[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,87],{"_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",6126139,"mediaKeyId","2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f","parentId",2670895,"title","Committee discusses farm-equipment right-to-repair pilot for career-technical centers, lays measure over for further work","audioSeconds",793,"startMs",5099000,"endMs",5892000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f&start=5099&end=5892","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f/thumbnail_5099000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126139/West-Virginia/Committee-discusses-farm-equipment-right-to-repair-pilot-for-career-technical-centers-lays-measure-over-for-further-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126139-0173d9fcdd8675731886c3d6d59f5436/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993994&Signature=j5MLcwHR0UhEJzN4d-1SMSNN0s7tIa~~Xjb3LNEuVoB8iLcoDMed9pXdy-9P6U6N2bsO-Wssw6gqJnu0mKQPc2Z0hMhx-SB9ouPqHTzQEFcNPFnZt0UOwzhgnX5Ze7TuQvdUudYlytC8wKrd9uuRwp5qFzf9G~DJVn12op1aslGs~Xb0WsLrQ~DbEpUVXeZYcFXPVYG9J4AOI8ui0WAFOyTuPJu-FWL3gk53XNyPoNmkenIKsJygsNMbrvtQi6GbfHEdmSmhkxRZjK-0dQqCageO9IS~axBcvoSLwzCdgpS7-D7nnrNlsHLMPR3b~fiKANDlzlOJEPX7JoEDih8mrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate committee reviewed legislation that would require the Commissioner of Agriculture, career-technical centers (CTCs) and farm equipment manufacturers and dealerships to establish a pilot program to ensure career-technical instructors have tools and training to repair farm equipment and to train students for related jobs.

Counsel explained that the bill would set up a community-partnership pilot in which the Commissioner of Agriculture would collaborate with educational partners and businesses to prepare a strategic implementation plan, negotiate funding, and commence training activities. Counsel also said the commissioner would propose implementing rules and that the bill as drafted contained language referencing \"right to repair.\"

CTE representatives and several senators said they support the intent but raised practical concerns. A CTE director testifying in committee said many of the proposed activities can already be done under existing agriculture CTE pathways and Perkins-funded programs. He warned that creating a new program could shift students and funding away from the existing agriculture program (Perkins funding and state block funds are allocated based on completer counts and program design), causing duplication and financial reallocation that might harm established pathways.

Committee members noted the fiscal note from the Department of Agriculture reported no fiscal impact, but several senators asked whether CTEs or counties would absorb costs if equipment or program expansion were required. Counsel acknowledged the bill calls the effort a pilot program but does not specify a time or geographic limit that would normally define a pilot.

Given the outstanding drafting and funding questions, the chair called for further work and, without taking a final vote, laid the bill over for future committee consideration so counsel, the Department of Agriculture, industry representatives and CTE leaders could refine scope and address funding and implementation details.

Committee members requested: clearer limits or definitions for a pilot (duration/geography), clarification of whether the program should be housed within the existing agriculture systems CTE pathway, and an explicit accounting of how Perkins and state block funds would be affected if the proposed program draws students away from established programs. No formal amendments were adopted and no referral motion was made at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Education Committee in Session Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Senate committee considered a pilot program to train career-technical students and instructors to repair farm equipment through partnerships with manufacturers and dealerships but laid the measure over for further drafting and fiscal clarification.","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":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126144,"Committee narrows scope, adopts amendments to bill toughening penalties for assaults on athletic officials and refers it to judiciary",2267,2832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f&start=2832&end=5099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f/thumbnail_2832000.jpg","/articles/6126144/West-Virginia/Committee-narrows-scope-adopts-amendments-to-bill-toughening-penalties-for-assaults-on-athletic-officials-and-refers-it-to-judiciary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126144-18ab6f8cb5fa2375059b3abab601436c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993994&Signature=jzaFw2UuKKtrUw4dT85VbTqI4jAZwfMLSKCiORnuTNw83ORuO4fLyfl1Vh0Famkxqp~gBZLckYuz5e4I5LW11v6GR1JEAn1dU8CTn~HwplAAATSBmGakFAVxL9c3mvX~eyPEv1eGcoKjUE2Gqz0nH5MGbCt4es~LhXYpOyhpQQmdUpuTvKVLH3eyidkCL-tBK3USGuNkdtoSYWAG9QN-e-Cpb3TcTASkONFbB5VZ8hExhEO1GFzsYsToxaal476mZbbNjdMmqJcwV49M5YQEbVfFo8aH92C3tIfwVWwoa7XIPvN~RRzFRVxcUGJhuQzlA~QDd-cSToIJnZjrdfh--g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee on [date not specified] debated legislation that would increase penalties for assaulting or battering athletic officials and later adopted a conceptual amendment that narrowed scope and adjusted penalties before referring the bill to the Committee on Judiciary.

Counsel explained the bill would change penalties for assault and battery against athletic officials, increasing fines and elevating penalties in the original draft. The bill sponsor, identified in committee as the senator from Greenbrier and who testified about a local incident involving an official, urged stiffer penalties and a mandatory minimum to deter attacks on officials.

Committee members questioned scope and severity. Senators asked whether simple assault should remain a misdemeanor rather than a felony, how the bill would differ from existing battery statutes, and whether juvenile processing and prosecutorial discretion would affect outcomes. The sponsor said he did not intend to criminalize mere insults but sought mandatory minimum penalties for physical acts against officials. He told the committee that juvenile delinquency procedures already give courts broad discretion for juvenile offenders.

