MORGANTOWN – Senators introduced 249 bills the first day of the 2022 legislative session – some new, some carryovers from last year. Delegates introduced 56 new bills, plus a stack of carryovers from last year.
Here is a look at some of the bills introduced. Local sponsors and cosponsors, if any, are noted.
SB 1, creates the Mining Mutual Insurance Company. Senate President Craig Blair said last week he planned to break from tradition of the president not introducing bills – except those from the governor – by sponsoring this one himself.
SB 2, to create additional eligibility verification for benefits, reduce the maximum duration of benefits period, and implement a system to link the duration of benefits to state economic performance.
SB 4, to lift the ban on construction of nuclear power plants.
SB 15, to legalize recreational cannabis production, sale and use. Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, sponsor.
SB 23, to prohibit mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. Sens. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, co-sponsors.
SB 31, redirects the excise tax on bottled soft drinks from WVU to counties for law enforcement support. Smith, sponsor.
SB 32, to legalize medical cannabis in edible form.
SB 46, to exempt Social Security benefits from personal income tax.
SB 56 and HB 4054, the Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act, to assign responsibility for well capping. Smith, Senate sponsor; Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, House sponsor.
SB 57, regarding state responsibility for maintenance and repair of state roads. Smith, sponsor.
SB 148, to prohibit racial discrimination based on hair textures and styles.
HB 4004, limiting an abortion to 15 week’s gestation. Delegate Guy Ward, R-Marion, co-sponsor.
HB 4005, to prohibit the sale, transfer, and transportation of fetal body parts. Delegate Phil Mallow, R-Marion, co-sponsor.
HB 4025, creating a severance tax exemption for extracting rare earth elements. Delegate Dave Pethtel, D-Wetzel, co-sponsor.
HB 4030, to require that companies that mandate vaccines lose immunity protection. Delegate Buck Jennings, R-Preston, lead sponsor; Delegate Terri Sypolt, R-Preston, co-sponsor.
HB 4031, to ban mask mandates. Ward, co-sponsor.
HB 4038, to allow those ages 18-20 to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit. Delegate Amy Summers, R-Taylor, co-sponsor.
HB 4040, the Energy Efficiency Jobs Act, to provide the Public Service Commission the authority to require electric utilities to develop and implement plans for the efficient use, conservation and reduction of electricity usage. Hansen, sponsor.
HB 4051, the Save All Baby Dogs Act, to repeal the collection of the head tax and legal killing of impounded dogs that have no possibility of adoption.
