Fate of 3 major bills unclear on last day of session

Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV)

March 11--CHARLESTON -- While the Legislature completed work on the budget bill early Saturday, the last day of the session, the fate of three remaining major bills was still in question as of filing deadline: The SNAP bill, the medical cannabis bill and the judicial branch budget bill. Here's a look at where they were and a rundown of some other bills handled Saturday.

The SNAP bill, regarding a work requirement for certain able-bodied adults and several fraud and identity verification measures, is HB 4001. The Senate amended it to effectively expand the pilot program from nine to 17 counties and to eliminate the October, 2021 work-requirement waiver for all 55 counties.

It went to conference committee where the date was reinserted and changed to October 2022. Language was also changed to ensure work requirement exemptions conform to federal law. The conference report had to sit for a prescribed period before going to a vote.

The cannabis bill is HB 4345. It was heading for a conference committee, but a last-minute Senate amendment on third reading was thought to possibly avert that. The Senate removed a provision for the Bureau of Public Health to create rules for sale of dry leaf cannabis and turned it into a study; it eliminated home delivery; it reduced the minimum number of dispensaries from 100 to 50; and it eliminated a reduced penalty for recreational possession.

Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, opposed the bill, saying it opens the door to recreational use and will "dissolve the mystique of fear of Schedule I drugs." Other senators of both parties said it's not about recreational use, and that its medicinal use has been shown to help many serious conditions.

The Senate approved that version 26-7 and sent it to the House.

SJR 3 would put before the voters a constitutional amendment to allow legislative control of the judicial branch budget. A conference committee agreed to language that the legislature may not reduce the budget "to an amount less than 85 percent" of the budget of the most recently enacted budget -- meaning it can't reduce a budget more than 15 percent. Such a reduction would require a two-thirds vote of each chamber. The report had to sit for a prescribed period before going to a vote.

Other bills

SB 244 stems from a September 2017 ruling by Kanawha Judge James Stuckey that said people legally permitted to carry concealed weapons may take them into municipal recreation centers if they are safely stored. But if a school uses the center or any municipal building for school activities, guns are banned at all times, even when no activities are occurring.

The bill intends to clarify Stuckey's ruling by making the ban apply only when the activity is occurring. The bill also bans guns on school grounds. It also applies to any location or facility where a school event is taking place, for the duration of that event and confined to the specific area of the event.

Both sides agreed to assorted amendments and sent it to the governor.

SB 46 allows pharmacists to inform customers of alternative lower-cost drugs. Sent to the governor.

HB 4186 clarifies that what is called gap insurance -- guaranteed asset protection -- is not insurance but a waiver. Both sides agreed to a conference report resolving differences and sent it to the governor.

HB 4002 mandates the creation of 100 single-member House of Delegates districts following the 2020 census, in time for the 2022 election. The House concurred to Senate amendments and sent it to the governor.

HB 4187 is the parking lot gun bill, officially named the Business Liability Protection Act. It allows an employee, customer or invitee of a private business or public-sector property who legally possesses a gun to keep their gun in their vehicle, locked away out of sight, in the company's or institution's parking lot. The House concurred with Senate amendments and sent it to the governor, where several major business groups hope it will be vetoed.

HB 4270 is the gas well royalty check stub transparency bill. The House concurred with Senate amendments and sent it to the governor.

SB 415, the sports betting bill, became law without the governor's signature. He said in a late Friday press release: "After the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision on sports wagering, to address any provisions of the legislation that might be in conflict, I will ask the Legislature to look at the advantages of partnering with the major sports leagues.

"I believe there could be real value to this partnership," he said. "I expect the Supreme Court to rule on this issue in the next few months. This approach will allow us to develop a relationship with all the major sports leagues so that it is beneficial to everyone." Additional legislative action would likely occur during a special session.

HB 4268 is the gas well mineral tract cotenancy bill. Justice announced late Friday that he signed it into law. It takes effect July 1.

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