Weekly Features

This Week in Charleston – March 17, 2021

By Delegate David Kelly
[email protected]
Phone: (304)-340-3226

Week Five

   We officially passed the halfway mark this week. To date, 54 bills have passed the house and 22 bills have completed legislation. Six bills have already been signed by the Governor.

   HB 2001 was the first bill the House of Delegates took action on this year. It creates the Jumpstart Savings Account program. The bill permits a pre-tax savings for people that are  learning a trade or desiring to establish a new business in West Virginia. The bill now awaits action by the Governor.

   Senate Bill 295 expands the insurance for loans that broadband builders receive from their banks. It also adds greater transparency and provides more protections in an effort to make certain the funds are used correctly.

   The House Finance Committee began taking up issues concerning supplemental funding for state agencies and taxation.

   House Finance Chairman Eric Householder said, “Meaningful tax reform is difficult, but we have people leaving our state every day in search of prosperity, and we’ve got to reverse that trend. I do believe tax reform is one of the big reasons people are leaving the state, so we’ve got to work on reversing that trend, and I think we can do it with a moderate approach.”

   The House Technology and Infrastructure committee passed HB 2044. This bill is designed to establish Next Generation 911 services in this West Virginia. It permits dispatchers to get GPS locations of emergency calls from cell phones. It also provides for the transmission of photos and video from 911 callers. This will assist  authorities in dispatching the proper resources in emergency situations.

   House Bill 2674, removes the requirement that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists practice under the direct supervision of a physician.  The requirement was first removed at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic  by Executive Order.

   “These healthcare workers responded to the call during the pandemic, as so many healthcare heroes did, and I think it’s time we step up for them,” said Majority Leader Amy Summers, R-Taylor, who is a Registered Nurse.

   We also adopted House Resolution 8 to honor the life of fallen Charleston Police Officer Cassie Johnson and approved a bill that creates a Semi-quincentennial Commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.