Votes at a glance: Senate advances dozens of bills on third reading, including youth employment and public‑health measures
March 12, 2026 | 2026 Legislature WV, West Virginia
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The West Virginia Senate moved a large number of bills on third reading March 11, 2026, approving a broad package spanning workforce, health, education, public safety and infrastructure measures. Many bills passed by unanimous or near‑unanimous recorded votes.
Key results (selected):
- House Bill 40‑02 — West Virginia Collaboratory (houses at Marshall University): passed 28 yeas, 6 nays. The bill establishes a collaboratory to disseminate research and policy expertise, prohibits legislative appropriations from paying indirect university overhead, and requires an annual report to the joint committee on government and finance.
- House Bill 40‑08 — Business Ready Sites/Microgrid funding: passed 33 yeas, 1 nay. The bill increases microgrant amounts per eligible site and expands eligibility for larger projects.
- House Bill 44‑04 — Volunteer fire department spending authority: passed 34 yeas, 0 nays; increases allowable spending for educational and training supplies from $500 to $5,000 (no new funding, only spending authority).
- A large block of bills were passed 34–0, including measures on constitutional carry age parameters, apprenticeship and cosmetology reforms, changes to county and municipal processes, PEIA treatment flexibility, child‑welfare pilot programs, ALS care services, telematics for fleet vehicles, and workforce and youth employment grants.
- House Bill 56‑85 — Bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Culture and Science Center: passed 31 yeas, 1 nay; authorized up to $150 million in revenue bonds with up to $12 million of excess lottery funds pledged for debt service over a specified term.
What to watch: Several bills forwarded to the House with title amendments or with committee amendments adopted on the floor. Multiple bills included implementation or reporting requirements that will require follow‑up from state agencies (for example, collaboratory reporting, PSC coordination on forecasting, and pilot‑program reporting requirements for child‑welfare commissioners).
Procedural note: The Senate recessed until 3 p.m. after completing the day's third‑reading votes.
Key results (selected):
- House Bill 40‑02 — West Virginia Collaboratory (houses at Marshall University): passed 28 yeas, 6 nays. The bill establishes a collaboratory to disseminate research and policy expertise, prohibits legislative appropriations from paying indirect university overhead, and requires an annual report to the joint committee on government and finance.
- House Bill 40‑08 — Business Ready Sites/Microgrid funding: passed 33 yeas, 1 nay. The bill increases microgrant amounts per eligible site and expands eligibility for larger projects.
- House Bill 44‑04 — Volunteer fire department spending authority: passed 34 yeas, 0 nays; increases allowable spending for educational and training supplies from $500 to $5,000 (no new funding, only spending authority).
- A large block of bills were passed 34–0, including measures on constitutional carry age parameters, apprenticeship and cosmetology reforms, changes to county and municipal processes, PEIA treatment flexibility, child‑welfare pilot programs, ALS care services, telematics for fleet vehicles, and workforce and youth employment grants.
- House Bill 56‑85 — Bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Culture and Science Center: passed 31 yeas, 1 nay; authorized up to $150 million in revenue bonds with up to $12 million of excess lottery funds pledged for debt service over a specified term.
What to watch: Several bills forwarded to the House with title amendments or with committee amendments adopted on the floor. Multiple bills included implementation or reporting requirements that will require follow‑up from state agencies (for example, collaboratory reporting, PSC coordination on forecasting, and pilot‑program reporting requirements for child‑welfare commissioners).
Procedural note: The Senate recessed until 3 p.m. after completing the day's third‑reading votes.
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