Day 41: Another House Judiciary Committee public hearing
Also, pepperoni rolls!
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days.
Today is the 41st day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
This morning’s briefing is again coming to you from your 60 Days legislative listening post in Martinsburg, which is just about as far away from the statehouse as you can get and still be in West Virginia. Thanks to the internet, however, Dave and I are able to keep tabs on the goings on in Charleston so you don’t have to.
I admit it’s not quite the same as being at the state Capitol, but neither is internet coffee and we’re not turning that down, are we?
The big thing we’re watching as we kick off the work week is Campus Carry.
Officially, the bill is known as the “Campus Self-Defense Act” and it’s the latest clash in the fight over guns. Generally speaking, the bill would allow the holders of concealed carry permits to carry handguns on campus.
Supporters make “the good guy with a gun” argument - saying an armed student or faculty member could stop a mass shooting and that Campus Carry could serve as a deterrent.
Opponents argue the opposite. They say allowing more guns would make campuses less safe and that supporters aren’t taking into account that easier access to guns could lead to more suicides among students.
The bill originated in the Senate (S.B. 10). The House Judiciary Committee advanced it last week after holding a public hearing in which the overwhelming majority of speakers opposed it.
Here’s a link to an interview House Speaker Roger Hanshaw gave WVNews.com. It was conducted just after the Campus Carry public hearing and also touches on the competing tax cut plans that are moving through the Legislature and the bill that would split the Department of Health and Human Resources into three agencies.
Campus Carry will be on second reading when the House convenes its floor session today, meaning Delegates will be taking a passage vote tomorrow.
Speaking of passage votes, here’s what Delegates will be voting on today.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 89 - Requiring hospitals to staff qualified personnel to perform sexual assault forensic exams
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2150 - Requiring parents or guardians to participate in programs for juveniles in an out-of-home placement
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2848 - Water and Sewer Operator licensing reciprocity
Com. Sub. for H. B. 3101 - Relating to notification of breast density
Com. Sub. for H. B. 3147 - To create the Upper Ohio Valley Trail Network
H. B. 3215 - Relating to land use
H. B. 3428 - Relating to the West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program
Several House committees are meeting today, with the most notable being The House Judiciary Committee.
The committee is taking public comment on a bill for the fourth time this session. This time it’s holding a public hearing in the House chamber on House Bill 3270. It’s scheduled to begin first thing this morning, at 9 a.m.
As we noted on Friday:
H. B. 3270 would “amend the ‘deliberate intent’ statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000.”
‘Deliberate intent’ is part of worker’s compensation law that gives workers a pathway to hold companies accountable for ignoring safety hazards that lead to severe injury or death.
As the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports “An attempt to remove the ability of West Virginia workers and their families to file deliberate intent claims, HB 4394, failed in last year’s regular session.”
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet immediately following today’s public hearing. The ‘Deliberate Intent’ bill is not on the agenda, but H.B. 3189 is. The measure is better known as The PFAS Protection Act and it addresses PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
I thought the PFAS bill worth noting following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Some of the cars that derailed were carrying toxic chemicals and residents are voicing air and water quality concerns.
PFAS chemicals are used in a wide range of household products and at least some are known to be harmful.
The bill was overwhelmingly sent to House Judiciary Committee from the House Energy panel. The Senate is working on its own version.
The House Government Organization Committee is considering a resolution today making the pepperoni roll the official state food of West Virginia.
Hungry? Here’s a video tutorial on how to make a West Virginia pepperoni roll from our food friends at Lost Creek Farm in Harrison County.
Here’s the House committee schedule for today:
10:15 a.m. - Room 410-M
10:45 a.m. - Behind Chamber
1:00 p.m. - Room 460-M
1:00 p.m. - Room 215-E
2:00 p.m. - Room 432-M
If it seems like I’m paying short shrift to the Senate, I probably am. I was pressed for time. I had to work the overnight shift at my real job. But it still seems like most of the action on major issues is in the House today, anyway.
You can see the complete Senate floor agenda here.
Here are the bills up for passage:
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 191 - Relating to liability for payment of court costs as condition of pretrial diversion agreement
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 293 - Increasing fees charged by sheriff (original similar to HB3466)
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 303 - Relating to Violent Crime Prevention Act
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 430 - Relating to State Treasurer’s authority to contract with financial institutions for banking goods and services
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 455 - Modifying certain used car restrictions
Eng. S. B. 559 - Relating to spousal privilege
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 568 - Relating to Dangerousness Assessment Advisory Board
Eng. S. B. 605 - Requiring state medical examiner to enter into contracts with procurement organization
Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 2596 - To modify when a nonresident student’s transfer may be denied - (Com. title amend. pending)
Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 2845 - Relating to removing expired provisions from the code
Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 3164 - To extend the termination date of the West Virginia Advisory Council on Rare Diseases due to a delay in beginning its duties
Eng. H. B. 3272 - Relating to the operation of private trust companies in West Virginia - (With right to amend)
The Senate’s committee schedule looks like this:
1 p.m.: Military (208W)
Com. Sub. for SB 616: WV Veterans' Home Loan Mortgage Program of 2023
2 p.m.: Agriculture and Natural Resources (208W)
Com. Sub. for HB 3122: Permitting certain types of rifles using an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech
2 p.m.: Banking and Insurance (451M)
Com. Sub. for SB 657: WV Long-Term Care Insurance Act
Com. Sub. for SB 480: Modifying group accident and sickness insurance requirements
Com. Sub. for SB 594: Specifying fairness in cost sharing calculations for certain high deductible health plans
3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)
Com. Sub. for SB 462: Modifying certain guidelines for motor vehicle dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers
Com. Sub. for SB 633: Requiring prompt appearances for persons detained on capiases
Com. Sub. for SB 560: Limiting recovery on claims for abuse to secure financial solvency of public and private school system
Com. Sub. for SB 534: Relating to nonintoxicating beer, nonintoxicating craft beer, cider, wine, and liquor license requirements
3 p.m.: Finance (451M)
SB 678: Adding appropriations to DHHR, Division of Human Services
Com. Sub. for SB 199: Requiring purchases of certain commodities and services from state use program partners
Com. Sub. for SB 79: Relating to compensable diseases of certain firefighters covered by worker's compensation
SB 595: Relating to real property, tax, and registration requirements associated with carbon offset agreements
Thanks for starting your week with us here at 60 Days.
Tips? Concerns? Did we miss something? See any errors that need to be corrected?
Or maybe you just want to pass along some love?
You can get in touch with me and Dave simply by replying to this email or hitting the comment button.