As the 60-day, regular legislative session nears the halfway point, members of the House of Delegates continue to use their new two-step committee process to discuss potential new laws as well as solutions to issues throughout the state that may not require a change to the law.
The following bills passed the House during the week of March 3rd-7th:
- House Bill 2515 specifies requirements applicable when a K-6 teacher determines the behavior of a student is violent, threatening, or intimidating toward staff or peers or a student creating an unsafe learning environment or impeding other students’ ability to learn in a safe environment. The committee substitute defines violent, threatening, or intimidating behavior. The committee substitute also clarifies when a child is picked up by a parent, it is a suspension, complying with federal guidelines. The committee substitute notes that if a parent does not pick the child up, they may ride the bus home with the supervision of the principal. The bill allows classroom aides to provide behavioral support. The bill makes an evaluation under Child Find optional; however, a Functional Behavior Analysis is mandatory. The student should be referred to the student assistance team, the 504 team, or the IEP team at the school for immediate intervention. If the child’s behavior continues, expulsion is permitted, but only through the current school semester.
- House Bill 2217 increases the penalties for conspiracy to commit certain crimes. Any person who conspires to commit a felony crime against a person or a felony where the victim is a child faces imprisonment in a corrections facility for three to 15 years. The bill clarifies felony crimes of kidnapping, arson, and sexual assault.
- House Bill 2362 recognizes correctional officers as law enforcement officers.
- House Bill 2158 removes the sunset clause for the West Virginia spay and neuter program registration fee.
- House Bill 2360 clarifies that crimes against law enforcement officers included pre-certified officers, those still in training, and chief executives such as sheriffs.
- House Bill 2434, the Stop Squatters Act, provides for law enforcement remedy to remove unauthorized persons from residential and commercial real estate, The bill establishes misdemeanor and felony offenses for unlawfully occupying and intentionally damaging a residential or commercial property. The bill also establishes a misdemeanor offense for knowingly presenting a false document stating property ownership.
- House Bill 2437 removes “knowingly” offenses involving fentanyl. The bill states that someone in possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance could face enhanced penalties, if fentanyl is in the substance.
- House Bill 2511 allows for bingo and alcohol sales and consumption to take place at the same time for events held by Veteran Service Organizations, fraternities, and volunteer fire departments.
- House Bill 2117 amends absentee voting. The bill requires ballots to be received by 7:30 p.m. on the election day. Currently, the absentee vote must be postmarked by election day and arrive by canvassing. The bill also rolled in another bill to limit the number of absentee voting applications an individual can hand out to a group of voters without the voters specifically requesting them to provide 10 applications.
- House Bill 2441 disqualifies individuals who fail a drug test while working in a safety-sensitive position from claiming unemployment.
- House Bill 2444 allows the Lottery Commission to examine financial records only related to limited video lottery (LVL) when reviewing the LVL permittee’s financial records.
- House Bill 2653 updates the outdated code of the West Virginia Law Institute.
- House Bill 2709 allows voters who have moved within the
county to vote in their new precinct without having to cast a provisional ballot. The individual must provide proof of address change, such as a license or utility bill. - Senate Bill 456 defines sex, male, and female in the West Virginia code. Two amendments were offered. The first amendment states that nothing in the article authorizes any person other than a healthcare provider to visually or physically examine a child to verify the biological sex of the child without the consent of the child’s parents. This amendment was adopted. The second amendment was similar and added that nothing in the section allowed an inspection of the genitalia of an adult or a child. This amendment was rejected.
- House Bill 2129 creates the Parents Bill of Rights. One amendment was offered and adopted. The amendment allows an individual to bring an action for injunctive relief against someone who violates this article.
Wednesday, March 12th, will mark the halfway point in the 60-day legislative session. Currently, there have been 1,255 House Bills and 727 Senate Bills introduced. A total of 33 bills have passed the House and 48 bills have passed the Senate. For a complete list of bills, please visit www.wvle gils ture.gov.
In addition to working on legislation, I had the pleasure of welcoming our students from Braxton County Middle School to Youth and Government. It was wonderful to visit with the students and hear about their experiences at the Capitol. They had the opportunity to experience all three branches of government, participate in a mock legislative session and a mock trial, and meet with government officials. Special thanks to Pat Facemire, Counselor at BCMS, and Chance McTaggart, 7th Grade Social Studies teacher, for chaperoning the trip.
Serving as pages this week from Gilmer County High School were Kaylee Martin, Paige Montgomery, and Leah Poole. Special thanks to Alecia Martin for bringing the students down for the day.
Every week, I meet individuals who are making a difference in our state. This week, I was pleased to see Braxton County native Brian Carr, a professional firefighter in Mercer County, Jamie Oates representing Jobs of Hope, and Brittany Adams working for Recovery Point.
I also had the pleasure of visiting with several folks from Gilmer County at the Farm Bureau Dinner. I always enjoy having the time to sit around the table and discuss legislation with the people I represent.
Congratulations to the Lady Titans of Gilmer County for securing their spot in the State Tournament! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off.
A big congratulations to the Braxton County Eagles Wrestling Team for making another trip to the State Meet and achieving a commendable second-place finish. Your perseverance and skill are truly inspiring.
Lastly, congratulations to Braxton County High School for being chosen as one of the eight schools in the nation to receive the honor of 2025 Model School. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the excellence and commitment of the entire school community. Well done!
Before I close this week, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and students of Amy Wills. Amy was a beloved teacher at Sutton Elementary School for several years and touched many hearts. I fondly remember her from her days in elementary school when we rode the same bus together during my high school years. Even then, she was a vibrant and friendly student, always wearing a smile and displaying a curious expression. Years later, it was a joy to see her all grown up, pouring her heart into teaching at Sutton Elementary School, where we both taught. Amy’s dedication and love for her students were truly inspiring. Her gift of teaching has and will continue to have an impact on the world. The world will miss her terribly, but we are blessed to have known her.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
(Pablo Picasso)
I look forward to hearing from people in the district and hope to see you out and about enjoying all the great things our area has to offer. I can be contacted at lori.dittman@wv house.gov or 304-701-8600.