Transcript Highlights:

• Senator?<00:24:53.880> Thank<00:24:54.240> you. Senator? Thank you. Senator?
• Senator Senator Senator Thank<00:30:37.160> you<00:30:37.400> very<00:30:37.720> much
• Senator Waters: Yeah, I agree with Senator Carson.
• And And And Senator<00:40:45.600> Berthel Senator Berthel Senator Berthel wishes<00:40:48.000>
• Senator<00:56:07.400> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.

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Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator Aler. >> Senator Aler.
• Senator Oshilla.
• Senator<00:48:53.760> Sullivan. Senator Sullivan. Senator Sullivan.
• Senator Alola. >> Questions. Senator Alola.
• Yes, Senator<01:37:13.040> Sullivan, Senator Sullivan, Senator Sullivan, >> thank<01:37:

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Transcript Highlights:

• Up first today we have Senate File 4400 with Senator Mohamed.
• Senator<00:10:22.160> Draheim. Senator Draheim. Senator Draheim.
• >> Senator<00:13:46.560> Lucero. >> Senator Lucero. >> Senator Lucero.
• Uh with that, Senator Muhammad moves Senate File 4400. Senator Muhammad moves Senate File 4400.
• :45:18.320> Senate<00:45:18.600> File that, Senator Muhammad moves Senate File that, Senator

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Transcript Highlights:

• Today we're going to hear three bills: Senator Swedzinski's Senate File 1310, Senator Westlin's Senate
• File 3996, and Senator Rarick's Senate File 903.
• Response,<00:15:57.160> Senator. Response, Senator. Response, Senator.
• Senator. Senator. Senator.
• Senator Thank you, Senator Swedzinski. Senator Holstrom. Holstrom. Holstrom.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Abbas is not able to be here, and as Senate President I've appointed Senator Lang to sit in his
• It is Senator Abbas' amendment 1102s, and I'd like to introduce that because Senator Ganon, Senator Abbas
• we did, Senator, I keep Ganon, what we did, Senator, I keep saying<00:05:05.680> Senator,<00:
• > saying Senator, Senator Abis, we were saying Senator, Senator Abis, we were all<00:05:08.160> there
• motion of Senate Bill 558? motion of Senate Bill 558?

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Transcript Highlights:

• I hear Senator Rochefort wants to take it up. Senator Rochefort.
• by Senator Roseford.
• <00:34:00.960> We >> Senator seconded by Senator Roseford.
• We >> Senator seconded by Senator Roseford.
• >> Senator<00:40:08.560> L. >> Senator L. >> Senator L.

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Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is now adjourned.

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Summary: The meeting concluded with a motion put to a vote. Members were asked to respond with “aye” in favor and “no” in opposition, and the motion passed. Following the vote, the Senate was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris. >> Good afternoon, Mr.
• MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. SENATOR GIANARIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, Mr. PRESIDENT.
• Patrick’s Day, and I vote aye on the resolution. Thank you, Senator. Senator Fahy. Thank you, Mr.
• President, Senator Kavanagh would like to open the resolution for co-sponsorship.
• PRESIDENT, SENATOR KAVANAGH WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE RESOLUTION FOR CO-SPONSORSHIP.

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Summary: The Senate met on March 13, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, received a message discharging Assembly Bill 2330 from committee and substituting identical Senate Bill 5843, and welcomed visiting delegations from Connecticut. The chamber also adopted privileged resolution J.1753, honoring Saint Patrick and Irish Americans and memorializing the Governor to proclaim March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month. Senators Kavanagh and Fahy spoke in support, emphasizing Irish heritage, immigration, public service, and the St. Patrick’s Day tradition; the resolution was adopted and opened for co-sponsorship. The Senate then acted on a series of bills on the calendar. Measures passed included bills by Senators Hinchey, Comrie, Skoufis, Stavisky, Sanders, Kavanagh, Gianaris, Cleare, and others, with several receiving unanimous support and a few drawing recorded negative votes. Senator Fernandez’s education bill related to placing opioid antagonists with AEDs and first aid kits in schools passed 60-1 after supportive remarks from Senators Oberacker and Fernandez. A bill authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires also passed unanimously, with Senators Borrello and Weik explaining affirmative votes while urging caution about electric bus mandates. The most debated item was Calendar 446, Senator May’s bill directing the Department of Economic Development to move the Central New York Welcome Center from Destiny USA to the Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn. Senator Walczyk questioned the move’s cost, location, visitor traffic, and local support, arguing Destiny USA was the better site; Senator May responded that the state had built the Auburn facility and should provide sustainable operating support. The bill passed 47-15. The Senate then completed the controversial calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 4115 is a resolution condemning such actions against the Hindu community and all forms of
• Senate File 4115 is a resolution condemning such actions against the Hindu community and all forms of
• Senate File 4115 is a resolution condemning such actions against the Hindu community and all forms of
• Senator Latz, the expected action is to move this on to the rules committee, where all of the resolutions
• Chairman, for joining me on this particular resolution, Senator Kun and Senator Hoffman.

