil rights; and the criminal penalties for the same; wearing masks, hoods or face coverings and the criminal penalty for the same; and falsely reporting child abuse and the criminal penalty for the same; classifying criminal penalties for failing to register as a sex offender, failure to provide information change,  and providing false information to the sex offender registry; deleting requirement that a person be deemed a rioter if they failed to provide required assistance at a riot; classify the penalty for crime of failure to obey an order given at a riot or unlawful assembly; providing that the crime of disorderly conduct is a petty offense; defining the crime of bigamy; providing a misdemeanor penalty for bigamy; providing definitions related to the crimes of pimping, prostitution and pandering; defining the crime of prostitution; providing the penalty for prostitution; providing that a medical report certifying no sexually transmitted disease reduces penalty for prostitution; providing criminal penalty for solicitation of  prostitute; providing enhanced criminal penalty for solicitation of an individual for prostitution who is less than 18 years of age, mentally defective or incapacitated; providing fines for soliciting prostitution be paid to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund in designated circumstances; clarifying the crime pandering; providing that a second offense of pandering,  recruitment involving coercion or force, and recruitment of persons under the age of 18 are felony offenses; establishing that parents consenting to using a minor or mentally defective person for prostitution is guilty of a felony; establishing that causing a person to engage in prostitution because of debt or to receive value is subject to misdemeanor penalty; establishing that a person who forces, intimidates or threatens a spouse to engage in prostitution commits a felony offense; providing respective criminal penalties; establishing the criminal offense of abducting, enticing or harboring a child for prostitution; providing a criminal penalty; establishing the crime of promoting and advancing  prostitution; defining a house of prostitution in context of promoting prostitution; permitting character evidence; providing criminal penalty, including additional fine; establishing the offense of sexual solicitation; providing a criminal penalty including additional fine; providing an affirmative defense to sexual solicitation for victims of trafficking; providing affirmative  defenses to prostitution  relating to human trafficking, abduction and mental defect or incapacitation; establishing aggravating circumstances, restitution and eligibility for Compensation Award to Victims of Crimes; providing that law enforcement notify DHHR of child victims; providing that  any property used for or derived from prostitution is subject to forfeiture; providing that persons convicted be debarred from state or local contracts; clarifying that criminal indecent exposure cannot occur if victim grants  permission; classifies criminal penalties for indecent exposure; classifies criminal penalties for inhaling or drinking certain intoxicating compounds; defines ‘step-relative’ in context of the crime of incest; establishes that intercourse between two consenting adult step-relatives is not incest; classifies criminal penalty for incest; defines desecration and classifies criminal penalties for unlawful disinterment, desecration, injury to a grave marker or damage to cemetery; prohibits certain demonstrations at a funeral; classifies criminal penalty for prohibited funeral demonstrations; classifies criminal penalty for obscene, anonymous and threatening phone calls; classifies criminal penalties for cruelty to animals; classifies criminal penalty for animal fighting; classifies criminal penalty for attending an animal fighting venture; classifies criminal penalty for wagering at an animal fighting venture; establishes circumstances, sufficiency and application of a search warrant related to animal cruelty; extends search warrant authority  for birds or animals kept for fighting to natural resources police; clarifies extent of searches without a warrant for fighting animals or birds; classifying criminal penalty for unlawful admission of children to  places injurious to health or morals; classifying criminal penalty for under age false identification; classifying criminal penalty for criminal invasion of privacy; classifying criminal penalty for nonconsensual public disclosure of private intimate images; classifying criminal penalty for criminal loitering within certain distances of minor victims of sexually violent offenses or offenses; classifying penalties for disclosing or making photographs of accident or emergent situations public; classifying penalties for therapeutic deception; expanding definition of computer applied to obscene matter and minors; classifying criminal penalties for distribution and display to minor of obscene matter; classifying criminal penalties for use of obscene matter with intent to seduce minor; classifying criminal penalties for use of  minor to produce obscene matter or assist in doing sexually explicit conduct; classifying criminal penalties for sexual assault in the first degree; classifying criminal penalties for sexual assault in the second degree; providing definitions of terms related to the criminal offense of sexual extortion; establishing the elements of the crime of sexual extortion; classifying criminal penalties for sexual assault in the  third degree; classifying criminal penalties for sexual abuse in the  first degree; classifying criminal penalties for sexual abuse in the  second degree; classifying criminal penalties for sexual abuse in the third degree; classifying criminal penalties for imposition of sexual acts on persons incarcerated or under supervision; providing a definitions of ‘coerce’ and ‘visually portray’ in the context of the crime of filming sexually explicit conduct of minors; classifying criminal penalty for producing a visual portrayal of a minor in sexually explicit conduct; providing for enhanced penalty when parent distributes material displaying a child under their care in sexually explicit conduct; classifying penalties when any person distributes or  exhibits material displaying a minor in sexually explicit conduct; classifying penalties for production, display or distribution of visual portrayals of partially clothed minors; defining ‘visual portrayal’ in context of prohibited possession, manufacture or distribution of inappropriate sexual portrayals by a minor; clarifying the definition of ‘parent’ in context of child abuse to include step or foster parent; classifying criminal penalties for murder of custodial child for failure or refusal to supply necessities; clarifying definition of ‘recognized method of religious healing’ in context of murder of custodial child for failure or refusal to supply necessities; classifying criminal penalties for death of a child by child abuse; classifying criminal penalties for child abuse causing or creating a risk of injury; classifying the criminal penalty for female genital mutilation; classifying the criminal penalty for child neglect resulting in death; in context of the crime of child neglect resulting in death, clarifying that  care through recognized method of religious healing in lieu of medical treatment may not constitute neglect; defining recognized method of religious healing; classifying the criminal penalty for sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust to a child; classifying the criminal penalty for procuring, authorizing or inducing another to engage in sexual acts with a child under their care or custody; sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust to a child; parent, guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust procuring, authorizing, inducing  a to a child sixteen or older; definition of terms related to nuisances; designated elements for maintaining a  nuisance; providing standing to bring an action to abate a nuisance; venue for a nuisance action; evidence and proof related to an action to abate nuisance; provisions and procedures related to an action to enjoin a nuisance; prima facie evidence of a nuisance; prosecution of a nuisance complaint; provisions for dismissal of a nuisance action; award of costs related to a nuisance action; when existence of nuisance established permanent injunction required; order of abatement for a nuisance; elements of a nuisance abatement order; removal and sale of movable property from a nuisance; liability of officers disposing of property from a nuisance proceeding; criminal offense of contempt related to nuisance proceedings; definitions related to gaming and gambling; criminal offense for possessing or dealing in unlicensed gaming devices; seizure of unlicensed gaming or gambling devices; criminal offense for permitting a gambling device on premises under unauthorized ownership, leasehold, occupation or possession; criminal offense of acting as a guard or interfering with lawful intervention for gambling premises; criminal offense of unauthorized wagering on outcomes of uncertain events or prohibited games; criminal offense for a unauthorized commercial gambling at a hotel or tavern; criminal offense for cheating at gambling; criminal offense of unauthorized dealing in gambling device; criminal offense of unauthorized installation of a gaming device; criminal offense for unauthorized sale of a voucher or certificate for gambling on outcome of sporting events, games of skill or other sport or contest; declaring premises for unauthorized commercial gambling  a nuisance; defining lottery and raffle; criminal offense for unauthorized  operation of a lottery or raffle; criminal offense of keeping policy or numbers slips; seizure of designated gambling devices and equipment; provides seizure authority for gambling articles or apparatuses; classifying criminal penalties for crime of certain public officials with pecuniary interest in certain public contracts; classifying the criminal offense of unlawful showing of pictures, advertisement or  theatrical productions calculated to arouse prejudicial ire or feelings; classifying the criminal offense of lobbying on the floor of the legislature; classifying the crime of employers who fail or refuse to pay contracted employment benefits or contributions; classifying the crime of unlawful use of the prefix of Doctor; classifying the criminal penalty for bribery; clarifying the elements of the crime of bribery; classifying the criminal penalty for debt pooling; clarifying the elements of the crime of debt pooling; classifying the criminal penalty for failure to maintain and affix a cover for a water well; classify the penalty for the crime of conspiracy; classify the penalty for the crime of unlawful contact with a corrections employee or a member of the parole board; classify the penalty for prohibited sale of certain caffeine products; classify the criminal penalties in the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act; classify the criminal penalties for punishment of principals in the second degree and designated accessories; classify the criminal penalties for attempted crimes; classify the criminal penalties for solicitation to commit certain crimes; classify the criminal penalties for crimes related to post mortem examinations; classify the criminal penalties for failing to secure a cremation permit; clarify evidentiary admissibility of autopsy reports and investigations; classify the penalties for organized criminal enterprise offenses; classify the criminal penalties for the offense of human trafficking; classify the criminal penalties for the offense of forced labor; classify the criminal penalties for the offense of using adults or minors in debt bondage; classify the criminal penalties for the offense of coercing or compelling an individual to engage in commercial sexual; classify the criminal penalties for the offense of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude; establishing that an individual convicted of a human trafficking offense who is sentenced to life without mercy is not eligible for parole; classify the criminal penalty for money laundering; classify the criminal penalty for prohibited use of unmanned aircraft systems; classify criminal offenses and respective sentencing dispositions; establishing that  felonies are classified into six categories and  misdemeanors are classified into three categories; providing that petty offenses are not classified; establishing that criminal classification  is derived from the defining criminal section or chapter; establishing that petty offenses are  specifically designated to include any crime  without specified designation or classification; providing that offenses noted outside Chapter 61 which are not designated as a felony, misdemeanor or petty offense,  are punished under the prescribed statutory penalty; unless provided otherwise felony imprisonment sentence is a term of definite years; establishes respective range of felony terms of imprisonment into six classifications; establishes respective range of  misdemeanor terms of imprisonment within three classifications; providing discretion to the sentencing court to treat a class 6 felony as a class 1 misdemeanor with noted exceptions; providing the trial court impose its sentence within designated range of maximum and minimum terms; requiring the court  to consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances as well as the  pre-sentence report; providing potential increased sentence for crimes near a school which may exceed maximum sentencing limits; provides that a felony sentence must  be a definite term of years served in the state department of corrections; establishes requirements for transfer of custody; provides a range of imprisonment term for all six felony classes; providing that misdemeanor sentences are for a definite term to be served at somewhere other than the state department of corrections; establishes respective limitations of imprisonment for the three classes of misdemeanors; provides discretion to the court  in certain circumstances, to treat a class 6 felony as a class 1 misdemeanor; provides for  reimbursement of incarceration costs for misdemeanor offenses; provides court with discretion to increase sentence by one year for offenses near a school; establishes that school vicinity sentence enhancement may exceed statutory limit; further providing that if the victim offense is a child but is not within the designated range of a school the court may consider relevant circumstances and increase the sentence two years; establishing fines for felony offenses; establishing fines for misdemeanor offenses; for purposes of sentencing, defines an  ‘enterprise’ as any entity other than a person; provides graduated penalty of fines  imposed upon enterprise for criminal offenses; establishes that  a judgment of fine against an enterprise constitutes a lien; establishes relevant factors for the court to consider when sentencing an enterprise for criminal conduct; requires the court to order a person incarcerated for a criminal offense to pay incarceration costs; and, establishes factors for the court to consider when assessing payment of incarceration costs”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Barnhart, Maynard and Hansen:

H. B. 2031 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-9-1, §5B-9-2, §5B-9-3, §5B-9-4, §5B-9-5, §5B-9-6, §5B-9-7, §5B-9-8 and §5B-9-9, all relating to enacting the West Virginia Development Achievements Transparency Act; providing a short title; providing legislative purpose and findings; providing for definitions; outlining reporting requirements for entities providing a development subsidy; directing the Auditor to create a searchable website to view development subsidy data; detailing the items required to be provided on the Auditor’s searchable website; protecting confidentiality of certain subsidy data; providing penalties related to the accuracy and timeliness of information reported; and permitting the Auditor to hold public hearings or trainings to ensure compliance with the article”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Hamrick, Howell and Hanna:

H. B. 2032 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to issuing specialty motor vehicle registration plates for businesses owning a fleet of 25 or more vehicles; establishing application and qualification requirements; and establishing fees for specialty registration therefor”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegates Hamrick and McGeehan:

H. B. 2033 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-1-1g; to amend and reenact §18B-1-2 of said code; and to amend and reenact §18B-1B-6 of said code; all relating to public higher education governance by establishing matrix necessary for an institution of higher education to become exempt from the Higher Education Policy Commission, and identifying Fairmont State University, Shepherd University, and West Liberty University as exempted schools based on the matrix criteria”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Hamrick and Paynter:

H. B. 2034 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-5DD-1, §16-5DD-2, §16-5DD-3, §16-5DD-4, and §16-5DD-5; all relating to establishing a comprehensive substance addiction recovery center certification and grant program in this state; providing for certification criteria; providing for eligibility criteria to receive a grant; providing for ranking priorities of grant applicants; providing for grant award limitations; providing for reporting requirements of grant recipients; providing for the creation of the Comprehensive Substance Addiction Recovery Center Fund; providing for funding; providing for permitted expenditures from the fund; providing that money in the fund remains in the fund at the end of the fiscal year; and providing for an effective date”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegates Hamrick and Paynter:

H. B. 2035 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §20-2-28 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permitting the resident lineal descendants of landowners to hunt, trap or fish on that resident landowner’s property without a license”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources  then Finance.

By Delegates Howell and Martin:

H. B. 2036 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §30-40-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to removing the requirement that real estate brokers, associate brokers, and salespeople have a fixed office location”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegate Pethtel:

H. B. 2037 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §19-18-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing protections, under certain circumstances, to owners of livestock and other domestic animals when retrieving the animals after they have trespassed on the property of another”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources  then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Boggs:

H. B. 2038 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17C-13-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to revising requirements relating to the issuance and renewal of handicap vehicle placards”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegates Boggs, Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2039 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-2-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §49-5-102 of said code, all relating to expunging records of unsubstantiated complaints made by the Department of Health and Human Resources against teachers three years following investigation of the complaint”; to the Committee on Education then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Barnhart:

H. B. 2040 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-25d, relating to requiring the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission to adopt and implement a ‘Heat and Humidity Practice Policy’ for all interscholastic athletic events of the students in public secondary schools”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegate Barnhart:

H. B. 2041 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §7-23A-1, relating to creating the County Budget Flexibility Act; permitting a county to hold over unspent budgetary funds and excess revenue for future uses; requiring those funds be deposited in a county’s Future Needs Fund; authorizing the use of those funds for future or unexpected needs; making findings; and setting forth an intent”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.

By Delegates Howell, J. Jeffries, Foster, Martin and D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2042 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-15-9t, relating to exempting sales of small arms and small arms ammunition from state sales and use taxes”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Howell and Fast:

H. B. 2043 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5B-2I-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing the West Virginia Tourism Office to enter into an agreement with the Division of Highways to provide staff at the welcome centers and highway rest areas; and to create displays promoting in-state tourism at the welcome centers and rest areas”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2044 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §24-6-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-6-15; all relating to establishing Next Generation 911 services in this state; providing for expanded definitions; establishing a commission to study Next Generation 911 services; providing for commission membership; providing for travel expense reimbursement under certain conditions; establishing the commission’s duties; requiring a preliminary report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance; requiring a final report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and to the Governor; and establishing an effective date and termination date of the commission”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2045 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §55-7-32, relating to providing limitations on nuisance actions against fire department and emergency medical services fixed sirens under certain circumstances”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Howell and J. Jeffries:

H. B. 2046 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto three new sections, designated §11-21-25, §11-21-26, and §11-21-27 all relating to creating three refundable tax credits for volunteer fire fighters, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, and ambulance drivers for qualifying service, training expenses and mileage expenses”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then Finance.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2047 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29-22C-2, §29-22C-3, §29-22C-4, §29-22C-6, §29-22C-13, §29-22C-14, §29-22C-17, §29-22C-18, §29-22C-19, §29-22C-29, and §29-22C-31 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §29-25-2, §29-25-3, §29-25-8, §29-25-12, §29-25-14, §29-25-15, §29-25-16, §29-25-17, §29-25-18, §29-25-22, §29-25-25, and §29-25-27 of said code, all relating to changing the licensing requirement for certain casino employees from a licensure to a registration; and granting emergency rule-making authority”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Lovejoy and Toney:

H. B. 2048 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §7-14D-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to Deputy Sheriff Retirement System; amending definition of ‘partially disabled’”; to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement then Finance.

By Delegates Lovejoy and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2049 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §19-1-13, relating to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program; making legislative findings and intent; creating the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fund; and requesting additional moneys to be added to the fund”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources  then Finance.

By Delegates Lovejoy, Hott and Zukoff:

H. B. 2050 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §19-38-1, §19-38-2, §19-38-3, §19-38-4, §19-38-5, §19-38-6, and §19-38-7, all relating to creating West Virginia Healthy Food Crop Block Grant Program; stating findings; defining terms; creating fund; providing general revenue to fund grants for five years; partnering with nonprofit food and farm organization; establishing grant selection committee and membership; providing method for allocating grants; limiting grants; providing for rulemaking; and establishing program review reports”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources  then Finance.

By Delegates Lovejoy and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2051 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §23-4-1f of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing workers’ compensation benefits for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from an event that occurred during their employment; providing for diagnosis; noting that treatment can be conducted by other licensed mental health professionals once the initial diagnosis has been made by a psychiatrist; providing that continuing benefits are contingent upon continued treatment; and, requiring the Joint Committee on Volunteer Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services to study the implementation of this provision and report to the Legislature with modifications or additions to this section”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then the Judiciary then Political Subdivisions.

