CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state legislature completed work on several dozen bills Saturday, the last day of the 60-day legislative session.
The following bills are heading to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice for his consideration:
–HB 2520, prohibits anyone under 18 from using a public tanning facility.
–SB 441, makes the Home Rule Pilot Project permanent and opens it up to all municipalities.
–SJR 6, is the $1.6 billion road bond project that could be put before voters in a proposed constitutional amendment. There was no funding source for the bonds passed before the session ended Saturday night.
–HB 2721, removes the cost limitations on public-private partnership projects overseen by the state Division of Highways. The bill passed following a conference committee. The bill contains a $10 million limit for the projects. The bill came from Gov. Jim Justice as part of his highways package.
–HB 2722, changes the state DOH’s design-build program. The bill, passed after a conference committee, caps the program at $200 per project, creates an annual cap of $400 million with an aggregate cap of $500 million. The cap could be lifted during states of emergency.
–SB 687, work was finalized late Saturday night on the measure dealing with coal mining. Most of the bill focuses on water issues related to mining.
–HB 2935, focuses on flood protection planning. It creates the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding and the state Resiliency Office. The bill’s chief sponsor was House Speaker Tim Armstead, whose district was hit hard in the June 23 flood.
–HB 3080, creating “Celebrate Freedom Week,” which would take place during the week which Sept. 11 falls every year with a goal to “educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which this country was founded.” The teacher will focus on the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
–HB 2801, fills the revenue gap in the current fiscal year budget. It includes taking $41.7 million out of the Rainy Day Fund and $60 million by sweeping various special revenue accounts.
–HB 2679, which deals with firearms in parks. The House agreed with several changes the Senate made to the bill.
–HB 2702, spells out what will be accepted as excused absences for kids in school. The bill also deals with what happens when the parent of a student or some other family member is sick causing the student to miss school.
–HB 2720, deals with the transfer of funds from the state School Building Authority.
–HB 2815, gives WVU, Marshall and the School of Osteopathic Medicine greater flexibility in governance. The House did agree with Senate changes that gives the state Higher Education Policy Commission a role in the changes.
–HB 3093, would allow for state residents to form co-ops to obtain or improve internet service. The House agreed to changes the Senate made to the broadband bill that includes possible loans.