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Transcript Highlights:

• in today's hearing: Senator Carlson from Eagan, Senator Lang from Olivia, Senator Coleman from Chanhassen
• Senator Dibble, I would Senator Dibble.
• Senator<00:53:29.119> Jazinski. Senator Jazinski. Senator Jazinski.
• >> Senator, sorry, Senator Johnson. Sure. >> Senator, sorry, Senator Johnson.
• Senator<01:48:06.719> Johnson. Senator Johnson. Senator Johnson.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Maye Quade, Senate File 3969.
• :59:19.120> Senator<00:59:19.360> Boldon, Senator and with that, Senator Boldon, Senator
• Senator Coonish. Thank you, Senator Chair.
• Senator<01:28:33.840> Abeler. Senator Abeler. Senator Abeler.
• . senator. senator.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Abeler. So, Senator Rasmussen. Senator Abeler. So, Senator Rasmussen.
• Senator Rasmussen. Senator Rasmussen.
• Senator Groeneweg and then we're going to go to Senator Rasmusson. Senator Rasmusson.
• and<00:53:34.000> Senator Um Senator Maye Quade and Senator Um Senator Maye Quade and Senator
• Senator Abeler is correct, Senate 4399. Senator Abeler is correct, Senate 4399.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• <00:15:40.600> Uh, Senator Rarick. Senator Rarick. Uh, Senator Rarick. Senator Rarick.
• Excuse me, Senator Green. Uh, Senator Green.
• Uh Senator Excuse me, Senator Friends.
• Thank you, Senator Senator Friends.

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Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with Senate File 3801 from Senator Putnam.
• We have Senate File 3417 from Senator Pha. And we have Senate File 3651 from Senator Draheim.
• We'll now go to Senator P. Senator P, you have Senate File 3417.
• Senator<00:46:22.720> Pratt. Senator Pratt. Senator Pratt.
• Senator Champion with Senate File 3937. Senator Champion with Senate File 3937.

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Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, read the resolutions: Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, Senate Concurrent
• Resolution 7, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, and… Senate Concurrent
• Resolution 7, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, and Senate Concurrent
• Clerk, read the resolution: Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, requesting the Joint Committee on Government
• Clerk, read the resolution: Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, requesting the Joint Committee on Government