By Delegates Lovejoy, Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2052 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §23-4-15 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying that the time limitations provided for filing occupational pneumoconiosis claims do not apply or otherwise limit the ability of a claimant to obtain an evaluation from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates Howell and Hott:

H. B. 2053 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-5-5 and §16-5-29 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-5-39, all relating to authorizing the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue certain vital records in the custody of the State Registrar; to require the Division of Motor Vehicles to adhere to the State Registrar’s rules; authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to collect a fee for issuing vital records and transmit those fees to the State Registrar monthly; and require the Commissioner of the Division of Health and Human Resources and Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a program that allows the Division of Motor Vehicles access to certain vital records to issue to customers”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2054 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §49-4-712 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §49-4-712a, all relating to requiring parents or guardians to participate in programs for juveniles in an out-of-home placement”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2055 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §44A-6-1, §44A-6-2, §44A-6-3, §44A-6-4, and §44A-6-5; and to amend and reenact §51-2A-2 of said code, all relating to establishing a procedure to name a kinship legal guardian; defining terms; establishing eligibility to file a petition; describing  required contents for a petition; bestowing family court jurisdiction; setting fee; providing for review of petition without hearing and entry of an order of approval; and describing the scope and effect of an order of approval”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Rowe and Westfall:

H. B. 2056 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-16-18 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §60-7-12 of said code; and to amend and reenact §60-8-34 of said code, all relating to changing the beginning time for beer and wine sales on Sunday from one p.m. to 10 a.m.”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Lovejoy, Rowan and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2057 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5D-6, relating to establishing the Summer Feeding for All Program; providing findings; directing a county-by-county assessment of nonschool day student initiative; food insecurities; empowering county school boards to develop initiatives and programs for feeding students in need during summer and other nonschool time periods; providing county board reporting requirements to the Office of Child Nutrition; and directing the Office of Child Nutrition to collect and distribute information regarding available food resources”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Thompson:

H. B. 2058 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-6-17, relating to providing a $1,000 pay increase for full-time adult protective service workers”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Thompson:

H. B. 2059 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §20-2D-1, §20-2D-2, §20-2D-3, §20-2D-4, §20-2D-5, §20-2D-6, §20-2D-7, §20-2D-8, §20-2D-9, §20-2D-10, §20-2D-11, §20-2D-12, §20-2D-13, §20-2D-14, §20-2D-15, §20-2D-16 and §20-2D-17, all relating to establishing a system for issuing permits for persons to provide rehabilitation of orphaned, sick and injured wildlife; setting forth a purpose for the legislation; defining certain terms; establishing qualifications and duties of rehabilitators; providing for the issuance of permits by the Director of Rehab Services for the Division of Natural Resources; requiring certain standards of treatment and housing; listing criteria for revocation of permits; and providing that the Director of Rehab Services for the Division of Natural Resources may propose legislative rules”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources  then Government Organization.

By Delegate Thompson:

H. B. 2060 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §60A-4-401 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reducing the criminal penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana or paraphernal designed for smoking or other use of marijuana”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2061 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18C-10-1, §18C-10-2, §18C-10-3, §18C-10-4, §18C-10-5, §18C-10-6, §18C-10-7, and §18C-10-8, all relating to creating the Katherine Johnson College Award Program; providing tuition assistance to qualified students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in eligible post-secondary programs at state regional colleges or universities”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2062 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §31-15-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the West Virginia Economic Development Authority; creating a small business and minority populations economic and workforce development taskforce to assist the Director of the Economic Development Authority in developing and implementing a procedure to address employment, labor force participation and economic development problems of small business and low income and minority populations of West Virginia; and developing a pilot project that can be used as a model to promote the growth and development of small business to increase employment and labor force participation across West Virginia”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then Government Organization.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2063 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §46A-6F-504, relating to unfair or deceptive telemarketing acts or practices; providing that West Virginia Code prohibiting transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information applies to communications service providers”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegates Rowe, Fleischauer and Hansen:

H. B. 2064 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15-15-1, §15-15-2, §15-15-3, §15-15-4, and §15-15-5, all relating to creating the biometric information privacy act; providing legislative findings and definitions; regulating the retention, collection, disclosure, and destruction of biometric identifiers or biometric information; providing a right of action for grievances; and construction of this article”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2065 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-23a, relating to allowing low income senior citizens to receive certain tax credits without filing a state income tax return”; to the Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2066 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-15g, relating to requiring county boards of education to provide days prior to early voting during primary and general elections for registering eligible students to vote and being transported to vote”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2067 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §49-9-101, relating to designation of social workers in the Department of Health and Human Resources to promote better student school attendance and performance, and the health and well-being of students at home; duties described; limitation on use of information obtained”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2068 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the establishment of a special memorial day to be known as Juneteenth honoring human rights and the end of slavery in the United States; and encouraging all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Government Organization.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2069 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-10-1, §5B-10-2, and §5B-10-3, all relating to establishment of an Economic and Community Development Task Force; composition of task force; and requiring a report of task force to Joint Committee on Government and Finance”; to the Committee on Government Organization then Finance.

By Delegate Sypolt:

H. B. 2070 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §4-1-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §4-2A-5a; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-5-7a, all relating to mandatory drug testing for state legislators and teachers”; to the Committee on Education then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Sypolt:

H. B. 2071 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-5-2 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to eliminating the requirement that schools be closed on election days”; to the Committee on Education then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Sypolt, Fast, Rowan and Paynter:

H. B. 2072 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing a special license plate to support adoption; and establishing fees”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegates Sypolt and Rowan:

H. B. 2073 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-4-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to making it a felony to knowingly expose another individual to HIV without his or her informed consent; establishing criminal penalties; and imposing civil liability”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Sypolt and Hansen:

H. B. 2074 -  “A Bill to amend and reenact §22-6A-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-12a, all relating to requiring continuous monitoring of air, noise, dust and particulates; requiring the operator to undertake the best available control technology if standards for air, noise, dust or particulates are exceeded; and changing the set back from horizontal well work activity to a residence to 1,500 feet from the limit of well work disturbance”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2075 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-10-3c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to removing the registration fee for a vehicle operating on a combination of electricity and petrochemical fuels”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegates J. Pack, McGeehan, Howell, Cooper and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2076 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to removing all costs and fees from a Silver Star registration plate”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then Finance.

By Delegates Summers and Fast:

H. B. 2077 - “A Bill to repeal §9-5-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §16-2D-2, §16-2D-3, §16-2D-4, §16-2D-5, §16-2D-6, §16-2D-7, §16-2D-8, §16-2D-9, §16-2D-10, §16-2D-11, §16-2D-12, §16-2D-13, §16-2D-14, §16-2D-15, §16-2D-16, §16-2D-17, §16-2D-18, §16-2D-19, and §16-2D-20 of said code; to repeal §16-2N-3 of said code; to repeal §16-29A-20 of said code; to repeal §16-29B-1, §16-29B-8, §16-29B-12, §16-29B-13, §16-29B-14, §16-29B-15, and §16-29B-30 of said code; to repeal §49-2-124 of said code; to amend and reenact §16-2D-1 of said code; to amend and reenact §16-5Y-3 and §16-5Y-12 of said code; and to amend and reenact §33-15B-5 of said code, all relating to eliminating the certificate of need program; fixing an effective date; deleting references to the certificate of need program throughout the code and making technical corrections”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Rowan and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2078 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-57-1, §16-57-2, §16-57-3, and §16-57-4, all relating to creating the Nondiscrimination in Involuntary Denial of Treatment Act; requiring the provision of medical treatment under certain circumstances; requiring the disclosure of policies related to the life-preserving treatment a patient may receive or be denied; requiring the Department of Health and Human Resources to maintain and report on certain information”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rowan:

H. B. 2079 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-20-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to more equitable disbursement of funds to county boards to lessen budgetary impact of serving high cost/high acuity special needs students; eliminating requirement to annual review of rules, policies and standards and federal law and report to Legislative Oversight Commission; defining high cost/high acuity special needs; and providing for method of fund disbursement”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Rowan and Fast:

H. B. 2080 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-45a, relating to permitting a county school board to accrue instructional days or portions thereof during years of good weather and use them in years of inclement weather”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Zukoff and Barrett:

H. B. 2081 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-71c, relating to tax on income of nonresidents for natural resources royalty payments received from lessees; providing legislative findings; defining terms; providing for withholding of estimated tax liabilities from natural resources royalty payments for nonresidents by lessees; providing exceptions to the tax withholding requirements under certain circumstances; providing that withheld amounts be paid by lessees to the Tax Commissioner on behalf of the nonresidents; providing for refunds to nonresidents for overpayment; requiring annual withholding statements, reconciliation, and filing requirements; requiring electronic filing under specified circumstances; providing for criminal and civil penalties in certain circumstances for non-compliance; providing for rule-making; and providing an effective date”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2082 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-19-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-19-2a, all relating to taxes on soft drinks and soft drink syrups; and changing persons responsible for the taxes”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2083 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-9E-1, §16-9E-2, and §16-9E-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to age verification requirements for delivery sales of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2084 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18B-10-7a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to tuition and fee waivers or adjustments for resident students and certain non-resident students; and by decreasing the eligibility age from 65 to 60 years of age or older”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2085 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-9A-1, §16-9A-2, §16-9A-3, §16-9A-4, §16-9A-7 and, §16-9A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-9A-11, all relating to tobacco usage restrictions; modifying legislative intent; modifying definitions; prohibiting persons under the age of 21 from purchasing tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products; making it a misdemeanor to use tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products in a building used for school instruction; prohibiting sales of tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products by firm, corporation, or entity to person under age 21; providing criminal penalties for sales of tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products; providing employer authority to terminate employment of employee who violates section; making the sale of tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products permissible reason for dismissal of employee; establishing that an employee’s sale of tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products to persons under 21 be considered gross misconduct for purposes of unemployment compensation; designating the Bureau for Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Resources as the entity responsible to enforce tobacco laws and conduct compliance inspections; and prohibit sales of tobacco products, tobacco derived products, or alternative nicotine products in a display independently accessible by individuals under the age of 21”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2086 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §62-12-6 and §62-12-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, all relating to requiring a parolee or probationer found to have suffered with addiction to participate in a support service upon release for a certain period of time”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2087 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-5Y-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification to inspect office-based medication-assisted treatment programs at least every 24 months”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2088 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §49-4-604 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring a court to verify certain conditions are met before a child who has been removed from a home may be returned to that home”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Martin:

H. B. 2089 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-4-8 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to defining a work day and a one-half work day for school service personnel and removing a provision relating to employment of licensed practical nurses”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Martin and Fast:

H. B. 2090 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §24-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting a noninvestor-owned water or sewer public utility from prohibiting a customer from constructing, installing, or maintaining a connection or other infrastructure necessary for the customer to connect to the public utility to receive service”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Martin, Fast, Foster and Hanna:

H. B. 2091 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-17, relating to creating a process by which voters may recall a county ordinance in a special election”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Martin and Fast:

H. B. 2092 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-2-7c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring each high school student to complete a one-half credit course of study in personal finance as a requirement for high school graduation”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Graves, Hott and Sypolt:

H. B. 2093 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-5E-3a; and to amend and reenact §16-49-1 of said code, all relating to providing exemption to medical foster homes approved and annually reviewed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs from requirements for unlicensed health care homes; providing for annual reporting regarding operation of program; and excluding medical foster homes from the definition of covered provider for purposes of WV CARES Act”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Graves:

H. B. 2094 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §49-4-725 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the juvenile restorative justice programs; providing definitions related to the juvenile restorative justice programs; establishing particular aspects of a voluntary restorative justice program including juveniles taking responsibility for their actions, focusing on repairing harm done by facilitated communication between victim, offender, and associated third parties or stakeholders; including victim-offender mediation, peacemaking circles, and family group conferencing as aspects of the restorative justice program; providing that referral to a juvenile justice program must occur before adjudication; and include a process whereby all parties agree on how to reasonably repair the harm, which may include, but is not limited to, restitution, community service, or other reasonable sanctions”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Graves:

H. B. 2095 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §7-1-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §7-10-1a and §7-10-6; to amend and reenact §7-10-2 and §7-10-4 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §19-20-12a and §19-20-27; to amend and reenact §19-20-22 and §19-20-26; to amend and reenact §61-8-19 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §61-8-19d and §61-8-19e, all relating generally to providing increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals; requiring facilities for the care of stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals and providing for access by the public; defining terms; updating the duties of humane officers; specifying standards for the operation of animal shelters; requiring inspections; establishing sanctions for violation of the standards of operation; defining an owner’s duty of care for companion animals; requiring an owner to confine unspayed female dogs in estrus; requiring dog breeders to provide written disclosures to purchasers; specifying minimum levels of care to be provided by dog breeders; defining when a dog is unfit for sale by a dog breeder and providing remedies therefor; increasing the penalty for a second offense of cruelty to animals; defining the criminal offenses of unlawful confinement of domestic animals and hoarding of animals; establishing criminal penalties; and providing for mental health treatment in certain circumstances involving hoarding of animals”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Graves, Barrett, Hanna, Skaff and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2096 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13X-3, §11-13X-4, §11-13X-5, §11-13X-6, §11-13X-8, §11-13X-11, §11-13X-12, and §11-13X-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act; reinstating the film investment tax credit; providing the coordination and management by the West Virginia development office; defining development office and multi-state distribution; excluding short-term depreciation from credit; raising the minimum threshold of cumulative annual expenditures necessary to qualify for credit; establishing an annual limit in credits available; requiring the development office to develop a database of locations, music, and other resources to be made available to film production teams; providing development office discretion to determine if project negatively portrays West Virginia; requiring state agencies to solicit bids from West Virginia vendors for film or video projects if available; and giving retroactive effect to film investment tax credit program”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Doyle, Toney and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2097 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-9A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to calculating net enrollment for home-school students enrolled in one virtual school course in the public school system; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2098 - “A Bill to repeal §30-27-11a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §30-27-1 and §30-27-3 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-27-8c, all relating to permits issued by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists; repealing the requirement for shampoo assistant to have permits; amending defined terms; and authorizing the board to establish an apprenticeship program for cosmetologists”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2099 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §1-2-2c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the redistricting of the Senate into 16 two-member senatorial districts and redistricting the House into 96 single member districts; how future house districts are to be drawn; and, that the redistricting is to begin in 2022 based on the 2010 census”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2100 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-13A-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring new commercial and industrial customers to pay for the construction of any expanded or upgraded public service district facilities if the district’s present facilities are insufficient to serve the needs of that commercial or industrial consumer; and prohibiting any costs being passed on to present consumers”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Doyle and Hansen:

H. B. 2101 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13X-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reinstating the film tax credits”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then Finance.

By Delegates Doyle and Hansen:

H. B. 2102 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-5-11a, relating to required notices for air quality permits prior to the permit being granted”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Doyle and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2103 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-2-14, relating to requiring the Insurance Commissioner to establish an insurance program for health and medical insurance coverage to be offered in counties with limited insurance providers”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2104 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §54-2-22, relating to compensation paid to landowners when interest in property taken by eminent domain is for a nongovernmental entity”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Doyle and Hansen:

H. B. 2105 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §20-19-1, §20-19-2, §20-19-3, §20-19-4, §20-19-5, §20-19-6, §20-19-7, §20-19-8, §20-19-9, §20-19-10, §20-19-11, §20-19-12, §20-19-13, and §20-19-14, all relating to requiring the use of returnable containers for soft drinks, soda water, carbonated natural or mineral water, other nonalcoholic carbonated drinks and for beer, ale or other malt drinks of any alcoholic content and for certain other beverage containers; requiring the use of unredeemed bottle deposits; prescribing the powers and duties of certain state agencies and officials; and prescribing penalties and remedies”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then Government Organization.

By Delegate Hanna:

H. B. 2106 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-5-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Department of Health and Human Resources to include in legislative rules for vital statistics that death certificates contain a space for stating ‘proximate cause of death’ as well as ‘cause of death’”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Hanna, D. Jeffries and Hansen:

H. B. 2107 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-30-1, §5-30-2, §5-30-3, §5-30-4, and §5-30-5, all relating to state recognition of Native American Tribes; defining terms; designating certain tribes as recognized by the state; establishing criteria for state recognition of additional tribes; authorizing unique trademarks for certain arts and crafts; prohibiting gambling; and providing penalty for unauthorized use of trademark”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Hanna:

H. B. 2108 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §8-5A-1, relating to creating the Taxation With Representation Act whereby nonresidents of a municipality who work in that municipality and who pay user fees pursuant to a municipal ordinance may vote in municipal elections”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Hanna, Toney and Martin:

H. B. 2109 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-42; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article designated §18-21A-1, §18-21A-2, §18-21A-3, §18-21A-4, §18-21A-5, §18-21A-6 and §18-21A-7; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-34-1 and §18-34-2, all relating to vocational and technical education programs; requiring the State Board and Commerce Department to create lists of apprenticeships and certifications and credentials to provide to students; creating a career and technical education pilot program to introduce middle school students career and technical education opportunities in the state and requiring county school districts to provide certain information to students; establishing the Governor’s Workforce Credential; establishing requirements for the Governor’s Workforce Credential; and mandating graduation recognition for recipients of credential”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegate Boggs:

H. B. 2110 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18B-10-7a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to senior citizens attending college classes at state institutions without receiving college credit; reducing the fee for seniors to attend classes without college credit; and changing the age for being deemed a senior citizen”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Hanna, J. Jeffries and Sypolt:

H. B. 2111 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17-16A-29 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to including emergency response vehicles in the single fee program for EZ Pass transponders”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then Finance.

