[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6313790,"mediaKeyId","2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7","parentId",2386728,"title","Committee backs SB 483 to cap campaign‑finance civil penalties, set notice-and‑cure timelines","audioSeconds",683,"startMs",1380000,"endMs",2063000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7&start=1380&end=2063","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7/thumbnail_1380000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313790/West-Virginia/Committee-backs-SB-483-to-cap-campaignfinance-civil-penalties-set-notice-andcure-timelines","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313790-6cf82d04f21df96b997cae43c29470dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187808&Signature=csPIOA8fHvFeFt4dcFPxUNsu0XH-tCbUSw4kpFEqiqxHXwADkuAJIUt7iF07ShxcqvLGGDml7WJQVtDnhbPXnX~-C-~S74YmJ-cwZBpWvB8wQgcJ9uVWJ4TXELr93xblhKKorWk6LH4qre1~co-ZILOyC09s6enVQOZYrO6hF9Jdon3OXjOKYBl98HXvCnN3McZPA4WoRvR8ThpxYDNk5iiHIDGHJMg~QgqbgDja-DYzRZlbDXQFkb5pWG8SCdvdBu~g3u7I1Co1uPz8Ge~dZ3vxjeQbdhfS7U5A1PFDPWHjXDV-DdAsJ6adscKbxJ3jeqrom~XdzZTaq34QsaB9mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report Senate Bill 483 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The measure would amend Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 7 to change how civil penalties for failures to file campaign finance reports are assessed and collected.

Committee counsel Carl described the bill: if a political committee fails to file a required financial report or files a grossly incomplete or inaccurate report, the Secretary of State may assess a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $1,000 for subsequent violations. The bill replaces the current uncapped $10‑per‑day penalty with a capped amount.

The bill establishes procedures before assessing penalties: the Secretary of State must notify the committee in writing that a report is missing or incomplete; if the committee files or completes the report within seven days of the notice, no penalty will be assessed. For grossly incomplete or inaccurate reports, the Secretary of State must notify the committee pointing out omissions; the committee has ten days to correct it. In both cases the Secretary of State may grant an additional compliance period not to exceed 14 days for good cause. Penalties assessed are payable within 30 days; delinquent penalties may be referred to a bonded collection agency. The bill also clarifies that the law applies broadly to political committees (including candidate committees) and removes municipal recorders as the receiving officer for municipal candidate reports, shifting those responsibilities toward county clerks or the Secretary of State.

David Cook, general counsel for the Secretary of State's office, testified and answered committee questions; he said the office seeks reasonable deadlines and enforcement tools while retaining discretion to negotiate settlements for first‑time or hardship cases. Senators asked about comparability with neighboring states; Cook said he reviewed statutes nationwide and can provide a comparative chart to the committee.

The vice chair moved the bill be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the committee approved the motion by voice vote and the bill will be reported to the full Senate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Government Organization Committee in Session Feb 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report Senate Bill 483 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the bill caps civil penalties for late or inaccurate campaign finance reports and establishes notice-and-cure deadlines.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313795,"Committee approves committee substitute for SB 586 tightening party‑affiliation and residency rules for appointments to vacancies",275,1107000,1382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7&start=1107&end=1382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7/thumbnail_1107000.jpg","/articles/6313795/West-Virginia/Committee-approves-committee-substitute-for-SB-586-tightening-partyaffiliation-and-residency-rules-for-appointments-to-vacancies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313795-8ee5210a66100c95c44a8d4adcc3b94d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187808&Signature=Z-1Mzs8r4xoTSbpTiShBP91JJyWNfksBZc2jx~c5wZtT2tKqop5Yh0GtPT-27eSDdwVAMBTWEdnfmswex0IdccbhHdxK7mWSrCaDgorUrLR7ikPZrWEAy9iEyeFnWOgh098yr3U60TVupl9z5JbAtjPQ3Po3l~Nx7AdmFipoI4oomrbPtJcbbdls3nU0kG-e3EdVP34lHCTLyqQoVu4LmwJClZG-HUf9cI3rM9inYKyfXcMd0PVJL7UeGrRSfLvK7DXXvFdSNnUkJ6~8tAZ9TODRWOBhqwcR29diJKi6THT0PsAELKegVuLpAsId8oCTj2jLzugjJF3dBUA-4R9M5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 586 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass and, under original double committee reference, to first refer the bill to the Judiciary Committee. The substitute changes statutory requirements for filling vacancies in several federal, state and county offices.

Committee counsel Carl explained that the substitute amends multiple sections of Chapter 3 of the West Virginia Code. The primary change requires that a person appointed to fill a vacancy must have been affiliated with the same political party as the person who held the office at the time of the prior election for at least one year before the vacancy occurred; the prior law determined party affiliation as of the time the vacancy was created. For State Senate and House of Delegate vacancies the bill also requires that the party executive committee composing the list of candidates follow its own rules and that the appointee have resided within the district for the year preceding appointment.

Counsel said the provisions mirror terms in Senate Bill 139 and that the substitute does not create internal code conflicts. The bill applies to a list of offices shown in the committee materials and cited during discussion, including the Board of Public Works, U.S. Senate, State Senate, House of Delegates and several county positions (Circuit Clerk, County Commission or County Counsel, County Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Assessor, and Surveyor). The transcript records Senator Garcia as the lead sponsor present in committee.

A junior senator pressed for clarification about how the one‑year party‑affiliation requirement aligns with candidacy timing; counsel said he did not know and deferred. The committee then voted to report the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass and to refer it first to the Judiciary Committee under the double reference; the motion was adopted by voice vote.

