This bill allows classroom teachers who joined West Virginia's Teachers Retirement System on or after July 1, 2015, to sell up to 10 unused personal leave days to their county school board for cash. Teachers receive 80% of the county's rate for a substitute teacher with a bachelor's degree and 10 years' experience per day, paid by June 30. Once sold, those leave days are permanently forfeited and cannot be used for any future purpose. The policy directly affects eligible teachers by providing a one-time cash option for unused leave instead of carrying it forward.
HB 2881 expands West Virginia's State Police Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit by increasing its minimum membership size and adding more regional members to directly assist Child Protective Services offices. It allows honorably retired State Police officers to rejoin the unit under specific conditions, including completing required training (like firearms and criminal law updates) but prohibiting pension accrual, promotions, or rank changes. The unit must maintain statewide statistics on child abuse convictions and submit annual reports to the legislature, tracking case investigations without disclosing individual details. These changes aim to strengthen coordination between law enforcement and child protective services in handling abuse cases.
Senate Bill 598 allows judges in West Virginia to refer parents who knowingly make false accusations of child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence during child custody proceedings to prosecutors. If a court finds an accusation was knowingly false, the judge may order the accuser to reimburse the accused parent for reasonable legal costs and refer the case to prosecutors to determine if criminal charges apply. The bill specifically targets deliberate falsehoods - not withdrawn or unproven reports - and applies to parents or household members making such false claims in custody cases. This policy change directly affects parents involved in custody disputes who make verified false allegations, aiming to address misuse of child protection systems.
This West Virginia Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 15) is a formal statement opposing China's misuse of UN Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. It clarifies that the resolution's purpose was solely to determine China's UN representation, not Taiwan's political status, and rejects China's "One China Principle" as conflated with the UN resolution. The resolution calls on the UN to stop using Resolution 2758 to deny Taiwan participation in UN bodies and reaffirms that the U.S. "one China policy" does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. It directly affects Taiwan's ability to engage with international institutions, where it has been excluded since 1971 despite its population of 23.5 million.
SB 83 amends West Virginia law to grant the Foster Care Ombudsman (or their designee) access to confidential child abuse, neglect, and fatality/near-fatality records when acting in their official duties. This directly affects the Ombudsman's office, enabling them to review records previously restricted to other entities like courts or child fatality review teams. The key provision adds the Ombudsman to the list of authorized recipients under §49-5-101, allowing access to records related to child abuse/neglect cases and fatalities without requiring court orders. The bill maintains existing confidentiality protections, ensuring reporter identities remain shielded except when shared specifically with the Ombudsman.
Senate Joint Resolution 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit certain state constitutional officers to three consecutive terms. It would apply to the offices of Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Attorney General for terms beginning after January 1, 2029. Terms starting before 2029 would not count toward the limit, and partial terms after that date would be included in the count. The amendment must be approved by the legislature and ratified by voters in the 2026 general election.
This is a ceremonial resolution (SR 37), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes the Energy Council's 50th anniversary and commends the organization for its work since 1975. The resolution expresses the West Virginia Senate's appreciation for the Council's role in fostering nonpartisan collaboration among energy policymakers across 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. It has no binding effect or impact on energy policy, funding, or regulations.
This bill (HCR 20) is a legislative request to name a specific bridge in Wetzel County, West Virginia, the "U.S. Tustin Brothers Memorial Bridge." It directly affects the Division of Highways, which would be asked to rename bridge number 52-250/00-003.88 (currently known as Stewart Street Bridge) and install identifying signs. The resolution commemorates Vernon and Vincent Tustin, along with five of their brothers, who all served in the U.S. military, including during the Korean Conflict. The request is purely ceremonial, with no new policy or funding changes, and seeks to honor their military service and local legacy.
This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 6) requests the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific bridge in Logan County. The bridge, located at coordinates 37.76296, -81.84196 (over Buffalo Creek on County Route 16/18), would be named the "U.S. Army Warrant Officer Private Sidney Washington Memorial Bridge." The resolution honors Private Sidney Washington, a World War II Army Warrant Officer and lifelong coal miner from the area, who served until his death in 1970. The bill is procedural and commemorative, seeking to establish a permanent memorial at a specific location.
This concurrent resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name Dunloup Creek Bridge #2 (bridge number 10-025/00-000.06) in Fayette County as the "U.S. Army Private First Class Calvin Esco Spade Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge with this name. The resolution commemorates PFC Spade's service in the Korean War, his 15 years in the Army Reserves, and his post-military work with CSX Railroad in the Thurmond area. This is a symbolic naming request with no financial or regulatory impact, directly affecting only the bridge's official designation.
HCR 12 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific covered bridge in Wetzel County as the "Charles 'Charlie' Goff Memorial Bridge." The resolution identifies Bridge Number 52-013/00-004.64 (locally known as Hundred Covered Bridge) carrying CR 013 over WV Fork Fish Creek. It honors Charles Goff, a West Virginia native and U.S. Army soldier who served with the 6th Armored Division during WWII, and who died in 2024. The resolution is purely commemorative, with no policy changes or funding mechanisms - only a ceremonial name change for the bridge.
HCR 21 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific bridge in Wetzel County. It asks to name bridge number 52-250/12-000.02 (at coordinates 39.68344, -80.45906), currently known as Church Fork Bridge, as the "U.S. Army Private Terry F. Tustin Memorial Bridge." The resolution cites Private Tustin's military service in Vietnam, his long residence in Hundred, West Virginia, and his family ties as reasons for the memorial. The bill directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge by its new name. This is a symbolic naming request with no policy changes or funding impact.