By Delegates Thompson and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2112 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-11-22, relating to prohibiting provisions within settlement agreements that prevent the disclosure of factual information related to a claim filed in a civil action or a complaint filed in an administrative action, regarding: (1) Sexual assaults; (2) acts of sexual harassment; (3) acts of discrimination and harassment, retaliation or failure to prevent an act of harassment based on sex in the workplace; and (4) acts of discrimination and harassment, or retaliation based on sex in violation of the West Virginia Fair Housing Act; and providing exceptions”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer, Hansen and Sypolt:

H. B. 2113 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17-2A-25, relating to paving contracts; requiring the Commissioner of Highways to establish a pilot project in Division of Highways District 4 to evaluate alternate terms in paving contracts; requiring annual reports”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2114 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-6-21 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting civil rights violations based on disability, gender identity or sexual orientation; criminal penalties; when evidence of constitutionally protected speech or associations is not admissible in criminal prosecutions; exceptions; providing for sentencing alternatives for persons convicted of violations; and designating amendments to this section as ‘Angel’s Law’”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Linville, Skaff and Maynard:

H. B. 2115 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5B-1-11, relating to creating the Economic Diversification Act of 2021 for the purpose of income tax relief, by state, county, and municipal government, to new or existing businesses whose product or service offered is not currently offered in the state; requiring the Secretary of Commerce to appoint a commission to determine eligibility; providing that commission to be composed of government officials and private citizens; limiting the tax relief to a maximum period of eight years; and providing for rule making”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then Finance.

By Delegate Boggs:

H. B. 2116 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17-4-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Commissioner of Highways to verify legal employment status of contractors and vendor’s employees for certain road and bridge contracts”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer, Pethtel, Hansen and Sypolt:

H. B. 2117 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-5-4c, relating to providing certain employees of the Highways increases in annual pay; providing legislative findings; providing funding sources; providing that pay rates and employment requirements are not subject to procedures for state employees’ grievances; providing for primacy of section; limiting private causes of action; and, providing that if employee will make more than the maximum allowable by the Division of Personnel for the pay grade, this salary increase shall still take effect, and that employee shall make more than the pay grade maximum”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2118 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-15g, relating to requiring county boards of education to provide days prior to early voting during primary and general elections for registering eligible students to vote and being transported to vote”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Fleischauer, McGeehan and Hansen:

H. B. 2119 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §3-3-2a of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to electioneering, or distributing literature at early voting locations”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2120 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-15-4x, relating to health insurance and ensuring coverage for residents with preexisting conditions”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Zukoff:

H. B. 2121 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-11-9b, relating to the ‘Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan Fair Pay Act of 2021’; honoring Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan; making it unlawful for an employer to require, as a condition of employment, that an employee refrains from disclosing information about his or her wages, benefits, or other compensation or sharing information about another employee’s wages, benefits, or other compensation; making it unlawful for an employer to require a waiver of employees’ rights to disclose information about his or her wages, benefits, or other compensation or to share information about another employee’s wages, benefits, or other compensation; and limiting employers’ inquiry into applicants’ wage and salary history”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2122 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §3-13-1, §3-13-2, §3-13-3, §3-13-4, §3-13-5, and §3-13-6, all relating to implementing The Agreement Among the States to Elect the President and Vice President by National Popular Vote; setting forth who may be members to the agreement; establishing the manner of appointing presidential electors in the member states; setting forth the provisions of the agreement that the member states must enact into state law setting forth the responsibilities of certain officials; and defining terms”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Linville:

H. B. 2123 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-4e of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11B-2-33, all relating to reducing personal income tax rates when personal income tax reduction fund is funded at a certain threshold, and further reducing those rates when that threshold is reached again; establishing a  personal income tax reduction fund and providing for deposits into the personal income tax reduction fund from sales and use taxes, derived from certain lottery games that utilize an electronic computer and a video screen, racetrack table games, lottery games that are derived from limited video lottery operations, derived from sports wagering at a secondary location of a licensed racetrack, and derived from interactive gaming at a primary or secondary location of a licensed racetrack; specifying rate reductions; providing for deposits from personal income tax reduction fund into general revenue fund; imposing duties on the State Tax Commissioner and other state agencies officers; and providing for investment and disposition of fund”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Fast:

H. B. 2124 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-16-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §60-7-4 of said code, all relating to requiring licensees authorized to serve alcoholic liquors or nonintoxicating beer to have certain liability insurance coverage to cover the premises of the licensee; establishing statutory minimum level of insurance coverage; and directing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner, upon a finding that either statutory minimum insurance coverage is inadequate, to increase statutory minimum coverage amounts by legislative rule”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2125 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-2L-1, §18-2L-2 and §18-2L-3; and to amend and reenact §18-5-13a of said code, all relating to the creation of a School Consolidation Task Force; designating membership of Task Force; establishing Task Force purpose to study effects of school closures in the last 30 years; and to place a moratorium on school closure and consolidation for five years, unless special referendum in county passed by voters”; to the Committee on Government Organization then Education.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Hansen:

H. B. 2126 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-63-1, §16-63-2, §16-63-3, §16-63-4, §16-63-5, §16-63-6, §16-63-7, §16-63-8, and §16-63-9, all relating to creating the West Virginia Residential Furniture and Children’s Products Flame Retardants Act administered and enforced under the authority of the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; prohibiting the use of certain flame-retardant chemicals in certain products; legislative findings; definitions; rule-making authority; when replacement chemicals may be used; exemptions to requirements; requiring report to Joint Committee on Government and Finance; requiring certificate of compliance; injunctive relief for violations; and providing civil penalties for violations”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2127 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-28, relating to the state’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Intellectual/Developmental Disability Waiver; requiring the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services to file a request with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reinstate the terms of the state’s amended Intellectual/Developmental Disability Waiver that was approved and in place prior to July 1, 2017; and requiring the bureau to seek legislative approval before filing a future request with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to amend or renew an Intellectual/Developmental Disability Waiver in a manner that alters the scope or nature of services provided under a current waiver”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2128 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11C-1, §5-11C-2, §5-11C-3, and §5-11C-4, all relating to creating the Family Protection Act; making it illegal to discriminate against an individual regarding his or her family responsibilities; defining terms; and setting forth remedies and enforcement powers”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2129 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §22-6C-1, §22-6C-2 and §22-6C-3, all relating to establishing an industrial water extraction fee; placing a one-cent fee on every gallon of water extracted for industrial use; placing an additional one-cent fee on every gallon of water extracted for industrial use that is transported over state roads; requiring measuring of water withdrawals by a specified method; defining terms; and providing rule-making authority”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then Finance.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2130 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §46A-2-122 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §46A-6-101, §46A-6-102 and §46A-6-109 of said code, all relating to the Consumer Credit and Protection Act; and declaring that its provisions apply to residential leases, landlords, tenants and residential rental fees a landlord may charge in a general lease of residential real property”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2131 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §7-5-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying that the county or regional solid waste authority that may impose and collect an additional solid waste assessment fee is the county or region where the waste originates”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Government Organization.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2132 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §22-6A-8,  §22-6A-10 and §22-6A-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-12a; and to amend and reenact §22-6B-3, §22-6B-5 and §22-6B-7 of said code, all relating generally to horizontal well control standards; changing an elective obligation to a mandatory one; requiring notice in certain instances be sent to the occupants of residential property; prohibiting the limit of disturbance of a well site to  be  closer than 1,500 feet of an occupied dwelling; providing that a notice include certain information; establishing standards relating to air, noise, light and dust; permitting landowners be compensated for any decrease in the values of the land for its highest and best use; requiring the notice of a claim be also provided to an occupant of residential structure on the property; and establishing a statute of limitations for claims being filed”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2133 - “A Bill to repeal §21-5G-1, §21-5G-2, §21-5G-3, §21-5G-4, §21-5G-5, §21-5G-6, and §21-5G-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §21-1A-3 and §21-1A-4 of said code, all relating to repealing the West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act and restoring prior law; and authorizing employers, through agreement with a labor organization, to require membership in the organization as a condition of employment”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2134 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-29, relating to providing that state retirees’ insurance benefits be restored to the benefit levels that existed in 2015”; to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2135 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §6-9A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to provide that political party caucus meetings are not exempt from open proceedings requirements”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegates McGeehan and Paynter:

H. B. 2136 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29-22A-10 and §29-22A-10b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to granting counties and municipalities a portion of the net terminal income from racetrack video lottery”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2137 - “A Bill to repeal §47-11A-1, §47-11A-2, §47-11A-3, §47-11A-4, §47-11A-5, §47-11A-6, §47-11A-7, §47-11A-8, §47-11A-9, §47-11A-11, §47-11A-12a, and §47-11A-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to repealing the article on unfair trade practices”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates McGeehan and Anderson:

H. B. 2138 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-1B-1a, relating to the West Virginia National Guard; requiring an official declaration of war or an action to call forth the state militia by the United States Congress before members of the West Virginia National Guard may be released from state control to participate in active duty combat”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Paynter, Toney and J. Jeffries:

H. B. 2139 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-12m, relating to permitting residential customers of electric utilities to deduct up to 50 percent of their electric utility payments from their federal adjusted gross income for personal income tax purposes”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then Finance.

By Delegates Paynter, McGeehan and Martin:

H. B. 2140 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-19-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to redirecting excise tax revenue on bottled soft drinks from West Virginia University schools to the Public Employees Insurance Agency”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Finance.

By Delegates D. Jeffries, McGeehan, Foster and Hanna:

H. B. 2141 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-9-9, relating to participation in school sports”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2142 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-6-29, relating to establishing seniority rights for public employees; defining when seniority begin; setting standards for accumulation of seniority; requiring notice of job postings; requiring registers or certified lists of eligible applicants; allowing senior employees the first right of refusal for extra duty, overtime and promotions; and determining seniority in case of absence”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then Government Organization.

By Delegates Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2143 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-4-15 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to declaring a shortage of qualified bus operators and allowing retired bus operators to accept employment as substitute bus operators without effect on their retirement benefit”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Toney, Rowan and Paynter:

H. B. 2144 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-4-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to modifying the definitions and pay grades of certain school cafeteria personnel”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Toney:

H. B. 2145 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-4-8 and §18A-4-8a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to student aide class titles for school service personnel”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Hamrick and Hanna:

H. B. 2146 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-10b, relating to providing a personal income tax credit for taxpayers who have foster children in their care”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Thompson:

H. B. 2147 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17B-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that the Division of Motor Vehicles identification cards be issued at no cost to applicants”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate Thompson:

H. B. 2148 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-29-1, §11-29-2, §11-29-3, §11-29-4, §11-29-5, §11-29-6, §11-29-7 and, §11-29-8, all relating to imposing a general data mining service tax on commercial data operators; making legislative findings; definitions; establishing a valuation method; establishing the tax and the rate of tax; requiring the proceeds be deposited into the Public Employees Insurance Agency Financial Stability Fund; and requiring rule-making”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Hamrick:

H. B. 2149 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing a personal income tax deduction for a foster care child”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegates Thompson, Boggs and Rowan:

H. B. 2150 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17C-6-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to driving restrictions in school zones; specifying that the speed limit restriction for school zones applies during school recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours and whenever school zone flashing beacons are active; requiring that school zone flashing beacons be activated whenever students are present at a school for student activities occurring outside of a school’s regular hours of operation”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Education.

By Delegates Howell and Martin:

H. B. 2151 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §21-11-6a, relating to listing contractor classifications on a contractor license”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Howell, Hott, Fast and Martin:

H. B. 2152 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-2-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring that, in order to graduate from high school or obtain a General Educational Development (GED) diploma, a pupil must correctly answer at least 60 of the 100 questions listed on a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and requiring a school to document on the pupil’s transcript that the pupil has passed the test”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegates Howell, Hanna and Martin:

H. B. 2153 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5-16-23 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permitting former members of the Legislature to remain eligible for insurance plans offered to state officers or employees; providing for certain conditions to remain eligible; and providing that the former member’s continued participation in the insurance plans offered to state officers and employees does not require the state to bear, absorb or otherwise raise costs associated with a former member’s continued participation”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Howell and Foster:

H. B. 2154 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §30-1-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring all boards to be located in the same area and office space”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Toney, Paynter and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2155 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-4-8 and §18A-4-8a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to creating three separate job titles for school bus operators; and establishing pay scales”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Capito:

H. B. 2156 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §21-5D-2 and §21-5D-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating generally to the payment of salary or wages under the Parental Leave Act”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates J. Jeffries and D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2157 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated as §18-2-7g, relating to sexuality; forbidding displays relating to sexuality in public school facilities and forbidding the teaching of sexuality in public schools”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegate J. Jeffries:

H. B. 2158 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §24-1-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the Public Service Commission; providing for election and removal of commissioners; setting terms of office for elected commissioners; removing the requirement that at least one commissioner be an attorney; and removing the prohibition that no more than two commissioners be from the same political party”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, Paynter, Hanna, D. Jeffries and Maynard:

H. B. 2159 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15-15-1, §15-15-2, §15-15-3, §15-15-4, §15-15-5, and §15-15-6, all relating to preserving and protecting the right to keep and bear arms; defining acts which constitute infringements upon the right to keep and bear arms; articulating the constitutional limits on these infringements and making findings in defense of the right; declaring all  infringements under federal law or authority to be against the rights of the people and to be legally void; declaring the duty of courts and law-enforcement agencies to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens, including the right to keep and bear arms; providing causes of action against persons who knowingly infringe upon these rights; providing for awards of specified damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees; and barring the employment of certain persons by the state or its political subdivisions for infringing actions taken under color of federal law”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2160 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17B-2-16, relating to issuing identification documents to homeless individuals residing at homeless shelters within this state at no cost; stating legislative intent; defining terms; creating a process by which a homeless individual may apply for certain identifying documents to be provided at no cost; requiring the division to issue certain identifying documents to eligible homeless individuals at no cost; and requiring the commissioner to develop forms”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2161 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-44, relating to the removal of standardized testing in public schools; providing for legislative findings; providing for a definition of standardized testing; providing for common standardized assessments used in this state; providing for removal of standardized testing with certain exceptions; providing for funding used for standardized testing be used for college-level readiness tests, such as the ACT and the SAT; and providing for an effective date”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2162 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17E-1-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to qualifications for a commercial driver’s license permit; providing that a commercial driver’s license instruction permit may be issued to persons enrolled in a vocational program that requires a commercial driver’s license and the person will turn 18 years of age before completing the vocational program”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Judiciary.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2163 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §55-7L-1, relating to the disclosure of nonpublic personal information required in employment cases; and providing a civil penalty”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Pack and Howell:

H. B. 2164 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §15A-3-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring certain municipalities to pay for the incarceration of inmates arrested by the municipality’s police”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2165 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-13-3a, relating to crimes against property; creating the crime of theft of rental, leased, leased-purchased, or loaned property; creating certain evidentiary presumptions related to intent; defining ‘proper notice’ for a written demand for return of property; requiring a written demand for return of the property; establishing property replacement value to determine the value of the theft; creating misdemeanor and felony offenses; providing criminal penalties; and, establishing the agreements to which this section applies”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Pack and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2166 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated, §33-51-11, relating to reducing the cost of prescription drugs; and requiring certain compensation received from a pharmaceutical manufacturer, developer, or labeler to be used for benefit of covered persons”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2167 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-3-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to personal property tax; exempting motor vehicles from personal property tax”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2168 - “A Bill to repeal §29-22A-10d, §29-22A-10e, and §29-22A-10f of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §29-22C-27a of said code; to repeal §29-25-22b of said code; and to amend and reenact §29-22-18d of said code, all relating to the transfer of certain revenues derived from lottery activities generally, restoring distribution to the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund to 2013 rates and decreasing the funds available for grants therefrom; restoring the amount that may be transferred to the Racetrack Modernization Fund to 2013 rates; eliminating certain statutory distributions to the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund; restoring statutory distributions to capital reinvestment, purse funds and development funds to 2013 rates; and eliminating the statutory authorization for distributions to be paid on a pro rata basis”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2169 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-2Q-1, §16-2Q-2, and §16-2Q-3, all relating to the right to life guaranteed to all human beings and providing definitions”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Paynter:

H. B. 2170 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-11-4c, relating to insurance unfair trade practices; prohibiting use of a person’s credit history in certain insurance transactions”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegates D. Jeffries, Fast, Rowan and Martin:

H. B. 2171 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §61-2-31, to be called the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, relating to the prohibition of certain medical treatments and procedures upon a minor, including an emancipated minor, for the purpose of attempting to change or affirm the minor’s perception of the minor’s sex, if that perception is inconsistent with the minor’s genetic sex at birth and making such medical treatments and procedures a felony unless specific exceptions exist as defined”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Capito:

H. B. 2172 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-10b, relating to establishing a tax credit against West Virginia personal income tax liability tax credit for student loan payments on interest; providing for definitions; establishing the tax credit; providing for the tax credit to be claimed by the taxpayer the year of graduation; providing the tax credit may be claimed for nine tax years after graduation; providing that any year the tax credit is not claimed is forfeited; establishing certain conditions for the taxpayer to claim the credit; and permitting the Tax Commissioner to require forms, filings or other such methods to claim the tax credit”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates D. Jeffries and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2173 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-1D-1, §16-1D-2, §16-1D-3, and §16-1D-4; and to amend said code by adding thereto three new sections, designated §33-15-4s, §33-15-4t and §33-15-23,  all relating generally to transparency in health care; creating the Health Care Transparency Act; requiring the Bureau for Public Health to produce an estimate for creating and maintaining a health care price transparency tool, with technical support from the Health Care Authority, that is accessible by the public; setting forth transparency tool requirements; establishing new disclosure requirements for health care providers, hospitals, and insurers; requiring  insurers to develop an access plan for consumers; establishing how surprise bills are to be handled in certain circumstances; defining the term ‘surprise bill’; and requiring rule-making”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Phillips and McGeehan:

H. B. 2174 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-1-8c, relating to the West Virginia Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2020; prohibiting the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, rededication, or other disturbance of any statue, monument, memorial, nameplate, or plaque which is located on public property and has been erected for, or named, or dedicated in honor of certain historical military, civil rights, and Native American events, figures, and organizations; prohibiting any person from preventing the governmental entity having responsibility for maintaining the items, structures, or areas from taking proper measures to protect, preserve, care for, repair, or restore the items, structures, or areas; and authorizing the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office to grant waivers under certain circumstances”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates D. Jeffries, J. Jeffries, Foster and Hanna:

H. B. 2175 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-7-11a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to removing the condition requiring any person over 21 years of age possess a valid permit to possess a concealed handgun in a motor vehicle in a parking lot, traffic circle, or other areas of vehicular ingress and egress to a public school provided certain conditions are met”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Phillips, D. Kelly and Paynter:

H. B. 2176 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-5-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to making it a criminal offense to escape or attempt to escape from the custody of a Community Corrections program”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Phillips, Hott, McGeehan and Hansen:

H. B. 2177 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17B-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to state issued identification cards; and permitting the issuance of a state issued identification card without a photo on the card, based upon certification that taking a photograph would violate religion tenet or religious belief”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates D. Jeffries, Hott, Hanna and Martin:

H. B. 2178 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-5-22a; and to amend and reenact §15-5-26 of said code, all relating to providing exemptions from certain taxes for out-of-state businesses, out-of-state affiliates of in-state businesses, and their employees for work responding to declared disasters and states of emergency; making legislative findings; defining terms; specifying tax exemptions and their scope; establishing filing and notice procedures; and providing an immediate date of effect”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then Finance.