The bill will advance to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration and then to the full Senate.","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 586 to the full Senate, adding requirements that appointees filling certain vacancies be affiliated with the same political party as the prior officeholder for at least one year and (for legislative vacancies) have resided in the district for one year prior to appointment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313800,"Committee exempts certain energy‑work modalities from massage‑therapy licensure in committee substitute for SB 496",143,905000,1048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7&start=905&end=1048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7/thumbnail_905000.jpg","/articles/6313800/West-Virginia/Committee-exempts-certain-energywork-modalities-from-massagetherapy-licensure-in-committee-substitute-for-SB-496","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313800-17b4d4d19b378777bc31f3ac28b64d41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187808&Signature=kzeq6I4Ur-asBxQHLlTCXa2SDjKR6y1-qHk97EGkIUnLKrPOmTVCIqH1MsdwwdjNw6YRQCUXgfPyZgmrT1oTphVnN8-nOQvbVayrlUZnWVu5kvArdHHTndQe6P3~2sr5LrFASvj3IoJ4Hqtmy6CViAnAswOiFcaltldyMauJxD~G6BvGtmTEYb7Q8b7OcbQ1zXobm8U~X~oZq-aAMbHWVm6QrilK~Y5uXWLH8qm3fjhPT6bgYtxd4HFQB~8z1RIPF2S1CYnWWNifruoUWaF5fg1XKnBw1jD2H6CjUf9pSUK6KR5AxXWMUK32aR1PpI0biQSfP6CIwQP~qFoyU1NDkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report Senate Bill 496 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The bill narrows the statutory definition of massage therapy in Chapter 30, Article 37, to exclude energy‑work practitioners, such as reflexologists, so those practitioners would not be required to hold a massage‑therapy license.

Committee counsel Carl explained that the bill amends a single section of Chapter 30, Article 37 to exclude specified energy‑work modalities from the scope of regulated massage therapy. He said the Massage Therapy Licensure Board does not oppose the change and that the executive director of that board was present. The transcript records Jonathan Bellingham, identified as a reflexologist, on Teams and available to answer questions.

Senators asked whether the bill was prompted by a specific enforcement action and whether other modalities (for example, healing touch) fall under an existing licensure scheme. Counsel said that practicing reflexology previously required a massage‑therapy license, which prompted the bill; other modalities do not all fall under a separate board and some are not licensed in West Virginia.

No amendments were offered. The vice chair moved that the bill be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the motion passed on a voice vote and the committee adopted the recommendation.

The bill clarifies which modalities are subject to massage‑therapy licensure and removes the unintentional requirement that energy‑work practitioners obtain a massage‑therapy license.","A committee substitute for Senate Bill 496 would amend the definition of massage therapy to exclude energy‑work practitioners (including reflexologists), removing the licensure requirement for those modalities; the Massage Therapy Licensure Board does not oppose the change and a reflexologist was available to answer questions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313804,"Committee backs committee substitute to create separate licensed‑midwife credential under Board of Registered Nurses",136,724000,860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7&start=724&end=860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386728-1b46a3f81b59a9fe9209879a19a69ec7/thumbnail_724000.jpg","/articles/6313804/West-Virginia/Committee-backs-committee-substitute-to-create-separate-licensedmidwife-credential-under-Board-of-Registered-Nurses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313804-a76be554968f0a7c5c6721ba23363457/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187808&Signature=bOnAtik5kMiLWpaC~0~ja0vKxsBk5rA0QyU2i-~w8W9iO5jstzWqXqGpme-evsUf9HjONNhNcPcgzbgLjgZEgwChtvNxMWbV4WM9WSlM13eN8cqqdAAWrEOF8NL2HdSlbYP0Icau0DV8nWcRevKc6hB9ca3V7xp8ctpSHRDAkjAy-jV6S5ItDmrJlm4h2zZwoVGFgca6MrdNNKS67Tp64kzZvRZOM~PgGxzHlcX-YCVVuSqCRYqTsgQbcTKIxQfLcQXprnwxqOvLuBVqjI5fZunU-fnyaSqq8rtJKHpeH-RsUcZjUcncqRbMbSY174OcGcRvv~xfPnxTMFuSHBIrWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 482 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The substitute would establish a separate license for licensed midwives while placing licensure under the oversight of the Board of Registered Nurses rather than creating a separate midwifery board.

Committee counsel Carl explained that the bill would add a distinct licensing structure for licensed midwives in Chapter 30 of the West Virginia Code while keeping administration under the Board of Registered Nurses. He said the committee substitute includes technical changes requested by stakeholders, including reorganizing divisions and subdivisions and adjusting scribe privileges.

The bill is supported, Carl said, by the Board of Registered Nurses and midwifery groups across the state. Zach Nunley appeared as a representative on behalf of West Virginia midwives and was available to answer questions. No amendments were offered. The vice chair moved to report the committee substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the committee approved the motion by voice vote and the committee substitute will be reported to the full Senate.

The substitute modifies licensing structure and scope-of-practice language modeled on existing registered-nurse provisions; it does not create an independent licensing board for midwives. The committee discussion recorded no formal amendments and no recorded roll-call vote in the transcript; the action was adopted by voice vote.

The bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.","The Senate Government Organization Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 482 to the full Senate, recommending a separate license for licensed midwives placed under the Board of Registered Nurses; the bill does not create a new licensing board and makes technical edits requested by stakeholders.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs SB 483 to cap campaign‑finance civil penalties, set notice-and‑cure timelines

Committee approves committee substitute for SB 586 tightening party‑affiliation and residency rules for appointments to vacancies

Committee exempts certain energy‑work modalities from massage‑therapy licensure in committee substitute for SB 496

Committee backs committee substitute to create separate licensed‑midwife credential under Board of Registered Nurses