Day 21: Between election law and gender identity, the state Senate has a busy floor schedule today

The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for March 4, 2025

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Mar 04, 2025

Today is Tuesday, March 4, 2025 — the 21st day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.

Today is Marshall University Day at the Capitol. As a Marshall grad, I must admit this was always the most embarrassing day for me when I covered the West Virginia Legislature.

Not because I’m not a proud Son of Marshall — I most definitely am. It was embarrassing for me because I always forgot to wear green to represent my alma mater.

Marshall may do a good job of teaching journalism, but reading a calendar wasn’t exactly part of the curriculum.

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9:00 a.m. — The House Finance Committee will tackle a slew of rules bundles, dealing with the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, the West Virginia Lottery Commission and the state Tax Department. Following that meeting, the committee will hear budget presentations from the Lottery Commission and the Department of Agriculture.
9:00 a.m. — The House Judiciary Committee’s agenda includes a hearing on H.B. 2382, which would make camping, sleeping or storing property on public land a misdemeanor.
9:30 a.m. — S.B. 564 is among the bills on Senate Government Org.’s agenda. The bill would prohibit voters not affiliated with a major political party
from voting the primary election ballot of any political party.
9:30 a.m. — S.B. 199, the Senate’s version of the elementary school behavior bill, is on the Education Committee’s agenda. The full House overwhelmingly passed its behavior yesterday.
11:00 a.m. — The Senate has a busy floor schedule. Three bills dealing with elections are on the floor and up for a vote this morning — and there are other bills on the floor that we’ve been watching.
- Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 486 - Clarifying eligibility requirements to vote in WV elections
- Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 488 - Clarifying definition of electioneering
- Eng. S. B. 490 - Prohibiting ranked-choice voting in elections in West Virginia
Those other bills on the floor include S. B. 154. It’s at the amendment stage in the Senate. It would require teachers to out students to their parents if they question their gender. The House-passed food dye bill, H. B. 2354, is also on second reading in the Senate. S.B. 299 is making its debut on the Senate floor. It would further tighten last year’s restrictions on gender affirming care for those under age 18.
11:00 a.m. — Notably on the docket for the House of Delegates floor session, two bills are on the amendment stage related to the reorganization of the executive branch:
- Com. Sub. for H. B. 2008 - Executive Branch Reorganization
- H. B. 2009 - Relating to the merging and reorganizing of the executive branch
Also on the House floor, a number of bills on first reading are worth keeping an eye on as the week rolls along:
- Com. Sub. for H. B. 2117 - Relating to when Mail In Ballots are Due
- Com. Sub. for H. B. 2129 - Creating the Parents Bill of Rights.
- Com. Sub. for H. B. 2441 - To make those who fail drug test ineligible for unemployment
- H. B. 2683 - To prohibit rank choice voting
3:00 p.m. — Senate Finance will hear budget presentations from the state Departments of Homeland Security and Education.

Senate Floor Calendar Senate Committee Schedule

House Floor Calendar House Committee Schedule

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