By Delegate D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2179 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15-1L-1, §15-1L-2, §15-1L-3, §15-1L-4, and §15-1L-5; and to amend and reenact §15-5-1, §15-5-2, and §15-5-3 of said code, all relating to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; providing for legislative findings; providing for definitions; establishing the West Virginia Civil Authority; providing West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to have authority over the West Virginia Civil Authority; establishing the powers and duties over the authority; providing for the authority to hire and administer employees; providing for conditions of employment for employees; providing that employees are entitled to participate in health and welfare plans, state retirement plans, and workers compensation  and unemployment programs as a benefit of employment; providing that the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management coordinate efforts with the office of the Governor; providing for altered definitions; and providing that the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is continued under the office of the Governor”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then the Judiciary.

By Delegates D. Jeffries and Hott:

H. B. 2180 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-3tt; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-12-22; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-1-27, all relating to prohibiting the regulation and licensing of occupations by local government; declaring state authority to regulate trades, occupations, and professions; prohibiting regulation of occupations by county commissions; prohibiting municipalities from enacting or enforcing laws regulating trades, occupations, and professions; and preserving the authority of local governments to regulate certain projects, construction, and modifications”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates D. Jeffries and Hanna:

H. B. 2181 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing a personal income tax deduction for a stillborn child”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2182 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-53-1 and §16-53-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the Ryan Brown Fund; disposition and allocation of funds to health care facilities or offering health services for children under one year of age suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2183 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-9A-11, relating to the posting of information regarding the West Virginia Tobacco Quitline”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2184 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-2-10b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the penalties for exposure of governmental representatives, including emergency medical service personnel, to fentanyl or any other harmful drug or chemical agent”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2185 - “A Bill to repeal §5-3-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-3A-1, §5-3A-2, §5-3A-3, §5-3A-4, §5-3A-5, and §5-3A-6, all relating to creating the state Settlement and Recovered Funds Accountability Act; providing a short title; setting forth legislative findings; directing that recovered funds and assets to be deposited into the State Treasury in the General Revenue Fund of the state, and exceptions; directing that certain recovered funds and assets be held in trust to be deposited into a special revenue account in the State Treasury; prohibiting agreements to settlement or agreement terms that are contrary to the depositing of funds in the State Treasury; requiring quarterly transfer of funds from the Consumer Protection Recovery Fund into the General Revenue Fund; authorizing the deposit and expenditure of attorney fees, expenses and costs awarded to the Attorney General from the fund; prohibiting agreements to settlement or agreement terms that are contrary to the provisions of law; requiring quarterly reporting by the Attorney General as to the disposition of matters; and repealing provisions governing the disposition of certain fees of the Attorney General taxed as costs in legal proceedings”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2186 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-9A-1, §16-9A-2, §16-9A-3, §16-9A-7, and §16-9A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to tobacco usage restrictions; Legislative findings and intent; raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco derived products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products to 21”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2187 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-97, relating to providing an earned income tax credit against the personal income tax”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2188 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-5S-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to establishing reimbursement rates for congregate and in-home meals”; to the Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2189 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §6-7-2a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to changing the title of the Commissioner of Culture and History to the Curator of Arts, Culture, and History; and to increase the salary of the curator to $95,000”; to the Committee on Government Organization then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2190 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §8-12-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing municipalities to enact ordinances that allow the municipal court to place a structure, dwelling or building into receivership under certain circumstances”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Government Organization.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2191 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17-4-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring paving contracts for state highways to have special requirements to prevent potholes”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2192 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-12m; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-24-23h, all relating to creating a tax credit for improving facades in historic districts; providing that individuals and corporations are entitled to a 25 percent tax credit of the replacement cost of historic facades; and setting forth conditions”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2193 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-30-14a, relating to social workers and creating a litigation practice license for social workers”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rowe:

H. B. 2194 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto two new sections, designated §16-1-22 and §16-1-22a, all relating to social determinants of health; establishing the Minority Health Advisory Team including its composition and duties; authorizing a Community Health Equity Initiative Demonstration Project; authorizing the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health to establish a Community Health Equity Initiative Demonstration Project; establishing eligibility requirements; providing for the administration of the demonstration project; establishing requirements for a demonstration project plan and the selection of communities for participation; establishing reporting requirements; and establishing the date on which the demonstration project terminates”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Sypolt:

H. B. 2195 - “A Bill to amend  and reenact §17C-4-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to motor vehicle crash reports; requiring law-enforcement officers to submit reports of crashes to the owners and/or drivers of the vehicles involved in the crash in the same manner that law-enforcement officers are required to submit reports of crashes to the Division of Highways; and requiring the investigating law-enforcement officer, within 24 hours of a motor vehicle crash, to share the owner/operator and insurance information for all the involved parties with all the other involved parties and/or their insurance agents”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate J. Pack:

H. B. 2196 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-10b, relating to providing a tax credit for families who have foster children in their care”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2197 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §47-29-1, relating to regulation of firearms, firearms accessories and ammunition; creating the ‘West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act’; providing legislative declarations of authority; definitions; exceptions; and providing that firearms manufactured in this state have the words ‘Made in West Virginia’ clearly stamped on the firearm”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2198 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5A-3-48 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting employees of the state who have convictions for driving under the influence from driving or operating state owned vehicle; authorizing those employees to use personal vehicles and be reimbursed at the regular mileage rate for travel on state business; and requiring promulgation of rules relating to this amendment”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Howell:

H. B. 2199 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §22-32-1, §22-32-2, §22-32-3, and §22-32-4, all relating to creating the Intrastate Coal and Use Act; establishing that the environmental regulation of coal and certain coal products mined and used within the state are exclusively regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection; stating the legislative authority; and defining terms”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, McGeehan and Foster:

H. B. 2200 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-16-11b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §60-7-9, all relating to special licenses for one-day charitable events for the sale, serving, and auctioning of nonintoxicating beer, nonintoxicating craft beer, and alcoholic liquors when raising money for artistic, athletic, charitable, educational, or religious purposes”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then Finance.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, McGeehan and Paynter:

H. B. 2201 - “A Bill to repeal §15-1F-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to unlawful military organizations”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, Fast, D. Jeffries and Maynard:

H. B. 2202 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-4-1, §5B-4-2, §5B-4-3, and §5B-4-4, all relating to creating the West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act; and ensuring that businesses, organizations and employers doing business in West Virginia are subject to uniform nondiscrimination laws and obligations”; to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, Paynter and D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2203 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17-16A-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to ending tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike effective July 1, 2021”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegates J. Jeffries, Paynter, D. Jeffries and Maynard:

H. B. 2204 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to providing for a special ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ license plate”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2205 - “A Bill to repeal §55-12A-3, §55-12A-6, §55-12A-7, §55-12A-8 and, §55-12A-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §55-12A-1, §55-12A-2, §55-12A-4 and, §55-12A-5 of said code, all relating to the procedure for claiming abandoned mineral interests; creating a procedure to quiet title to abandoned mineral interests by serving notice on a mineral rights owner; and requiring the filing of an affidavit with the county clerk within 60 days thereafter”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2206 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-1-5, relating to school curricular standards and assessments; discontinuing the use of common core standards and assessments in the state”; to the Committee on Education.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2207 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-15-9t, relating to creating the Save the Hospitals Act; exempting nonprofit hospitals that provide a certain amount of uncompensated care from sales tax and requiring West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority to promulgate rules to effectuate this section”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2208 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to personal income tax; exempting social security benefits from personal income tax”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2209 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-3-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §11-21-12 of said code, all relating to exempting firefighters and volunteer firefighters from payment of income and real and personal property taxes”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2210 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to personal income tax; exempting personal income earned by individuals working as teachers at primary and secondary schools from personal income tax”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2211 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to abolishing the personal income tax”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2212 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-21-12d of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to continuing personal income tax adjustment to gross income of certain retirees receiving pensions from defined pension plans that terminated and are being paid a reduced maximum benefit guarantee”; to the Committee on Pensions and Retirement then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2213 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §20-2-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the hunting of coyotes; permitting year-round hunting of coyotes using artificial light or night vision technology and permitting hunting of coyotes at any hour”; to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2214 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-25, relating to allowing a taxpayer a personal income tax credit for each dependent that participated in home educational instruction for the most recent academic year”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2215 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §3-1-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §3-2-5 of said code, all relating to the criteria for political party status; allowing a group of affiliated voters to become a recognized political party if the group’s candidate receives one percent of the votes in an election for any one of six statewide offices, including that of Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General or Commissioner of Agriculture; allowing a group of affiliated voters to become a recognized political party if 5,000 or more individuals have identified as members of the group on their current voter registration forms; and requiring voting registration forms to provide a space for individuals who do not select a political party affiliation to write the name of a group of affiliated voters to which they belong”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2216 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-30-1, §5-30-2, §5-30-3, §5-30-4, and §5-30-5, all relating to providing that all future federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, laws, orders, rules, and any other actions which attempt to restrict, tax, or regulate the possession, use, discharge in lawful self-defense, transportation, purchase, acquisition, sale, transfer, ownership, carrying, manufacture, or repair of firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition and their accouterments are invalid and unenforceable; making it a felony to attempt to enforce a federal, state or local statute, ordinance, law, order, rule, or any other action which attempts to restrict, tax, or regulate possession, use, discharge in lawful self-defense, transportation, purchase, acquisition, sale, transfer, ownership, carrying, manufacture, or repair of firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition or their accouterments; prohibiting such laws, orders, rules, policies and other actions by executive departments and state agencies, and providing a felony for violation; providing definitions; making findings; providing penalties; requiring the Attorney General to defend citizens of West Virginia who are prosecuted by the United States government for violation of a federal law relating to the possession, use, discharge in lawful self-defense, transportation, purchase, acquisition, sale, transfer, ownership, carrying, manufacture, or repair of a firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition; providing exemptions; providing for retroactivity; and providing that ex post facto laws are not created”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate McGeehan:

H. B. 2217 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-3-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §11-21-12 of said code, all relating to exempting law-enforcement officers who are members of a municipal paid police department, county sheriff’s office or the State Police from payment of income and personal property taxes”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2218 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17C-5-3a, relating to creating an enhanced penalty for certain aggravated serious traffic offenses; requiring a person to first be convicted of the underlying offense before the enhanced penalty is permitted to be assessed; and prohibiting the enhanced penalty from increasing a misdemeanor offense to a felony offense”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2219 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §60A-9-5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring pharmacist to check the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2220 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-3-49 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that the sale and purchase of copper as scrap metal may not be completed with the payment of cash; and requiring a purchaser to pay only by check”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then Government Organization.

By Delegate Westfall:

H. B. 2221 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §33-53-1, §33-53-2, §33-53-3, §33-53-4, §33-53-5, §33-53-6, §33-53-7 and §33-53-8, all relating to the establishment of an insurance innovation process; defining terms; setting forth application requirements; prohibiting certain persons from applying; providing for the acceptance or rejection of the application by the Insurance Commissioner; requiring that the Insurance Commissioner set forth certain terms and conditions that will govern a proposed insurance innovation; providing that the Insurance Commissioner issue a limited no-action letter that establishes a safe harbor under which the commissioner will not take administrative or regulatory action against a participant or client of the participant; establishing the time period of the safe harbor and for the extension thereof; setting forth the requirements that a participant must adhere to during the safe harbor period; providing for penalties regarding violations of the terms contained in a limited no-action letter; providing the right to an administrative hearing; setting forth the criteria for the Insurance Commissioner to issue an extended no-action letter; providing for what the extended no-action letter must contain; requiring that documents and other information submitted to the Insurance Commissioner in relation to the insurance innovation be confidential and privileged; allowing the Insurance Commissioner to disclose in the extended no-action letter any information necessary to clearly establish the safe harbor; and requiring the Insurance Commissioner to provide reports to the Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance regarding the activities pertaining to insurance innovation applications”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Westfall:

H. B. 2222 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17C-7-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting vehicles from driving slow in the left lane of a roadway or interstate highway for more than a mile and a half without completely passing another vehicle; and providing exceptions”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Hansen and Zukoff:

H. B. 2223 - “A Bill to repeal §17A-10-3c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to additional registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Linville and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2224 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §6B-2-5d; to amend and reenact §29B-1-2, §29B-1-3, and §29B-1-4; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §29B-1-3b and §29B-1-6a, all relating to complaints against public agencies to obtain records through the Freedom of Information Act; providing that any person may file a complaint with the Ethics Commission under certain conditions; providing that the commission use a certain standard of evidence; providing for a complete defense for public agencies acting in good faith; providing for criteria for the commission to use when determining the validity of a complaint; providing for definitions of electronic records; providing that a public agency may respond to a request for documents with an anticipated time frame the requestor may expect to receive documents; providing that electronic records are more cumbersome for public agencies to review for public information; providing that a public agency may establish a fee schedule for production of electronic records; providing criteria to establish a fee schedule; providing for criteria for a public agency to deny a request for documentation; providing for exemption of disclosure of personally identifiable information under certain circumstances; and providing for the Ethics Commission the authority to investigate complaints and render penalties”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2225 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-2K-1, §5B-2K-2, §5B-2K-3, §5B-2K-4, §5B-2K-5, §5B-2K-6, and §5B-2K-7, all relating to creating the Local Energy Efficiency Partnership Act; authorizing counties and municipalities, defined as ‘local units of government’, to adopt local energy efficiency partnership programs and to create districts to promote use of energy efficiency improvements by owners of certain real property; definitions; providing for procedures to establish a program; requiring a public hearing on proposed programs; establishing program reporting requirements; providing for financing of programs through voluntary property assessments, commercial lending and other means; authorizing local units of government to issue bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness and to pay the cost of energy efficiency improvements from the proceeds thereof; providing for repayment of bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness; authorizing certain fees; prescribing the powers and duties of certain governmental officers and entities; and  providing remedies”; to the Committee on Government Organization then Finance.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2226 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §33-15-2a and §33-15-4, of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto three new sections designated §33-15-4x, §33-15-20a, and §33-15-23, all related to accident and sickness insurance; defining surprise bills and health care providers; adding new disclosure requirements for health care providers, hospitals, and insurers; adding the requirement that insurers develop an access plan for consumers; and establishing how surprise bills are to be handled in certain circumstances”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2227 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §22-3-22a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting blasting within 625 feet of an occupied dwelling and certain other structures”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2228 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-1-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §22-1-3 of said code, all relating to requiring the commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health to conduct a public health impact statement assessing the health impact of any new, or modification to, rule proposed by the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection; and requiring the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection to incorporate findings of the impact statement into the proposed rule”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2229 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-3-51 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring persons who are in the business of purchasing precious metals and precious gems to photograph those purchases and to transmit the photographs to law-enforcement authorities; and lessening the criminal penalty from a felony to a misdemeanor”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2230 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §21-3F-1, §21-3F-2, §21-3F-3, §21-3F-4, §21-3F-5, §21-3F-6, §21-3F-7, §21-3F-8 and §21-3F-9, all relating to labor; providing for healthy workplaces by providing remedies for hostile work environments; defining terms; providing an affirmative defense for employers; banning retaliation in certain circumstances; providing an employer duty to respond to third-party acts of malice; restricting applicability to employment practices not covered by existing state laws on human rights or wrongful discharge; and providing certain time limitations for commencing action”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2231 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29A-5-3a, relating to orders or decisions in state administrative proceedings involving contested claims of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual assault; prohibiting confidential financial terms of settlement or nondisclosure of defendant; penalties”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Martin, Fast, Foster and Hanna:

H. B. 2232 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §8-12-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing a process by which a city may hold an election to recall an ordinance”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegates Doyle and Zukoff:

H. B. 2233 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18B-1B-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to directing the Higher Education Policy Commission to coordinate a plan to provide the first two years of post-secondary education for free tuition to state high school graduates; requiring the commission to produce a proposal to submit to the Legislature by October 1, 2021”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Doyle and Hansen:

H. B. 2234 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-5-12a, relating to requiring public hearing for applicant of air quality permit for a facility with investment value exceeding $25 million or with size of 20,000 square feet or larger; where hearing is to be held”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Lovejoy:

H. B. 2235 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §1-8-1, §1-8-2, and §1-8-3, all relating to net neutrality for state government; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring the state to utilize net neutral Internet services and associated activities; and providing exceptions”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Hanna:

H. B. 2236 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-6-26, relating to unlawful panhandling and solicitation; exempting fire departments; and providing misdemeanor penalties”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Boggs:

H. B. 2237 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §20-5-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing free camping at state parks for West Virginia resident veterans who are totally and permanently disabled”; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security then Finance.

