MORGANTOWN – The expected death of the personal income tax repeal bill, HB 3300, was delayed another day. The House of Delegates did not take up the Senate message on the bill Thursday.
The Senate amended its very different version of the repeal plan and narrowly passed it Wednesday night. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said Tuesday he expects the issue to be part of a special session in the fall that will also include redistricting.
The House did act on a number of other bills. Here are some highlights.
SB 458 is a Second Amendment protection bill. It applies to federal or state states of emergency and forbids a number of actions including restricting lawful use or possession of a firearm, confiscating a lawfully possessed firearm or ammunition, requiring registration of a firearm or ammunition and suspending or revoking a license to carry.
It passed 93-6. Monongalia County Democrats Barbara Evans Fleischauer, Evan Hansen, Danielle Walker and John Williams voted no. It goes back to the Senate for amendment concurrence.
SB 636 requires the state Board of Education to prescribe courses of study in history and civics covering the institutions and structure of American government; an understanding of American political philosophy and history; an objective and critical analysis of ideologies throughout history, including, but not limited to, capitalism, republicanism, democracy, socialism, communism and fascism; the Bill of Rights and the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th amendments to the Constitution; and personal finances.
The vote was 91-8. Fleischauer, Hansen and Mon County Republican Joe Statler voted no. It goes back to the Senate for amendment concurrence.
SB 695 limits a municipal minor boundary adjustment to 105% of the existing total municipal boundary and 120% of the current area of the municipality. Only one minor boundary adjustment can be made within a two-year period.
The bill also sets up a process for decreasing the city limits, with written consent of any affected business, resident and freeholder. It allows for 5% of all freeholders in an area proposed to be de-annexed to petition to de-annex that portion. Anyone opposing de-annexation may object in writing and be excluded.
Hansen opposed it because it restricts cities’ and towns’ ability to grow. He said this kind of annexation already requires an affidavit from every business, resident and freeholder, meaning everybody in the area supports it. “So why would we handcuff our cities and towns and restrict the frequency with which they can make these adjustments?”
It passed 68-31. Fleischauer, Walker and Williams also voted no. It goes back to the Senate for amendment concurrence.
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