Several senators said the bill should explicitly protect referees and umpires while avoiding overly broad language that could capture bystanders or custodial staff. In response, the sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment that: (1) changed the crime of assault back to a misdemeanor with confinement of 1 to 6 months while retaining the increased fine language; (2) changed the battery provision to a misdemeanor with confinement of 6 months to one year while retaining elevated fines; (3) struck the phrase \"a person who supervises the participants\" and replaced it with more specific examples such as an umpire, referee, coach or other athletic staff; and (4) replaced the term \"sports\" with \"organized sporting event.\" Counsel confirmed the amendment was drafted as a conceptual change and that further technical drafting would follow.

Committee members debated whether elevating battery to a felony was necessary or whether tougher misdemeanor penalties and higher fines would be sufficient to deter assaults while avoiding long-term collateral consequences for offenders. Witnesses and senators noted enforcement gaps in some localities and warned that prosecutorial discretion and plea bargaining could result in lesser outcomes even if the bill sets higher penalties.

After adopting the amendment, the committee approved a motion to refer the bill to the Committee on Judiciary; the chair declared the ayes had it on a voice vote. No recorded roll-call tally was taken in committee.

The measure now moves to Judiciary for further consideration and technical drafting to reflect the committee's adopted changes.","A sponsor-driven bill to increase penalties for assault and battery of athletic officials drew detailed questioning; the committee adopted an amendment narrowing scope and changing felony language to misdemeanors with mandatory confinement ranges, then referred the bill to Judiciary.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126149,"Senate committee advances market-pay enhancement for certified teachers tied to local home prices",2019,774000,2793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f&start=774&end=2793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670895-4bd3eb50ace09a5b7c338a55b10fee2f/thumbnail_774000.jpg","/articles/6126149/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-market-pay-enhancement-for-certified-teachers-tied-to-local-home-prices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126149-e67b15f3835887f9eb397fa7a21ef1a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993994&Signature=ZHCsab~sraZ7OYsYhhNTWEvX3wpR4kWTEEoSj6NR37BgZSeGhin33pM7PT9avVdXZzfdPAzD1uUaIYUc8PKaI63ezZYr8u7dK8eUMz1D9gQp--KTFqHYjnay246CCAeaMlYr5e3TGgCdNUDf8J66GeHb4RqJ3a~p697-KP2PHTecn~mNd9V35Y2TW3gy9BopFCw~0dbJZRVG6ScUT6CtwSEvFGHtJPtsFz6pfb1gCFGeMmN0cpuygCPJx39yMgqQ~TMgI1dWKmodUszi-fu1O6-3lz4OW8DZPGrbeyrfFrHVxHuhK1JxMFqpMjpKymT8hnb8vVLhEAXqU5a29x0tVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee on [date not specified] voted to adopt a committee substitute for Senate Bill 506 that would create an annual market pay enhancement for certified teachers in counties where regional home prices exceed the West Virginia median.

The bill would require the State Board to determine the West Virginia median home price and regional median prices for each of the state's 55 counties, calculate a multiplier from the difference, and apply that multiplier to the average teacher base salary to produce a lump-sum enhancement. The State Board would certify required enhancements to the State Auditor by March 31 in any year a recalculation is required. The bill sets a schedule for recalculation and distribution: apply the multiplier beginning July 15, 2025 and every five years thereafter; begin lump-sum distributions on July 15, 2026 and every July 15 thereafter.

The committee substitute was presented by committee counsel, who described the formula and timing. Counsel said the “market pay enhancement means the positive difference from subtracting the West Virginia median home price from the regional median home price” and explained how a multiplier would be calculated and applied to the average teacher salary.

Committee discussion focused on implementation details and fiscal impact. Deputy Superintendent White (appearing for the State Board) confirmed the department had run county-by-county calculations and provided examples in the fiscal note: the fiscal note presented to the committee estimated a state cost of about $169,000,000 and additional county board costs around $13.9 million. Committee members asked whether the enhancement would be additive to step increases (it would), whether counties outside border areas could be affected (yes), and how the multiplier treats contiguous counties near state lines (the sponsor and staff said bordering out‑of‑state counties would be included when relevant).

Members raised concerns about volatility if home prices fall and about equity across poorer counties that would receive no enhancement. Several senators urged adjustments or caps so the program would be fiscally effective without unduly large outlays. One senator suggested an upper limit tied to a percentage of annual salary to make the proposal more palatable to finance committee members; others warned that a weak enhancement would not retain teachers.

An amendment offered by the senior senator from the thirteenth was adopted; it requires comparing the regional formula to a single-county median calculation and using whichever produces the larger enhancement for a given teacher (committee members described the change as “either/or based on which would benefit the teacher more”). The chair asked the fiscal staff to produce a breakout showing the amendment's cost separately from the remainder of the bill.

After debate and adoption of the amendment, the vice chair moved that the committee substitute, as amended, be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and, under the original double committee reference, be first referred to the Committee on Finance. The motion carried by voice vote; the chair declared the ayes had it.

The committee did not set final funding sources in the bill text; staff told senators the fiscal note assumed most costs would come from the state budget but that county boards would incur some expense. The State Board may propose rules in accordance with Article 3 rulemaking procedures to implement the enhancement if the Legislature passes the measure.

Looking ahead, committee members said they expect the Finance Committee to review the fiscal note closely, and requested county-by-county breakdowns and a separate costing of the amendment before further action.","A Senate committee approved a committee substitute for Senate Bill 506 to create a market pay enhancement for certified teachers based on county/regional median home prices; the measure was amended and sent to the full Senate with a first referral to the Finance Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee discusses farm-equipment right-to-repair pilot for career-technical centers, lays measure over for further work

Committee narrows scope, adopts amendments to bill toughening penalties for assaults on athletic officials and refers it to judiciary

Senate committee advances market-pay enhancement for certified teachers tied to local home prices