By Delegates Steele and Foster:

H. B. 2238 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-24a, relating to establishing tax credits for parents and legal guardians whose children are in a home schooling program or private school; and providing rule-making authority”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Worrell, D. Kelly and Fast:

H. B. 2239 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-2I-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-2I-2a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-2Q-1; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-2R-1 and §16-2R-2, all relating to restricting the performance of abortions and acquiring, providing, receiving, otherwise transferring, or using fetal body parts; providing exceptions and criminal penalties; placing requirements on physicians; and requiring rulemaking by the Board of Medicine”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Worrell:

H. B. 2240 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §55-8-17, relating to choice of law provisions in franchise agreements; declaring agreement voidable if it provides the agreement to be interpreted pursuant to the law of any other state; and establishing effective date of amendments”; to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Worrell:

H. B. 2241 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §9-4F-1, §9-4F-2, §9-4F-3, §9-4F-4, §9-4F-5, §9-4F-6, §9-4F-7, §9-4F-8, §9-4F-9, and §9-4F-10, all relating to creating the Affordable Medicaid Buy-In Program; requiring the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop and administer the Affordable Medicaid Buy-In Plan; creating the Health Care Affordability And Access Improvement Fund; establishing an advisory council to the Affordable Medicaid Buy-In Program; requiring a study and reposts be made; defining terms; setting limitations of employers; requiring rule-making; and appropriating funds to the Health Care Affordability and Access Improvement Fund and the Department of Health and Human Resources”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Finance.

By Delegate Linville:

H. B. 2242 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-15-3c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §17A-3-23 of said code, all relating to special license plates for vehicles titled in the name of the Division of Public Transit or purchased by the Division of Public Transit for public use; and exempting those vehicles from motor vehicle sales tax”; to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Government Organization.

By Delegates Linville and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2243 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5A-13-1, §5A-13-2, §5A-13-3, §5A-13-4, §5A-13-5, §5A-13-6, and §5A-13-7, all relating to establishing a West Virginia Saving Money and Reducing Time Prize Program; declaring legislative intent; establishing a program within the Department of Administration; providing for program coordinator; granting rule-making authority to the secretary of the department; defining criteria and subjects for prize awards; declaring eligibility of state institutions of higher learning and grounds for disqualification; requiring applications for prize awards; creating a West Virginia SMaRT Prize Review Board; declaring membership and duties; providing for determination of award and source of payments; restricting payment of awards out of realized savings; and establishing provisions for ownership and licensing of proposed solutions”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Linville:

H. B. 2244 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-13H-1, §11-13H-2, §11-13H-3, §11-13H-4, §11-13H-5, and §11-13H-6, all relating to a tax rebate for investing in new facilities or processes that result in additional employment and an additional demand for electrical power; legislative findings and purpose; eligibility; amount of rebate; length of rebate or credit; and providing rulemaking authority”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegate Linville:

H. B. 2245 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18-2-25 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission; requiring Legislative Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the commission; authorizing the inspection of records and examination of personnel; permitting subsequent performance audits to be conducted at reasonable and prudent intervals; and removing redundant wording”; to the Committee on Education then Government Organization.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2246 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-50, relating to the prohibition of manufacturing plants locating within two air miles of an existing public school without the written permission of the county school board, and requiring that permission requires majority of the school board votes”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Doyle:

H. B. 2247 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §7-22-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §31-15-17 of said code, all relating to requiring the economic development authority and county commissions to obtain approval from county board of education for agreements that involve tax revenues that would be expended for public schools”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2248 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §6-7-9, relating to prohibiting payroll deductions to electioneering organizations”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Fleischauer and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2249 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §24-2I-1, §24-2I-2, §24-2I-3, §24-2I-4, and §24-2I-5, all relating to permitting customers and developers to enter into solar power purchase agreements; setting forth the benefits, purpose, and considerations; and granting rule-making authority”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing.

By Delegates Linville and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2250 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §17B-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating generally to the issuance of driver licenses; permitting the waiving of certain fees for individuals who have been diagnosed by a U.S. licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist as being legally blind; providing that proof that a person seeking a driver’s license is a veteran need only be provided upon the initial application and is not required for subsequent renewals; and providing that veterans over 65 years of age be granted a lifetime driver’s license subject to an eye examination every five years”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegates D. Jeffries and Hott:

H. B. 2251 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §30-1-5 and §30-1-19 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended; to repeal §30-2-1, §30-2-2, §30-2-3, §30-2-4, §30-2-5, §30-2-5a, §30-2-6, §30-2-7, §30-2-8, §30-3-9, §30-2-10, §30-2-11, §30-2-12, §30-2-13, §30-2-14, §30-2-15 and §30-2-16 of said code; to repeal §30-6-1, §30-6-2, §30-6-3, §30-6-4, §30-6-5, §30-6-6, §30-6-7, §30-6-8, §30-6-9, §30-6-10, §30-6-11, §30-6-12, §30-6-13, §30-6-14, §30-6-15, §30-6-16, §30-6-17, §30-6-18, §30-6-19, §30-6-20, §30-6-21, §30-6-22, §30-6-22a, §30-6-23, §30-6-24, §30-6-25, §30-6-26, §30-6-27, §30-6-28, §30-6-29, §30-6-30, and §30-6-31 of said code; to repeal §30-9-1, §30-9-2, §30-9-3, §30-9-4, §30-9-5, §30-9-6, §30-9-7, §30-9-8, §30-9-9, §30-9-10, §30-9-11, §30-9-12, §30-9-13, §30-9-14, §30-9-15, §30-9-16, §30-9-17, §30-9-18, §30-9-19, §30-9-20, §30-9-21, §30-9-22, §30-9-23, §30-9-24, §30-9-25, §30-9-26, §30-9-27, §30-9-28, §30-9-29, §30-9-30, §30-9-31, §30-9-32, §30-9-33 and §30-9-34 of said code; to repeal §30-12-1, §30-12-2, §30-12-3, §30-12-4, §30-12-5, §30-12-6, §30-12-7, §30-12-8, §30-12-9, §30-12-10, §30-12-11, §30-12-11a, §30-12-12, §30-12-13, and §30-12-14 of said code; to repeal §30-13-1, §30-13-2, §30-13-3, §30-13-4, §30-13-5, §30-13-6, §30-13-7, §30-13-8, §30-13-9, §30-13-10, §30-13-11, §30-13-12, §30-13-13, §30-13-13a, §30-13-14, §30-13-15, §30-13-16, §30-13-17, §30-13-18, §30-13-19, §30-13-20, §30-13-21, §30-13-22, §30-13-23, and §30-13-24; to repeal §30-13A-1, §30-13A-2, §30-13A-3, §30-13A-4, §30-13A-5, §30-13A-6, §30-13A-7, §30-13A-8, §30-13A-9, §30-13A-10, §30-13A-11, §30-13A-12, §30-13A-13, §30-13A-14, §30-13A-15, §30-13A-16, §30-13A-17, §30-13A-18, §30-13A-19, §30-13A-20, §30-13A-21, §30-13A-22, §30-13A-23, §30-13A-24, and §30-13A-25 of said code; to repeal  §30-17-1, §30-17-2, §30-17-3, §30-17-4, §30-17-5, §30-17-6, §30-17-7, §30-17-8, §30-17-9, §30-17-10, §30-17-11, §30-17-12, §30-17-13, §30-17-14, §30-17-15, §30-17-16, §30-17-17, §30-17-18, and §30-17-19 of said code; to repeal §30-18-1, §30-18-2, §30-18-3, §30-18-4, §30-18-5, §30-18-6, §30-18-7, §30-18-8, §30-18-9, §30-18-10, §30-18-11, §30-18-12, and §30-18-13 of said code; to repeal §30-19-1, §30-19-2, §30-19-3, §30-19-4, §30-19-5, §30-19-6, §30-19-7, §30-19-8, §30-19-9, §30-19-10, §30-19-11, §30-19-12, §30-19-13, §30-19-14, §30-19-15, §30-19-16 and §30-19-17 of said code; to repeal §30-22-1, §30-22-2, §30-22-3, §30-22-4, §30-22-5, §30-22-6, §30-22-7, §30-22-8, §30-22-9, §30-22-10, §30-22-11, §30-22-12, §30-22-13, §30-22-14, §30-22-15, §30-22-16, §30-22-17, §30-22-18, §30-22-19, §30-22-20, §30-22-21, §30-22-22, §30-22-23, §30-22-24, §30-22-25, §30-22-26, §30-22-27, and §30-22-28 of said code; to repeal §30-25-1, §30-25-2, §30-25-3, §30-25-4, §30-25-5, §30-25-6, §30-25-7, §30-25-8, §30-25-9, §30-25-10, §30-25-11, §30-25-12, §30-25-13, §30-25-14, §30-25-15, §30-25-16, §30-25-17, and §30-25-18 of said code; to repeal  §30-27-1, §30-27-2, §30-27-3, §30-27-4, §30-27-5, §30-27-6, §30-27-7, §30-27-8, §30-27-8a, §30-27-8b, §30-27-9, §30-27-10, §30-27-11, §30-27-11a, §30-27-12, §30-27-13, §30-27-14, §30-27-15, §30-27-16, §30-27-17, §30-27-18, §30-27-19, §30-27-20, §30-27-21, §30-27-22, §30-27-23, and §30-27-24 of said code; to repeal §30-29-1, §30-29-2, §30-29-3, §30-29-4, §30-29-5, §30-29-6, §30-29-7, §30-29-8, §30-29-9, §30-29-10, §30-29-11, §30-29-12, and §30-29-13 of said code; to repeal §30-38-1, §30-38-2, §30-38-3, §30-38-4, §30-38-5, §30-38-6, §30-38-7, §30-38-8, §30-38-9, §30-38-10, §30-38-11, §30-38-12, §30-38-13, §30-38-14, §30-38-15, §30-38-16, §30-38-17, §30-38-18, and §30-38-19 of said code; to repeal §30-38A-1, §30-38A-2, §30-38A-3, §30-38A-4, §30-38A-5, §30-38A-6, §30-38A-7, §30-38A-8, §30-38A-9, §30-38A-10, §30-38A-11, §30-38A-12, §30-38A-13, §30-38A-14, §30-38A-15, §30-38A-16, and §30-38A-17 of said code; to repeal §30-39-1, §30-39-2, §30-39-3, §30-39-4, §30-39-5, §30-39-6, §30-39-7, §30-39-8, §30-39-9, §30-39-10,  §30-39-11, §30-39-12, §30-39-13, §30-39-14, §30-39-15, §30-39-16, §30-39-17, §30-39-18, §30-39-19, §30-39-20, and 30-39-21 of said code; to repeal §30-40-1, §30-40-2, §30-40-3, §30-40-4, §30-40-5, §30-40-6, §30-40-7, §30-40-8, §30-40-9, §30-40-10, §30-40-11, §30-40-12, §30-40-13, §30-40-14, §30-40-15, §30-40-16, §30-40-17, §30-40-18, §30-40-19, §30-40-20, §30-40-21, §30-40-22, §30-40-23, §30-40-24, §30-40-25, §30-40-26, and §30-40-27 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-1-1, §30A-1-2, §30A-1-3, §30A-1-4, §30A-1-5, §30A-1-6, §30A-1-7, §30A-1-8, §30A-1-9, §30A-1-10, §30A-1-11, §30A-1-12, §30A-1-13, §30A-1-14, §30A-1-15, §30A-1-16, §30A-1-17, §30A-1-18, §30A-1-19, §30A-1-20, §30A-1-21, §30A-1-22, §30A-1-23, §30A-1-24, §30A-1-25, §30A-1-26, §30A-1-27, §30A-1-28, and §30A-1-29; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-2-1, §30A-2-2, §30A-2-3, §30A-2-4, §30A-2-5, §30A-2-6, §30A-2-7, §30A-2-8, §30A-2-9, §30A-2-10, §30A-2-11, §30A-2-12, §30A-2-13, §30A-2-14, §30A-2-15, §30A-2-16, §30A-2-17, §30A-2-18, §30A-2-19, §30A-2-20, §30A-2-21, §30A-2-22, §30A-2-23, §30A-2-24, §30A-2-25, §30A-2-26, §30A-2-27, §30A-2-28, §30A-2-29, §30A-2-30, §30A-2-31, §30A-2-32, and §30A-2-33; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-3-1, §30A-3-2, §30A-3-3, §30A-3-4, §30A-3-5, §30A-3-6, §30A-3-7, §30A-3-8, §30A-3-9, §30A-3-10, §30A-3-11, §30A-3-11a, §30A-3-12, §30A-3-13, and §30A-3-14; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-4-1, §30A-4-2, §30A-4-3, §30A-4-4, §30A-4-5, §30A-4-6, §30A-4-7, §30A-4-8, §30A-4-9, §30A-4-10, §30A-4-11, §30A-4-12, §30A-4-13, §30A-4-13a, §30A-4-14, §30A-4-15, §30A-4-16, §30A-4-17, §30A-4-18, §30A-4-19, §30A-4-20, §30A-4-21, §30A-4-22, §30A-4-23, and §30A-4-24; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-5-1, §30A-5-2, §30A-5-3, §30A-5-4, §30A-5-5, §30A-5-6, §30A-5-7, §30A-5-8, §30A-5-9, §30A-5-10, §30A-5-11, §30A-5-12, §30A-5-13, §30A-5-14, §30A-5-15, §30A-5-16, and §30A-5-17, to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-6-1, §30A-6-2, §30A-6-3, §30A-6-4, §30A-6-5, §30A-6-6, §30A-6-7, §30A-6-8, §30A-6-9, §30A-6-10, §30A-6-11, §30A-6-12, §30A-6-13, §30A-6-14, §30A-6-15, §30A-6-16, §30A-6-17, §30A-6-18, §30A-6-19, §30A-6-20, §30A-6-21, §30A-6-22, §30A-6-23, §30A-6-24, and §30A-6-25; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-7-1, §30A-7-2, §30A-7-3, §30A-7-4, §30A-7-5, §30A-7-6, §30A-7-7, §30A-7-8, §30A-7-9, §30A-7-10, §30A-7-11, §30A-7-12, §30A-7-13, §30A-7-14, §30A-7-15, §30A-7-16, §30A-7-17, §30A-7-18, §30A-7-19, §30A-7-20, §30A-7-21, §30A-7-22, §30A-7-23, §30A-7-24, §30A-7-25, §30A-7-26, §30A-7-27, and §30A-7-28; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated  §30A-8-1, §30A-8-2, §30A-8-3, §30A-8-4, §30A-8-5, §30A-8-6, §30A-8-7, §30A-8-8, §30A-8-9, §30A-8-10, §30A-8-11, §30A-8-12, §30A-8-13, §30A-8-14, §30A-8-15, §30A-8-16, §30A-8-17, §30A-8-18, and §30A-8-19; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-9-1, §30A-9-2, §30A-9-3, §30A-9-4, §30A-9-5, §30A-9-6, §30A-9-7, §30A-9-8, §30A-9-9, §30A-9-10, §30A-9-11, §30A-9-12, §30A-9-13, §30A-9-14, §30A-9-15, §30A-9-16, §30A-9-17, and §30A-9-18; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30A-10-1, §30A-10-2, §30A-10-3, §30A-10-4, §30A-10-5, §30A-10-6, §30A-10-7, §30A-10-8, §30A-10-9, §30A-10-10, §30A-10-11, §30A-10-12, §30A-10-13, §30A-10-14, §30A-10-15, §30A-10-16, §30A-10-17, §30A-10-18, §30A-10-19, §30A-10-20, §30A-10-21, §30A-10-22, §30A-10-22a, §30A-10-23, §30A-10-24, §30A-10-25, §30A-10-26, §30A-10-27, §30A-10-28, §30A-10-29, §30A-10-30, and §30A-10-31; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-1-1, §30B-1-2, §30B-1-3, §30B-1-4, §30B-1-5, §30B-1-6, §30B-1-7, §30B-1-8, §30B-1-9, §30B-1-10, §30B-1-11, §30B-1-12, §30B-1-13, §30B-1-14, §30B-1-15, §30B-1-16, §30B-1-17, §30B-1-18, §30B-1-19, §30B-1-20, §30B-1-21, §30B-1-22, §30B-1-23, §30B-1-24, §30B-1-25, §30B-1-26, §30B-1-27, and §30B-1-28; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-2-1, §30B-2-2, §30B-2-3, §30B-2-4, §30B-2-5, §30B-2-6, §30B-2-7, §30B-2-8, §30B-2-8a, §30B-2-8b, §30B-2-9, §30B-2-10, §30B-2-11, §30B-2-11a, §30B-2-12, §30B-2-13, §30B-2-14, §30B-2-15, §30B-2-16, §30B-2-17, §30B-2-18, §30B-2-19, §30B-2-20, §30B-2-21, §30B-2-22, §30B-2-23, and §30B-2-24; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-3-1, §30B-3-2, §30B-3-3, §30B-3-4, §30B-3-5, §30B-3-6, §30B-3-7, §30B-3-8, §30B-3-9, §30B-3-10, §30B-3-11, §30B-3-12, and §30B-3-13; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-4-1, §30B-4-2, §30B-4-3, §30B-4-4, §30B-4-5, §30B-4-6, §30B-4-7, §30B-4-8, §30B-4-9, §30B-4-10, §30B-4-11, §30B-4-12, and §30B-4-13; to amend said code by adding there to a new article, designated §30B-5-1, §30B-5-2, §30B-5-3, §30B-5-4, §30B-5-5, §30B-5-6, §30B-5-7, §30B-5-8, §30B-5-9, §30B-5-10, §30B-5-11, §30B-5-12, §30B-5-13, §30B-5-14, §30B-5-15, §30B-5-16, §30B-5-17, §30B-5-18, and §30B-5-19; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, §30B-6-1, §30B-6-2, §30B-6-3, §30B-6-4, §30B-6-5, §30B-6-6, §30B-6-7, §30B-6-8, §30B-6-9, §30B-6-10, §30B-6-11, §30B-6-12, §30B-6-13, §30B-6-14, §30B-6-15, §30B-6-16, and §30B-6-17; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-7-1, §30B-7-2, §30B-7-3, §30B-7-4, §30B-7-5, §30B-7-6, §30B-7-7, §30B-7-8, §30B-7-9, §30B-7-10, §30B-7-11, §30B-7-12, §30B-7-13, §30B-7-14, §30B-7-15, §30B-7-16, §30B-7-17, §30B-7-18, §30B-7-19, §30B-7-20, §30B-7-21, §30B-7-22, §30B-7-23, §30B-7-24, §30B-7-25, §30B-7-26, and §30B-7-27; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §30B-8-1, §30B-8-2, §30B-8-3, §30B-8-4, §30B-8-5, §30B-8-6, §30B-8-7, §30B-8-8, §30B-8-9, §30B-8-10, §30B-8-11, §30B-8-12, §30B-8-13, §30B-8-14, §30B-8-15, §30B-8-16, §30B-8-17, §30B-8-18, §30B-8-19, §30B-8-20, and §30B-8-21, all relating to reorganizing various boards and authorities for the licensing and oversight of trades, occupations, and professions; dividing current articles and practice acts from one chapter into three chapters, organized by occupational subject matter, education criteria, and other common requirements; repealing provisions relating to administrative licensing of attorneys; retaining articles for the licensing authorities for all medically-related professions and occupations in Chapter 30; requiring any licensing board with knowledge of violations of the practice acts in any of the three chapters to report this information to the appropriate licensing authority; authorizing licensing authorities to combine administrative functions with any other licensing authority, regardless of the chapter of the code; placing articles for the licensing authorities for non-medical occupations that require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a new Chapter 30A and making no substantive changes in these relocated articles; adding a new article conforming the authorities, duties, restrictions, and procedural requirements of these articles with those in the original Chapter 30; placing articles for the licensing authorities for non-medical occupations that do not require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a new Chapter 30B and making no substantive changes in in these relocated articles; and adding a new article conforming the authorities, duties, restrictions, and procedural requirements of these articles with those in the original Chapter 30”; to the Committee on Government Organization.