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Summary: The Senate considered and passed House Bill 4245, the Department of Revenue rules bundle covering 27 rules from six agencies. Members withdrew the committee amendment, adopted a floor amendment making changes to two lottery rules and one tax rule related to pre-need cemetery companies, then passed the bill 30-1. The Senate also adopted a title amendment and made the bill effective from passage by a 31-0 vote. Later, when the House rejected the Senate’s amendments, the Senate receded from its amendments and again passed the bill, making it effective from passage. The chamber also adopted several concurrent resolutions from the Rules Committee, including studies on school finance transparency, divorce grounds, the Southern West Virginia water crisis, athletic trainer access in public secondary schools, the eastern gray fox population, upland game bird stamp purchases, and the Public Service Commission. Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, calling for a study of the PSC, was also adopted. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 5381, which expands the Office of Energy’s role to develop a comprehensive energy policy and grid stabilization plan, and House Bill 5412, the Future Ready Education Act, after amending it to require annual vocational and agriculture offerings unless not viable and to set science-of-reading training requirements for K-5 literacy teachers by 2028-29. The Senate passed House Bill 845, a supplemental appropriation to the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund, after concurring in a House amendment that reappropriated federal match grant funds and increased the civil contingency surplus fund from $15 million to $25 million; it was made effective from passage. The chamber also concurred in House amendments to House Bill 4106 on constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program, House Bill 5453 revising the school aid funding formula for special education weighting, and other measures including House Bill 4009 on portable benefits, Senate Bill 164 on substitute teacher definitions, and House Bill 4606 on pretrial release for certain felonies. A lengthy debate centered on House Bill 4198, the E-Verify Safe Harbor Act. The Judiciary Committee amendment would have required public and certain private employers to use E-Verify, while a further amendment from the Senator from Randolph would have limited the mandate to public employers and made E-Verify optional for private employers with liability protections for good-faith use. After extensive discussion about small business impacts, federal-state conflicts, and enforcement, the Senate adopted the Randolph amendment and then passed the bill 31-3, with a title amendment also adopted. The Senate later refused to concur in House amendments to House Bill 4010, concurred in House amendments to House Bill 5438, receded from amendments to House Bill 4765, and adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, read the resolutions: Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, Senate Concurrent
• Resolution 7, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, and...
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, and Senate
• Clerk, read the resolution: Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, requesting the Joint Committee on Government
• The question before the Senate is the adoption of the resolution.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution 67 by Senator Smith, Mr.
• President, I ask the Senate adopt Senate Resolution 67. Mr.
• President, I ask the Senate adopt Senate Resolution 67.
• The clerk will report the resolution. Senate Resolution 68 by Senator Smith, Mr.
• Senate Resolution 68 by Senator Smith, Mr.

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Summary: The Senate first handled several House amendments to Senate bills and passed them, including SB 194 updating the definition of disabled veteran taxpayer, SB 499 requiring toxicology tests in auto accidents, SB 672 on Real Estate Commission licensing discipline, SB 724 on home confinement officers and the EMS retirement system, SB 897 on alcohol and drug counselor licensure, and SB 982 creating the Neighborhood Access Road Program. In each case, the chamber agreed to the House changes and then passed the bill, with some measures also given effective dates, including SB 724 effective July 1, 2026 and SB 648 effective from passage. The Senate also concurred in amendments to SB 197, doubling penalties for sex crimes against minors, and SB 648, which removed restrictions on foreign entities in the Strategic and Critical Resources Act. The chamber then took up a series of additional bills and conference actions. It appointed a conference committee on HB 4588 after refusing to recede from its amendment. The Senate passed HB 4009, the Portable Benefit Account Act, after adopting a Banking and Insurance committee strike-and-insert amendment that moved the program to the Division of Labor, expanded portable benefit definitions, and made technical changes. Later, the Senate also passed SB 182 on annexation by minor boundary adjustment after amending the House changes to allow one annexation per year instead of one every two years, and it passed HB 5101 increasing strangulation penalties, HB 4364 on juvenile offender bail and counsel language, HB 4412 on age verification for certain websites, HB 5564 on deputy sheriff vacation carryover, HB 4138 on sex offender registration fees, HB 4951 after receding from its earlier amendment on continuing education, SB 4 after receding from its amendment, SB 389 after refusing to concur in a House amendment that would have stripped the bill, SB 927 on beekeeping and municipal regulation, and HB 5214 on drug testing for parents before reunification. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to Senate Resolution 67 honoring Senator Michael Andrew Woelfel and Senate Resolution 68 honoring Senator Charles Houston Clements. Numerous senators gave extended remarks praising Woelfel’s legal skill, candor, mentorship, and service, and Clements’s long service, institutional knowledge, steadiness, and friendship. Both resolutions were adopted by roll call votes, with SR 67 passing 34-0 and SR 68 passing 33-1. After the resolutions, the Senate recessed briefly to present the outgoing senators with resolutions and flags flown over the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will report the resolution. Senate Resolution 67 by Senator Smith, Mr.
• Senate Resolution 67, recognizing the... Clerk will read the resolution.
• President, I ask the Senate adopt Senate Resolution 67. Question on the adoption of the resolution.
• Clerk will report the resolution. Senate Resolution 68 by Senator Smith, Mr.
• I ask that all remarks on Senate Resolution 67 and Senate Resolution 68 be printed in the appendix of

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