MORGANTOWN – Here is a sampling of bills and resolutions introduced Tuesday, Feb. 16. Local lead sponsors and co-sponsors, if any, are noted.
- SB 299 and HB 2025, from the governor, a 94-page bill “to provide liquor, wine, and beer licensees with some new concepts developed during the State of Emergency utilizing new technology to provide greater freedom to operate in a safe and responsible manner, and additionally to provide new licenses to reflect societal requests.”
- HB 2541, to require that all new school buses be equipped with seat belts and to provide for retrofitting older buses with seat belts if funds are available.
- HB 2544, from the House speaker and minority leader, the Small Business Jumpstart Act.
- HB 2545, the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, “to ensure that, in all cases where state action is alleged to substantially burden the exercise of religion, a compelling interest test is mandated and strict scrutiny is applied.”
- HB 2547, the “Stay in State” tax credit, to allow state residents who remain in state after graduating with an undergraduate or associate degree from a state institution to be granted a tax credit for the total cost of tuition and interest for student loans used to obtain the degree.
- HB 2555, to require school courses including the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, the Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation, the state Constitution of West Virginia, in Celebrate Freedom Week instruction.
- HB 2561, to amend the statute relating to cruelty to animals regarding food and water, shelter and tethering. Provides that a person in violation for a second time is added to a statewide, publicly available, do not adopt or sell registry. Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia, sponsor.
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