By Delegates Graves, Hansen and Fleischauer:

H. B. 2252 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-7g; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-28; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-15-4u; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16-3ff; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-24-7u; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-25-8r; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-25A-8u, all relating to requiring Medicaid and insurance coverage for treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and other autoimmune encephalopathies, including, but not limited to, antibiotics, medication and behavioral therapies to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms, plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, and other therapies and medications consistent with evidence-based treatment guidelines; requiring that covered treatments be recommended by the insured’s licensed and properly credentialed health care professional; and providing for coverage of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy only where an insured’s licensed and properly credentialed health care professional demonstrates that all other treatments have been exhausted”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2253 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29-22-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to forgery and other crimes concerning lottery tickets; requiring any sentencing be by determinate sentence”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2254 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-17-3a, relating to establishing different rates of taxation for tobacco products for certain border counties”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2255 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §48-13-201 of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §48-13-403a, all relating to allowing as a deduction to determine adjusted gross income for either parent student loan payments and mortgage payments not to exceed 25 percent of gross income”; to the Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2256 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §8-13-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that a municipal services user fee may not be imposed on employees of the state because of their employment status”; to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2257 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §62-12-30, relating to extended supervision for certain drug offenders; establishing supervised release penalty of up to 10 years for certain drug offenders; establishing when period of supervised release begins; providing for supervision by multijudicial circuit probation officers; clarifying terms of supervised release same as those for probation; establishing a fee for supervised release; establishing that court may modify or revoke supervised release; providing court required probation officer provide written conditions; providing for supervised release following revocation; providing for delayed revocation”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2258 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-3E-1, §16-3E-2, §16-3E-3, §16-3E-4, §16-3E-5, and§16-3E-6, all relating to establishing an intravenous drug user treatment and commitment process; defining terms; establishing a commitment procedure; requiring rule-making; and providing that an individual’s gun rights are unaffected”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2259 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §55-7-32, relating to creating a cause of action for injuries suffered in a gun- free zone; legislative findings; definitions; damages recoverable; exceptions; and providing that no crime is created for carrying a concealed weapon”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Pack, Rohrbach, Summers, Longanacre, Rowan, G. Ward, Forsht, Smith, Steele, Espinosa and Barrett:

H. B. 2260 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §49-2-111a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the department’s obligations to enter into performance-based contracts with child-placing agencies”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegates J. Pack, Rohrbach, Summers, Longanacre, Forsht, Smith, Steele, Espinosa and Graves:

H. B. 2261 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-27, relating to placing a moratorium on new patients admitted to state facilities”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Rohrbach, J. Pack, Summers, G. Ward, Smith, Steele, Espinosa and Worrell:

H. B. 2262 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §60A-9-5 and §60A-9-5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to the controlled substances monitoring database; removing the requirement that a veterinarian monitor the controlled substance monitoring database; adding the requirement that a pharmacist licensed by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy monitor the controlled substance database; and updating the code to reflect previous changes”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates J. Pack, Rohrbach, Summers, G. Ward, Forsht, Smith and Worrell:

H. B. 2263 - “A Bill to amend and reenact 5-16-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §33-51-3, §33-51-8, and §33-51-9 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-51-11, all relating generally to the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers; expanding certain definitions; regulating the reimbursements of pharmacy benefit managers; providing certain effective dates; defining certain methodologies utilized by pharmacy benefit managers; expanding the freedom of consumer choice for pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers; setting guidelines into what pharmacy benefit plans may and may not do; and further explaining health benefit plans”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates J. Pack, Rohrbach, Summers, Rowan, Longanacre, G. Ward, Forsht and Smith:

H. B. 2264 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-2D-2 and §16-2D-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to expanding the definition of hospital services; and exempting hospitals and health services from certificate of need requirements”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Rohrbach, J. Pack, Summers, Reed, G. Ward, Forsht, Smith, Steele, Espinosa and Worrell:

H. B. 2265 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §30-5-7 and §30-5-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to collaborative pharmacy practice and updating rulemaking authority”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Government Organization.

By Delegate Rohrbach:

H. B. 2266 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §9-5-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding certain insurance coverages for pregnant women; and providing an effective date”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegates Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2267 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-2-15, relating to establishing an optional bus operator in residence program for school districts; requiring certain steps in an application; establishing no entitlement to employment upon completion of the program; establishing wages or salaries paid to persons completing the program; establishing employment requirements after completing the program; and not permitting seniority to accrue during completion of the program”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegates Toney and Paynter:

H. B. 2268 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §18A-2-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to changing the recommended guidelines for full-day and half-day cooks to the minimum ratio of one cook for every 110 meals prepared and served”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2269 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §12-3B-1, §12-3B-2, §12-3B-3, §12-3B-4, and §12-3B-5, all relating to creating a state-wide email address directory; requiring the database of state agencies’ and state employee’s email addresses be available online; providing that email addresses of citizens be voluntary; providing a tax credit; prohibiting disclosure of personal email addresses; providing a penalty; defining terms; and requiring rule-making”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates J. Pack, Rohrbach, Summers, Longanacre, G. Ward, Forsht, Reed, Smith and Steele:

H. B. 2270 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16A-15-11, relating to transferring the Office of Medical Cannabis to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Steele and Sypolt:

H. B. 2271 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-3-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to compulsory immunization of public school children; and removing references to private and parochial schools from compulsory immunization”; to the Committee on Education then Health and Human Resources.

By Delegates Steele and Sypolt:

H. B. 2272 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-3E-1, §16-3E-2, §16-3E-3, §16-3E-4, §16-3E-5, and §16-3E-6, all relating to informed consent for vaccinations; providing a short title; defining terms; prohibiting discrimination against patients for declining or delaying vaccines; establishing prohibited activities; creating rights for patients; and establishing monetary penalties and revocation of licensure for violations”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2273 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §15A-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to dividing pretrial detention jail costs between arresting authorities”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegate Steele:

H. B. 2274 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §48-8-101 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to repeal §48-8-102, §48-8-103, §48-8-104, §48-8-105, and §48-8-106 of said code, all relating to abolishing spousal support”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Summers, Hardy, Steele, Dean, Pritt, Mazzocchi, Horst, Graves and D. Jeffries:

H. B. 2275 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §61-6-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eliminating the restriction to carry a firearm on the state capitol complex grounds”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates D. Kelly and Fast:

H. B. 2276 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5-1-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the authorization of the Governor to seek the return of fugitives when found in another state or the District of Columbia; providing for return of persons who have been improperly released from confinement; and updating terms, titles, and cross-references”; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Delegates Steele, Rowan and Rohrbach:

H. B. 2277 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-3E-1, §16-3E-2, §16-3E-3, §16-3E-4, §16-3E-5 and §16-3E-6, all relating to establishing an intravenous drug user treatment and commitment process; defining terms; establishing a commitment procedure; requiring rule-making; and providing that an individual’s gun rights are unaffected”; to the Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2278 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5-16B-6c and §5-16B-6d of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to providing Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage by creating a Children’s Health Insurance Program buy-in program for children of families above 300 percent of the federal poverty level and who can pay the total cost”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2279 - “A Bill to repeal §18B-10-7b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding  thereto a new section, designated §12-4-14c; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §18C-7a-1, §18C-7a-2, §18C-7a-3, §18C-7a-4, and §18C-7A-5, all relating to establishing a higher education scholarship program for foster children; directing a portion of the proceeds of any opioid settlement award to be placed in a special account to be administered by the State Auditor for award money to be placed in a special account, with excess subject to appropriation of the Legislature, after assuring sufficient moneys are available to fund the scholarship program; authorizing the State Auditor to promulgate necessary rules; repealing a section of the code providing tuition waivers for foster children; requiring reports on needed funds to fully fund scholarship program by the Higher Education Policy Commission; providing for title, findings and purpose of the article; granting powers and duties to the Higher Education Policy Commission including rulemaking to administer the program; providing conditions and terms of scholarship program; and providing a special revenue account to be administered by the commission to pay for scholarships”; to the Committee on Education then Finance.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2280 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §27-5A-1, §27-5A-2, §27-5A-3, §27-5A-4, §27-5A-5, §27-5A-6, and §27-5A-7, all relating to Involuntary treatment for alcohol or another drug abuse; setting forth patients’ rights; establishing criteria for involuntary treatment; providing for petitions for 60-day and 360-day involuntary treatment; establishing financial responsibility; establishing proceedings for involuntary treatment; authorizing 72-hour emergency involuntary treatment; setting forth a procedure for failure to attend examination; providing for transportation to a hospital or other facility; and providing for minors”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2281 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §5-16-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to modifying the method of calculation of the employer and employee contribution percentages for public employee insurance premiums”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2282 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13A-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-13A-5c; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-13KK-1, §11-13KK-2 and §11-13KK-3, all relating to establishing a tax on the production of natural gas to fund the public employees insurance program; establishing a special revenue account; providing that proceeds retained in account be used for the benefit of supplementing state and employee contributions thereto; and providing that upon certification by PEIA Finance Board that fund is sufficient to maintain benefits for five-year period remaining funds subject to legislative appropriation”; to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Energy and Manufacturing.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2283 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-25, relating to creating a healthy living tax credit against the personal income tax; and requiring the Tax Commissioner to propose a legislative rule to implement the credit”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2284 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-63-1, §16-63-2, §16-63-3, §16-63-4, §16-63-5, and §16-63-6 all relating to creating a state-administered wholesale drug importation program monitored by the Bureau for Medical Services; defining terms; establishing criteria for program; duties of the Attorney General and the bureau; certification of the state’s wholesale drug importation program; and annual report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2285 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §15-2D-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to Capitol Complex security access; permitting the issuance of electronic keycards to certain individuals by the director of the Division of Protective Services; providing for the renewal thereof; setting expiration dates; requiring the development of forms for the application for electronic keycards by the director or his or her designee by eligible individuals; establishing application fee; allowing certain state employees to waive certain fees; providing for the deposit of application fees into a special revenue account; providing that privileges attaching to keycards are not transferable; and providing for revocation of keycards for violation of the conditions of issuance and at the discretion of the director”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates Bates, McGeehan, Toney and Anderson:

H. B. 2286 - “A Bill making a supplementary appropriation by adding a new item of appropriation from the balance of moneys remaining as an unappropriated balance in the State Fund, State Excess Lottery Revenue fund, to the Department of Veterans’ Assistance- Veterans Home, fund, fiscal year 2020, organization 0618, by supplementing and amending the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021”; to the Committee on Finance.

By Delegates Hansen, Fleischauer and Hanna:

H. B. 2287 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-21, relating to the Modern Jobs Act, providing for solar energy production on formerly mined land and access to third party co-generation”; to the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2288 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §4-2A-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to limiting pay of members of the Legislature when a budget bill has not been passed during a regular session”; to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates Steele and Sypolt:

H. B. 2289 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §16-3-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to compulsory immunizations; permitting physicians to provide exemption certificates relating to required immunizations; and removing requirement for certain personnel to report persons not immunized”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

By Delegate Graves:

H. B. 2290 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-10Q-1, §18-10Q-2, and §18-10Q-3; and to amend and reenact §21-5C-1 of said code, all relating to initiating a State Employment First Policy to facilitate integrated employment of disabled persons; providing legislative findings; establishing a taskforce to develop a State Employment First Policy; providing for implementation of the State Employment First Policy; and providing definitions for ‘competitive integrated employment’ and ‘customized employment’”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then Government Organization.

By Delegate Bates:

H. B. 2291 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16A-17-1, §16A-17-2, §16A-17-3, §16A-17-4, §16A-17-5, §16A-17-6, §16A-17-7, §16A-17-8, and §16A-17-9, all relating to legalizing cannabis production, sales, and adult consumption; providing legislative purpose and findings; defining terms; legalizing the possession of one ounce or less of cannabis and cannabis products by adults; authorizing production, sales, transfer, and transport of cannabis upon passing county referendums; providing procedure for county commissions to authorize county referendum on legislation of production and sales; establishing mechanisms for permitting and licensing production and sales facilities by the Bureau for Public Health and localities; authorizing the Bureau for Public Health to promulgate rules, establish licensing and administrative penalties relating to the production, sales, transfer and transport cannabis in authorizing counties; authorizing the Department of Revenue to promulgate rules and administer tax collections; authorizing localities to regulate manufacturing and sales locations; authorizing a special excise tax on cannabis; creating a new fund and dedicating proceeds of the fund; authorizing county local sales tax to be collected and used for the benefit of county and municipal governments; providing current laws relating to employment, vehicle operation, underage use or private property use preserved; and that the operation of this article is not intended to alter West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act”; to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary then Finance.

By Delegates Steele, Toney, Paynter, Sypolt and Lovejoy:

H. B. 2292 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §23-4-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to compensable diseases of certain firefighters covered by workers’ compensation; establishing rebuttable presumption of injury arising out of and in the course of employment for certain covered firefighters that develop bladder cancer, mesothelioma, and testicular cancer; and providing that the rebuttable presumption expires on July 1, 2025, unless extended by the Legislature”; to the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services then the Judiciary.

By Delegate Fleischauer:

H. B. 2293 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §21-5A-1, §21-5A-2, §21-5A-3, §21-5A-4, §21-5A-5, §21-5A-6, §21-5A-7, §21-5A-8, and §21-5A-9, all relating to reestablishing prevailing wages for certain state government contracts; declaring policy; defining terms; requiring contractors to ascertain rates and to include rates in contract specifications; requiring annual determinations of prevailing wage rates; establishing procedures to file objections to prevailing wage rate determinations; providing for hearings, judicial review and appeal; requiring mandatory provisions in contracts and sub-contracts; providing for posting of rates and record-keeping; establishing criminal penalties for violations of the act; and limiting the scope of the law to post-enactment contracts”; to the Committee on Workforce Development then the Judiciary then Finance.

At 12:12 p.m., on motion of Delegate Summers, the House of Delegates recessed until 6:45 p.m.

