CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While the West Virginia Senate approved three bills on Monday related to the special legislative session, the House of Delegates is leaving one measure for December interim meetings.
Lawmakers approved legislation to limit DUI expungement procedures to be in line with federal regulations as well as spending authority for debt service payments for the second and third rounds of general obligation bonds. The Senate approved reauthorizing the Tourism Development Act.
According to Delegate John Shott, R-Mercer, Senate Bill 2002 prevents “any order of expungement for any conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance” and prohibits any expungement for individuals with a commercial driver’s license when the offense happened.
Both chambers passed Senate Bill 2003, which dedicates $25 million from debt service for Roads to Prosperity general obligation bonds.
Earlier Monday, members of the House Finance Committee wanted assurances from state Transportation Secretary Byrd White that authorizing spending authority in the bill would not take away from ongoing road work in West Virginia.
“The fact is I want to make sure that this is not going to impact any maintenance on our highways,” Delegate Brent Boggs, D-Braxton, said to White.
“It is not,” White responded.
Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton, criticized the Justice administration for giving lawmakers little notice and expecting the bill to be passed in one day.
“It’s disrespectful I believe to the legislative process. So I get it, we voted to approve the bills but there is a procedure that should be followed and this legislative body should be respected somewhat and be provided the bills … and there should planning for the constitutional process of three days to be read,” Sponaugle said.
White also said there’s a possibility there may be as much as $130 million in additional money to come during the $600 million bond sale in premium bonds. White said a “good portion” of the possible $130 million would go to some “long life” maintenance projects.
“If we get as much money as we expect, our intention is to divert a substantial portion of it to slides, bridge repairs, that sort of thing,” White said.
The $600 million would go to some of the larger new road projects that have been talked about for the last several years.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 2001; which extends tax credits for tourism development projects through December 2025. The program is set to expire at the end of the year.
The House has placed the bill on second reading and adjourned until asked to come back.
MetroNews’ Jeff Jenkins and Alex Thomas contributed to this story.