HCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 0.5-mile stretch of Route 2 in Benwood (Marshall County) as the "Gold Star Mother Catherine Blake Highway." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the roadway with the name and two gold stars, honoring Catherine Blake who lost two sons in World War I - Edward Leo Blake (U.S.S. Cyclops, 1918) and William Thomas Blake (killed in action, 1918). The resolution commemorates Blake as Marshall County's only known "Double Gold Star Mother" and references the local American Legion post named in her sons' honor. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, solely focused on naming a highway segment.
This bill (HCR 42) is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename Rocky Fork Bridge (bridge number 00-005.51(20A561) on County Route 622 in Kanawha County) as the "U.S. Army Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the bridge with this new name, honoring Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley's service in the Korean Conflict and his local community ties. The resolution does not create new policy or affect any laws - only changes the bridge's official name.
This bill (HCR 11) is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to rename Bridge Number 54-014/00-013.22 (locally known as the Fifth Street Bridge) in Wood County as the "Thomas A. Azinger Memorial Bridge." It directly affects the bridge signage and official designation for the structure carrying WV 014 over the Little Kanawha River. The resolution, adopted by the House and referred to the Senate, formally commemorates Delegate Thomas A. Azinger, a former West Virginia House member who served from 1994-2012 and 2018, and passed away in July 2024.
HCR 22 is a symbolic resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific road segment in Oak Hill, Fayette County as "James Monroe Ellis Memorial Road." The bill defines the road section between two intersections (with GPS coordinates) along Greentown Loop Road. It honors James Monroe Ellis, West Virginia's first Black attorney admitted to the state bar, who served in the legislature and died in Oak Hill. This resolution does not change laws or affect any policies - it is solely a commemorative gesture to memorialize Ellis's contributions.
This bill (SCR 20) is a formal resolution recognizing the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for its 50th anniversary in 2025. It expresses the West Virginia Legislature's appreciation for NCSL's role in supporting state legislatures through bipartisan collaboration, research, and fostering communication among state lawmakers. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it is purely a ceremonial gesture of gratitude. It directly affects no individuals or groups beyond acknowledging NCSL's work.
HCR 25 is a procedural resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific section of U.S. Route 250 (north of Moundsville city limits to just north of WV Route 891) to "Waynesburg Pike Road" and install a sign at the intersection of WV Route 88 and U.S. Route 250. It directly affects road signage and identification for drivers using this segment of road. The resolution follows a prior designation by the Marshall County 911 Infrastructure Renaming Committee and does not change traffic laws or regulations. It is a non-binding request for the Division of Highways to implement the name change and signage.
SB 686 amends West Virginia's Commercial Feed Law to clarify that farmers selling products made entirely on their own farm are not considered "distributors" under the law. This exempts small-scale farmers who offer for sale, sell, exchange, or barter their own farm-produced goods (like unprocessed feed or crops) from needing a commercial feed distributor permit. The bill specifically updates definitions in §19-14-2(h) to state that "any person engaged in offering for sale, selling, exchanging, or bartering products or commodities produced exclusively on his or her own farm is not a distributor." It directly affects local farmers selling directly from their farms without commercial processing or packaging, reducing regulatory requirements for these transactions. The change focuses on clarifying existing definitions rather than creating new regulations.
HCR 35 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to name a specific road segment in Fayette County as the "U.S. Air Force Sergeant Thomas Madison Oxley Memorial Road." It directly affects the portion of Main Street East between Patterson Avenue and Lochgelly Road (with specified coordinates) and honors Sergeant Oxley's military service, community leadership, and contributions to West Virginia. The resolution asks the highway department to install signs at both ends of the road segment to identify the memorial name. This is a procedural request without policy changes, currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee.
This is a symbolic Senate Resolution (SR 35), not a law, recognizing the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Support Program (WVMBSP) for its achievements during the 2023-2024 program year. It highlights the program's work in expanding services to 11,858 women and babies across all 55 counties through 49 partner locations, including pregnancy care centers and social service agencies. The resolution acknowledges specific accomplishments like funding essential resources (car seats, diapers, prenatal vitamins) and supporting program expansions, but does not create new policies or allocate funds. It serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of the program's impact.
This Senate Resolution (SR 36) formally commemorates the 100th anniversary of the State Fair of West Virginia, which began as the Greenbrier Valley Fair in 1921 and became the State Fair in 1941. The resolution recognizes the fair's historical significance, its annual economic impact ($16.9 million), and its role in supporting agriculture, education, and community engagement through events, scholarships, and local employment. It does not create new laws or allocate funds; instead, it serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation directed to the State Fair's CEO. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate on March 19, 2025.
SB 649 amends the 2025 budget for West Virginia's Department of Health, Office of Inspector General (OIG), redirecting specific funds. It allocates $73,065 from current expenses to support informal dispute resolution for nursing home administrative appeals and transfers $650,000 to another OIG account (fund 5209). The bill also grants the Inspector General authority to transfer funds between appropriations within the OIG budget. This directly affects the OIG's operational budget and the process for resolving disputes involving nursing home regulations.
HB 2143 requires all West Virginia Kindergarten through Grade 5 public school teachers providing literacy instruction to complete approved professional development in the science of reading. Current teachers must finish the training by the 2027-2028 school year, while new teachers must complete it in their first year of employment. The training includes classroom application activities and live sessions over multiple years, approved by the West Virginia Department of Education. Teachers who complete it receive a free endorsement, though public charter schools may opt out of these requirements.