* * * * * * * * * *

Evening Session

* * * * * * * * * *

The House of Delegates was called to order by the Honorable Roger Hanshaw, Speaker.

Messages from the Senate

      A message from the Senate, by

      The Clerk of the Senate, announced the adoption by the Senate, without amendment, of a concurrent resolution of the House of Delegates as follows:

H. C. R. 3, Extending an invitation to His Excellency, the Governor, to deliver an address to the Legislature and raising Joint Assembly therefor.

Joint Assembly

      The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the members of the Board of Public Works, who were seated in the West Gallery of the Chamber.

      The Sergeant-at-Arms then announced Chief Justice Jenkins and Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, who were seated in the West Gallery of the Chamber.

      The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the Honorable Craig Blair, President, who entered the Hall of the House of Delegates and took the place reserved for him to the right of the Speaker, and Members of the Senate, who were seated in the North and South Galleries.

      The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the special committee to wait upon His Excellency, the Governor, and escort him into the Chamber.

Delegate Rowan then announced that, pursuant to the invitation of the Legislature, His Excellency, the Governor, was present for the purpose of addressing the Joint Assembly of the Legislature.

      His Excellency, the Governor was then escorted to the Well of the House.  (Applause, the Members and guests rising in ovation)

      The Speaker then presented the Honorable James C. Justice, who addressed the assembly as follows:

* * * * * * * * * *

Address by the Governor

* * * * * * * * * *

GOVERNOR JUSTICE:  Okay.  I sincerely hope everyone is doing as well as they possibly can be.  With all that we’ve gone through in this State.  But I can tell you that the light of the world is shining on West Virginia right now.   And if you don’t believe that, you’re just plain not thinking right.

I’d like at this time to recognize some really, really special people, my family.  Cathy and Jill are with us tonight and from beyond that, I want to go directly to my cabinet members.  You know at this time, it is such a difficult time.  You know, we’ve got for all practical purposes, all my cabinet members watching virtually.  But there is one that is watching from the heavens above, Dennis Davis.  A man that we just lost.  A man that was in charge of all of our vets in the State.  A man, a man’s man.  That’s all there is to it. 

He set out on a mission to bring billions into West Virginia and pulled it off.  He set out on a mission to build facilities and have vehicles and all the different things from exempting the veterans pay from income tax.  All of the different things that he set out on a mission to do, but I can tell you unequivocally just one thing and one thing alone, Dennis Davis lived and breathed every day for our great vets.  And so all of us, please let’s pause in a moment of silence for a great, great Secretary that we lost. 

Thank ya’ll so much.

Dennis Davis was not only a terrific individual and a terrific cabinet secretary, he was a real friend.  And you know, from time to time, this job takes you to people that maybe you don’t know and you grieve and you hate for their loved ones.  But this one really hits home with me.  You know, four years ago I walked in here, really on the front steps out front, with a tackle box and an axe.  I walked in here to tell you just from a folksy tone, a tone that people have really enjoyed to tell you the truth.  But a lot of straight talk and a lot of truth and a lot of complete transparency.  You see that’s me.  That is me through and through.  I’ve got a lot of experience.  I got a love of passion.  I’ve got a lot of enthusiasm and I’m a godly man and proud of it.

Now, like it or not like it when they firsthand had me the books four years ago, there is no way to cut it.  I’m a business guy and our state, for all purposes, was bankrupt, and in tough, tough shape.  We drained the rainy‑day fund down to levels where our roads were being —‑ our roads were in pretty daggone tough shape and we had all kinds of issues at hand.  They handed me a budget that was a projection for the next six years.

The year that we were in we were going to come up $217 million short.  The next year we were going to be $497 million short.  And then it proceeded onto $772 million short.  It was all cumulative.  Now, if you were 219 short now and you added 427, you zoomed right above 700 million.  And when you added up another 700 or whatever it may be it was some really tough duke.  Now, we dug in.  An awful lot of you were in the same time and we got new members that I absolutely congratulate in every way.

But with our new members comes all kinds of newness around us, new blood, new ideas, all kinds of good stuff.  But we rolled up our sleeves, did we not, and we went to work.  We went to work on a prayer that I’ll get to in a little while, and all of a sudden things began to change.  West Virginia began to really change.

And the biggest thing of all that we really needed to change was our image, the image that we knew was here and knew was good, but the image that the outside world really looked at us, they thought we were backward or we were poor or absolutely we were supposed to know our place.  It was a shame.  I don’t subscribe to that, and I know you don’t either.  But let me tell you just this.  We began to see a miracle, a miracle of all.  A miracle of West Virginia began to evolve that’s good stuff, really, really good stuff.

Now, along the way, before I go any further, I want to congratulate you.  All of you who are here, I want to congratulate you on this.  You had the courage to run, did you not?  You know, you’re going to accept rocks thrown at you.  A lot of them are going to be really unfair, but you had the courage to step up and say I’ll  serve, I’ll serve and you’ve done so very admirably.  And I’m sure you will do in the future very admirably.

And before I go any further I want to recognize  some really, really important people.  And they’re the people that are the Chief Justices —‑ the Chief Justice and Justices of our Supreme Court.  And I think they’re right up here.  But if I could just say, Chief Justice Evan Jenkins, if you could stand please, and Justice Elizabeth Walker, Justice Tim Armstead, Justice John Hutchison and Justice William Wooton.  Please give them a round of applause.

I’ve got a few more people to congratulate here, congratulate on them earning the positions that many of them already have.  We’ve got a new man to the task and at hand, but if Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Secretary of State Mac Warner, our State Auditor JB McCuskey, our Commissioner of Agriculture, Kent Leonhardt and our newly elected State Treasurer, Riley Moore, please stand, our constitutional officers.

The two leaders of the band, leaders of all you all in front of you or some of you all and everything, but our Senate President, Craig Blair, if you would stand, please, sir.  And our Speaker of the House, Roger Hanshaw.  And I take it that they’re standing.   I can’t see them, but they’re back there, so you all please applaud for them.

I spoke just a second ago about the miracle of West Virginia, did I not?  There have been a lot of accomplishments that have happened in the last few years from surpluses to making education our centerpiece to putting money aside for PEIA.  And just imagine, imagine, for four years PEIA never raised a dime in premiums.  How somebody can complain about that, I don’t get it.  That’s just all there is to it.

We got a lot of new roads.  We got a lot of pass old roads.  We got a lot of work that goes on every day.  We got an EZ‑Pass where you can go up and down the turnpike for next to nothing.  We created Jim’s dreams and new jobs and hopes, and we’ve really combatted the drug issues, but we’ve got a long way to go.  We absolutely adopted a new slogan, Almost Heaven, in our Tourism Department.  And I will talk a little bit about that in a little while, but what an incredible job that has exploded into being.

We put real money in our state parks and we helped our veterans and we helped our seniors with Meals on Wheels and all kinds of different things, and lo and behold the miracle starts to grab hold.  And then along comes COVID.

Now, just imagine this.  I said the miracle of West Virginia, did I not?  You know, I was interviewed just the other day on The 700 Club, Pat Robertson.  And while I was being interviewed by Wendy, and I don’t know her last name, Wendy was just recently married and I don’t know her last name, but she’s not far from here in West Virginia.  And Wendy was talking and we were talking about all the different things that were happening with COVID and all the vaccination process and all the good things that we had going on.  And she said to me, she said, if you can say your prayer now, what would your prayer be?  And I said, well, Wendy, I said, you know, we had a day of prayer and I said a prayer, and I’m anything but Reverend Jim, and I said a prayer at that time, and I truly mean this, I don’t know how in the world the words just flowed.  But the Good Book tells us just do that, and words —‑ the Good Lord will take over and the words will flow, and they did.

Now, I said, Wendy, I need to get you a video of that prayer.  And you know what she said to me, she said, Governor, when was that?  Well, just like anyone, I said, you know, Wendy I don’t know.  It was probably four or five months ago.  No, probably four months ago.  This just happened about a week ago.  And all of a sudden on my little whiteboard thing that I have out there Jordan flashed up on my whiteboard, it was last March.  She had already asked me that from the date of that prayer had I seen things change.  Think about it.

And every day —‑ the definition of coincidence, an everyday occurrence in which God chooses to remain anonymous.  Think about it.  How in the world —‑ how in the world could a little state that’s the poorest, how in the world could we absolutely charge to the front like we’ve charged?  How right behind all of that could we have handled what we handled in COVID like we’ve handled it?  I’m telling you it is truly the miracle of West Virginia.

Now, I believe with all in me that I am battle proven and I am calm under fire.  I really do listen to our experts.  And you know, we’ve made moves for the betterment of all, not made moves that were selfish for just a few.  But in all of this that miracle, and that miracle has truly happened.

Now, I often ask myself a lot of times what is my real job.  Well, first and foremost, it’s to look out after the health and safety of the people, but secondly it’s to mind the store, is it not?  Because at the end of the day, if the economics don’t work, nothing, nothing, that you do or I do can work.  The economics has got to work.  If we’re going to continue to grow and every, the economics has to work.  Well, we have —‑ along the way we have pulled off the economics.

Now, we all know that we’ve been first in COVID in the nursing homes and first in the vaccinations and we’re on the nightly news everywhere under the sun.  And we’ve got to be really proud because, in addition to all that, every single day that goes by more and more and more will come because they see West Virginia in a different light than they seen it before.

Now, I want to take just a moment to congratulate Cathy.  Cathy and I —‑ neither one knew hardly anything about communities and schools.  Really and truly we knew that it was really started in West Virginia, in Greenbriar County, but we really didn’t know anything about it.  And so with all that, right behind all of that, Cathy needed to have supposedly a cause.  And I donated my salary to that and slow but sure they started off as Communities and Schools.  Can you just imagine this?  And I want you to cheer like crazy for this, but today Communities and Schools —‑ now, I don’t blow smoke at anybody.

I’m telling you, honest to God’s truth, I know what’s going on in our schools in a lot of situations.  I’ve coached forever.  I’ve been there.  I’ve seen the good and the bad.  I am telling you without any question the most profound program that we have going on within our schools today is Communities and Schools.  They have touched 49,000 kids now, 49,000 kids in 29 counties.  You’ve got to give them a giant round of applause.  Please do.

Cathy and my daughter Jill are way up here, and they are trying to be good.  And that’s good because I’m trying to keep them a little ways away from me now.

Now, let me take you on a ride to the future.  Stimulus.  You know, I’ve got to just tell you this this way.  You see, I was really, really, and still am, really close with our President, President Trump.  Close with his family.  Now, I can never understand three things that happened along the way.  The first thing that happened was just this.  He quit having his briefings on television.  Probably advisors were telling him maybe that’s not the thing to do, Mr. President, because somebody in the news may trip you up.  And Vice‑President Biden at the time is not out campaigning or anything, and he’s spending most time at his house and all that and it could really cause you a problem.  Well, I believe when he was talking to the people, the people really, really, really were dialing into President Trump.

And the next thing along the way —‑ and you make a lot of mistakes in any job as you go, but the next thing along the way was he came up with the idea, you know, Pelosi and everybody was —‑ they were pushing a $600 Stimulus package and we came out with 400.  And I said, Mr. President, why?  And he said, well, what do you mean?  And I said, Mr. President, all these people vote and all of them hope for 600 and you gave them 400.  It was the prudent thing to do, but at the end of the day we lost our President, didn’t we?

The next thing that happened along the way was there was a Stimulus package and that’s what I just said.  I believe the Democrats and the Republicans continued to play politics and politics and politics, and it would not move while people were really hurting.  People couldn’t pay their rent and their power bill and their car payment or whatever it may be.  All of a sudden, our President got slowly, slowly and more and more in trouble, and we lost the election.  And so today, today where we are is we have a new President, of which every single last one of you and myself should get behind and support with all in us.  And the reason we should is out of total respect to the presidency of the United States of America.

Now, with all of that I say to you just this.  The Stimulus package that should have been passed a long time ago, in my opinion, and the President, the President, Donald Trump came out and said I want to do a trillion 800 billion dollar package.  Did he not?  That’s exactly what he did.  And it just stumbled and stumbled and stumbled.  So today, today, where I am is just this.  Now, I’ve done a lot of stuff.  I’ve run a lot of businesses and employed thousands of people, and I know what to do in a lot of stuff.  I am telling you that we as America today are still stumbling.  We need to move forward aggressively and super boldly.  And if we leave some money on the table, we just do.  We can’t under fund what we need to jump start this world.  And it will jump start the world.

What’s going to happen is just this.  There’s going to be a trillion 900 billion dollar Stimulus package passed.  With that there is a good chance that a lot of different things will happen to West Virginia.  A lot of good things will happen to West Virginia.  I can tell you, though, the Stimulus packages will end, and you really need to listen to me.

West Virginia has not only dug itself out of a hole and got itself on a launch pad, it’s even taken itself off and become that diamond in the rough that everybody’s missed.  But yet, if everything just goes back to the way it was, I challenge every single one of you, West Virginia will fall back into being West Virginia someday.

We are on the launch pad right now.  In fact, we’re airborne right now.  And that’s why tonight, tonight I am asking all of you to join me to repeal the income state —‑ income tax in the State of West Virginia.

Now, how do you do that?  What do you got to do?  There’s a lot of people in this life that will work night and day to try to do nothing.  That’s not me.  Here’s how you do it.  First of all, you take one bite of the elephant at a time, a big bite.  You cut the income tax on everybody in the State of West Virginia except the super highest earners and you cut theirs by a third, but you cut everybody else by a half right out of the gate.  You absolutely explain that just this is the way it has to be.  If you do that, you’re going to —‑ the total income tax dollars are $2.1 billion, 2.1 billion in our state, half almost of our total revenue.

Now, if you’ll stay with me just one second.  I’ll tell you just this.  If you take half of our revenue and still put it in the bucket, half of our income tax don’t go away, half is still in the bucket.  You’ve got to go back and revisit and look at tiering the severance tax on oil, gas and coal.  I told you this years ago.  We should help our coal companies, our gas companies, our oil companies.  We should help them in every way to continue to create jobs and to go on and on all we can.  But you know, my family’s been in the coal business forever.  And I’m going to tell you that when profits rise to levels that are beyond our imaginations, we ought to be willing to step up and pay just a little tiny bit more.

I think what we’re going to have to do that’s going to hit the everyday man is we’re going to have to raise sales taxes by one‑and‑a‑half percent if we’re going to eliminate our income tax.  We need to look at putting an additional tax on cigarettes and soda and trying to make us healthier and better, and that could be a source of revenue for us.  We need to absolutely bring into taxation our professional services as well.  And then you need to have a wealth tax, a tax on those that are very, very, well to do, that can pay just pay just a little bit extra.  And then you need to make some cuts.  The cuts need to be, in my opinion, very miniscule.  You do not need to cut to the bone, but you do need to make some cuts.  By miniscule I mean very miniscule.  $25 million of cuts will get you there.

Now, at the end of the day just imagine, imagine, imagine if I were to say to me, to anybody, we can cut our income tax in half right off the get go.  We’ll  have to pay another percent‑and‑a‑half on our consumer sales tax.  If you’re not a smoker or you don’t buy soda pop, that’s it.  For you that’s pretty much it.  We need to tier our severance tax on coal and gas and oil.  It won’t bring in a whole lot of dollars, but it will bring in a few.  It is so miniscule it is unbelievable what I’m asking you to do.  And with all of that along the way, with a wealth tax and a luxury tax basically that is also miniscule.

By miniscule, it can maybe only bring in 20, 30, 40 million dollars.  Maybe if just for, you know, for items that you would purchase one item in excess of 5,000 or 10,000 or 30,000 or whatever, I’ve got a chart on all that, but I don’t need to go through all that right now.  And then there’s that small, small level of cuts.  What if I were to say to you that is our chance?  The door is right here for you, West Virginia, the door stands right ready for you right now.  Opportunity will flash in front of you, and if you don’t go through, it closes.  It’s your chance.  It’s your real chance.  The Stimuluses will die away.  COVID will die away.  And then ask yourself —‑ step back from it and ask yourself how are they going to come, how are they going to come.  Really and truly, how are they going to come?  This is an opportunity beyond all comparison.

Now, I would ask you to do two other things.  I would ask you to establish buckets.  You see, I’m really big into buckets because I believe when you put something in that bucket, it stays there.  I’d ask you, first and foremost, to tab a flat, no growth budget in the State of West Virginia for the next three years.

I would also ask you in my buckets to put some considerable amount of dollars, 30 to 50 million dollars in a bucket that basically we use to entice businesses to close, to close, and to come and bring their employment to West Virginia.  And the other bucket that I would like you to establish is an additional rainy day fund.  You see, if we freeze the budget at where we’re at right now, our rainy day fund is absolutely adequately funded, period, right now.  If we freeze the budget right now at where we’re at, absolutely our rainy day fund is in great shape.

If you create that second rainy day fund, and let me tell you how you can do it, you see, by the wisdom and good stuff of a lot, a lot of people we have built surpluses, have we not?  In 2019 we had 511 million extra dollars.  In 2020 we got across the finish line with a surplus in a COVID year plus moving the state income tax to the next year.  We still got across the finish line.  We did.  And what’s happened now? Now what’s happened is you have a surplus of cash that is extraordinary, and we continue to grow it.  I would not spend it.  I would set it into a bucket, a rainy day fund bucket, for the elimination of our income tax, for any shortfalls in the elimination of our income tax.

Now, the opportunity is there.  It’s entirely up to you.  My ideas surely can be tweaked.  I will listen to any and everybody, but absolutely I’ve given you a pathway, a pathway to eradicate our income tax.  And you may say, well, Governor, we understand, but Governor, that gets us halfway there.  And you said you’re going to eliminate it.  Stay with me just one second.  In the State of West Virginia today you’re growing at a pace of really, really, really close to $300 million a year.  If you think of how many will come into our state, it could blossom to who knows where.  If you don’t raise and spend extra money on the budget or on unnecessary items, if you have the discipline to really watch the store, the growth, the growth alone, the growth alone will take you there.  And the growth alone will eliminate the rest of the balance of the income tax.

Now, I could go on about this for a long, long time.  It is the single —‑ I will promise you to God above, it is the single biggest issue that you could possibly, possibly address.  You need to spend unlimited amount of time addressing this issue.  This issue would transform our state like you can’t imagine.  And if you don’t do it, you might as well just sit back and listen to old Jim who’s sitting here with white hair and absolutely has had a lot of experience.  You mark it down, COVID will get gone.  Stimulus will get gone.  And when they get gone, absolutely you’ll turn back and you’ll say let’s build another field and they’ll come and they’ll put a factory in or whatever it may be.  And then when you build the field and they don’t come, what next?

The downside of this, the downside is nothing.  It’s absolutely nothing.  Soda pop and tobacco, a little bit of tiering on the severance tax, one‑and‑a‑half percent and that’s it.  Not touching our property taxes for all practical purposes, absolutely not laying in additional taxes on our businesses.  Tennessee has three different taxes under businesses.  Their property taxes are multiples of what ours are.  Think of the story.  Think of the story one more time.  The best in the nation with COVID.  The best in the nation.  The best in the nation.  And now, that state is going to get rid of its incomes tax.  And that state is the most northerly state in the Union to the population.  They got to come through us to get to somebody else.  You think they’re going to come through us and go anywhere else?  Four of the most beautiful seasons on the planet, the greatest people.  It’s our chance.  It’s our chance.

Now I’m going to move on.  Tonight I am asking you to elevate in the cabinet —‑ to  elevate cabinet level agencies to secretaries of cabinets in two areas.  You see, I am hung up like crazy on tourism and economic development.  Tonight I am asking you to create two agencies, two new cabinet positions.  I will put Mitch Carmichael in the economic development position and Chelsea Ruby in the tourism position.  They absolutely —‑ Mitch is stuck on on.  Everybody that knows Mitch knows he’s stuck on on all the time.  He could probably sell bread to starving Russians on credit, you know, but —‑ and Chelsea has done an amazing, amazing job.  That’s all there is to it.

Now, I’m asking us also to create the closing fund that I just said earlier.  And I’m asking us to create an additional rainy day fund that we can put excess dollars —‑ and let me give you just another tidbit.  Just imagine this.  Can you imagine in the State of West Virginia, today we’ve got $464 million of a cash surplus today right now, right now.  We have $178 million surplus through the first seven months of the year.  And hopefully it will continue to grow, but I can’t guarantee that.

$464 million cash surplus right now.  Absolutely what do you think?  Just stay with me where you can understand what I know.  What do you think’s going to happen with the Biden Stimulus package?  What could happen? They could forgive all of the dollars that we’ve put out towards unemployment.  They have already backdated to January of 2020 all of the match to FEMA.  What if?  What if we had hundreds and hundreds and hundreds more millions dollars?  Put them in the bucket.  Don’t spend them.  For God sakes, don’t throw them away because you’ll spin around five times and wake up and say, huh, where are we.  You won’t even know what happened.  Put them in the bucket.

Now, through all this,  record surpluses in 2019, getting through —‑ you know, probably the biggest accomplishment that I’ve ever been involved with is with our revenue people and getting us through the 2020 year with an absolute surplus.  It’s amazing.  It’s amazing.  With a cannonball to the stomach on COVID and absolutely nowhere to turn and income tax all moved, the surplus, are you kidding me?  Really and truly it is amazing.  But with all of that, that all has happened, I’ve got a few announcements to make.  With all of that, we have done one thing.  And I give many, many kudos to my office, all the people in economic development, all the people at commerce, all the people all across all the agencies.  We took all the cabinet up there and met and met and met, but we landed hyper looped in West Virginia.

Now, we got —‑ we got two visitors with us.  We’ve got —— well, first of all, a special thanks to Gordon Gee and all of WVU’s efforts and all the stuff they put in,  all the licks there.  And Corby Robertson.  Corby’s a great personal friend and everything, and he’s doing a lot of stuff.  We’ve got some more announcements to come in regard to that, and not very —‑ and not very too distant in the future.  And John Chambers, a guy that all of us know very, very well and has done so much good in trying to help us tell our story.

In addition to that, there’s Mike Snyder.  And I think he’s on with us right here.  And Mike is with Hyperloop, and he can’t —‑ and I don’t know why with this technology age, but he can’t talk, but all we can do is clap for him and thank him.  So he’s going to wave to us.  Mike, thank you, sir.

Can you imagine, can you imagine that little state, that miracle that I talked about, that little state absolutely working with these great people that could revolutionize, revolutionize travel as we know it.  They gave us validation.  They’ve given us so much.  And I told you over and over you’ll always be remembered, you’ll always be appreciated, and you’ll be loved here beyond on good sense.  Thank you again, sir.

Also, at our North Central Airport I’ll never forget David Hinkle and people coming in to talk to me about what was going on at North Central.  And we had some dollars that were there, and so we said —‑ I mean, after we listened to the presentation I said do it.  Do it right now.  Well, they did it.  And I’m just going to follow my script here, but MHIRJ, MHIRJ at the North Central Airport employs 300 people today.  And we just had an announcement just not long ago that they are moving their employment to 800 people and the jobs’ average pay is $28 an hour.  Absolutely unbelievable.  Their leader of the band is in Japan right now.  And I hope I’m going to get this correctly, but Ishmeal Mocabil is with us —‑ or not with us because of the time differences and everything, but I hope some way, somehow, he can hear us as well.

In addition to that, DST Innovations.  Now, get this, people that make organic material, and a lot of it can come from coal, are moving right now into Morgantown and set up show there.  And then they have promised in phase two to do a manufacturing process in southern West Virginia.  And with all that, they hope to create a thousand, a thousand new jobs in West Virginia.  Please give them a great big round of applause.

I’ve got to tell you this, tourism in West Virginia has exploded, has it not?  Absolutely, Chelsea Ruby has done a marvelous job beyond belief.  Without any question whatsoever, we needed to be the frog that was proud of his own pond and invest some dollars and turn that into really something really good.  We’ve done that.  You know, we absolutely —‑ just think about this.  Our parks are having millions of visitors.  Absolutely, we did a hundred million dollars of upgrades to our parks.  I can’t thank Steve McDaniel enough.  What an incredible job he’s doing.  We had the best tourism add in the entire nation.

In the last two years $250 million of tourism investment, investment in our state has come to pass.  We’ve also welcomed the newest national park in the country, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.  And with us tonight is a fellow that’s going to even take us even further, and that’s Brad Smith, the Chairman of Intuit.  And Brad’s right with us.  And Brad has made an incredible donation to us and everything to work on a concept that would bring remote workers to West Virginia.

Now, I have a bill that is in front of you and in just a second we’re going to give Brad the biggest round of applause in the world.  But I have a bill in front of you to propose the attraction of remote workers to West Virginia.  It’s a fundamental change and a modernization to how we look at corporate tax and the corporate tax structure and how we move towards making West Virginia attractive for remote workers.  We want to do it.  Brad has an idea.  Not only does he have an idea, he’s has put his money where his mouth is and he’s absolutely given us a chance to do this.  So many, so many want to work from home.  So many can work in other places and do great work here.  This gives us a real chance.  So Brad, thank you from the very, very bottom of all of our hearts.  We love you.  And please give him the greatest round of applause.        

Drugs are still a real issue in West Virginia.  COVID has really taken us off track.  We had Jim’s Dream and Jobs and Hope and we had some beginnings, beginnings, but we still have got to know that drugs can cannibalize us.  It attacks us all, Republican, Democrat, black, white, rich, poor.  It doesn’t matter.  It attacks us all.  I’m not going to go into great, great detail, but we have —‑ we have a fellow that’s with us tonight, right there.  His name is Joe Bozick.  And Joe had brought a concept to us and everything and he asked me if I’d be the head coach.  And that’s game changers.  There has been so much happened, and tonight I am announcing the game changer.  In conjunction with the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute has established a partnership, now get this, with the world‑renowned Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to bring evidence‑based prevention programs for opioid and substance abuse to all students in West Virginia schools.  It is unbelievable.  And tonight we’ve got with us —‑ and I think this is Mark Mishek, and he is the President and CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford.  And we have Angela Jerabek, and she is the founder and Executive Director of BRR —‑ BARR, Building Assets and Reducing Risks.  So please give them a giant round of applause.

Just so you’ll know where I am, we made some really, really bold steps for broadband, did we not?  West Virginia is deficit on broadband beyond belief.  We need to do any and everything we can to blanket our state with broadband.  It will make us better and better and better, and the opportunities just abound everywhere.  It is the next highway construction project.  We absolutely have fed dollars now pouring in, and we have real progress in broadband, but we got to do more.  We got to do more.  That’s just all there is to it.

From the standpoint of a roads report, our roads to prosperity, you know, a long time ago we absolutely moved along the lines of if we’re going to start our roads to prosperity vote, I went on the road, stayed on the road, and lo and behold, 73 percent of the people voted for it.  I promised them we wouldn’t raise additional taxes.  We haven’t raised a dime of additional taxes.  And we have absolutely continued to do work and we absolutely had our roads get in this situation over decades of neglect.  We still have more to do.  And I want to tell you we will continue to do it.

Tonight I also want to strongly support and hope like crazy it gets in through this year is an intermediate Court of Appeals.  I want to announce something that is really close to our heart.  We have a lady that’ with us who is the Teacher of the Year.  I said in my first State of the State we needed to make education our centerpiece.  Not that we needed to just throw a bunch of money away in education or anything, but here is my whole thought.  We had to change our image.  We absolutely had to start down a pathway to really trying to change our image to the outside world.

Tonight we have a fifth‑grade teacher that’s with us at Tennerton, from Tennerton Elementary, in Upshur County.  She’s a 20‑year veteran.  She is sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing of West Virginia, Highmark of West Virginia, Horseman Insurance, West Virginia Lottery and the West Virginia Professional Educators Association.  Her name make her absolutely welcome, an achievement that is unbelievable, our Teacher of the Year, Erin Anderson.

I won’t keep you a whole lot longer.  I’ve got to just say this.  I’ve had a team around me in this COVID deal, our COVID czar, Clay Marsh.  And I owe him a bunch.  Our General of National Guard, General Hoyer.  Our DHHR Secretary, Secretary Crouch, and Doctor Amjad and all those all over the place, all those in our health communities and our first responders and all those that absolutely have braved this fight.  Can you imagine —‑ and I say it all the time, but can you just imagine, imagine crawling out of bed, getting your scrubs on or whatever it may be and going right into the fire as you kiss your children goodbye and hope you’ll see them again later in the day, knowing you could bring it home, knowing there were so many uncertainties in the beginning and yet they went.  Our grocery workers do the same thing and yet they went.  They did everything for all of us.  We owe them so much.  But we could absolutely owe no one more than our National Guardsmen and women.  1460 of them are deployed right now.  They have started our Mountaineer Challenge Academy.  And now we have Mountaineer Challenge Academy II.  And and they have stood up as the leadership in the Joint Interagency Task Force for COVID Vaccination.  We owe so much.  I have said it so many times, to all of our military we owe everything we have, everything.  And if you don’t think that, you’re not thinking right.  Please give them a great big round of applause.

So in wrapping this thing up, you’ve given me an honor beyond belief.  A lot of people along the way would say gosh, oh, man, I bet it’s just awful being the Governor at this time.  I mean, how lucky —‑ unlucky could you have been, blah, blah, blah.  But you see, I believe just this.  I believe the good Lord made you who you are for a reason and he put you right here for a reason.  And I believe he made me who I am for a reason.  That’s why this has not been a burden.  It’s been an honor.  It’s been tough and you’ve had all kinds of sleepless nights and it has been really tough, but I am telling you I’ve got to also thank all those that are around me in my office and all the great work that they’ve done as well, especially you Cathy, Jill, Jay, Adam and Catherine and those little rascals J.C. and Conley.  And more than anybody, in a lot of ways Baby Dog.

But before I go, let me just tell you this.  West Virginia was really rolling before we got COVID.  COVID, no one even knew what in the world it was.  For crying out loud, at two o’clock in the day we were having schools and sporting events all over the country, Big 12 events and everything, shutting down everywhere.  We had our state tournament going on right down there, and at two o’clock my team, my team was playing at 7:00.  We pulled the plug and we started to work, did we not?  And along the way — along the way we have done a lot of really good work.  We’ve lost in excess of 2,175 people.  And I say that because this morning it was 2,175.  It’s a shame and it’s absolutely sad.  Please always remember them in your thoughts, in your prayers, and absolutely you will see that through all this, when we were really rolling, I am now in a position of honor.  And with that, I have delivered right back there to our Speaker and to our President that flat budget that I referred to.  I’m very, very proud of that and we can do it.  We can do every single thing that I have outlined here tonight.  Before, let’s tell the truth, we were 50th in all kinds of things.  We were competing against Mississippi, like I said, who was going to be dead last.  And we were at the blunt end of a lot of bad jokes.  And now we are that diamond in the rough that people — we are not the diamond that is going to be found.  We are the diamond that they have found.  We are absolutely the star of the game show on the national news every single night almost.  It’s West Virginia, West Virginia and West Virginia.  And now you’ve have got the reins.  I’m telling you with all in me if you want to drive property values in this state up and if the border counties are concerned that somebody is going to go across and buy soda pop or they’re going to buy cigarettes across the border, I would say to them just this.  Those people across the border are going to come to you to live.  I mean, for crying out loud, why would we be worried about such a thing as that?  They’re going to be coming to you to live.  Your stores are going to be filled like you can’t imagine.  The opportunity is right here, right now.

I can tell you just this, too.  The steepest part of the mountain, if you’ll just watch, any mountain you’ve ever climbed in your life, where’s the steepest part?  It’s always near the top.  It’s always near the top.  You start off like this, then it goes like this, and then all of the sudden you’re standing there looking and that last little part to get from here to Cathy is almost straight up.

Most people slide back down.  I’m confident that you won’t.  And the big question in all of our minds has been asked me over and over is where are we going to be in ten years, where are we going to be in 20 years?  I’m going to tell you, and somewhere here, and who knows where they are, so I’m not going to — I’m not even going to go there because I can’t even find — oh, they’re here.  They’re here.

Think about this.  Let me make sure because I didn’t want to disappoint you and not have some kind of graphic.  Well, okay.  Say what?  Okay.  It’s the middle one.  But a lot of ways this is where we were.  And this is where we are today.  And this is where we want to stay.  Where are we going to be in the next ten years?  Where are we going to be in the next 20 years?  I’m going to tell you if you’ll just pay really close attention to just this one thing.  I would say just this, we have a chance of being the state that has the things that we have wanted so badly that other states have had, the good things that we have wanted so badly that we didn’t have, we’ll be the state that has them.  And you know what else we’ll be?  We’ll be the state that doesn’t have the bad things that others still have.

And the last thing, you know what we’ll be able to do? We will be able to have that and we will be able to live in paradise because that’s West Virginia.  You all know it.  All you got to do is look outside.  You all know just what an opportunity we have.  And so I’m going to read to you just two lines.  Over the next four years I want us to be even better.  I won’t be satisfied until West Virginia’s success is no longer a surprise, but it is what is expected.  I want every other state in America to know if they want to get to the top of the mountain in anything they do, they’re going to have to go right through the Mountain State to get there.  God bless each and every one of you.  Thank you so much.

      The Sergeant-at-Arms escorted His Excellency, the Governor, from the Chamber.

      The business of the Joint assembly having been completed, the Speaker declared the Joint Assembly dissolved.

      The Members of the Senate retired to their Chamber.

      The Speaker then called the House to order.

Messages from the Executive

      The following communication from His Excellency, the Governor, was laid before the House of Delegates and read by the Clerk:

State of West Virginia

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Charleston, WV

February 10, 2021

Executive Message No. 1

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

The Honorable Roger Hanshaw

West Virginia House of Delegates

State Capitol

Charleston, WV 25305

Dear Speaker Hanshaw:

      I herewith submit, pursuant to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, a budget and budget bill for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Jim Justice

Governor

      Upon motion of Delegate Summers, and by unanimous consent, the House returned to the Eighth Order of Business for the purpose of introducing the Budget Bill in compliance with Subdivision (4), Subsection B, Section 51, Article VI of the Constitution.

Bills Introduced

By Delegate Hanshaw, Mr. Speaker, and Delegate Skaff

[By Request of the Executive]:

H. B. 2022 - “A Bill making appropriations of public money out of the Treasury in accordance with Section 51, Article VI of the Constitution.”

      Accompanying the Budget Bill was a document showing estimates of revenue, expenditures, etc., as required by Section 51, Article VI of the Constitution. 

      The Speaker referred the bill to the Committee on Finance.

Miscellaneous Business

Pursuant to House Rule 94b, forms were filed with the Clerk’s Office to be added as a cosponsor of the following:

-   Delegate Nestor for H. B. 2009, H. B. 2167 and H. B. 2216

-   Delegates Bridges, Holstein, Horst, Keaton and Sypolt for H. B. 2159

-   Delegate Mandt for H. B. 2031, H. B. 2239 and H. B. 2240

At 8:08 p.m., on motion of Delegate Summers, the House of Delegates adjourned until 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 11, 2021.