[{"_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",6122525,"mediaKeyId","2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d","parentId",2694716,"title","Committee moves bill to require Medicaid and PEIA to cover doula services","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",1306000,"endMs",1480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d&start=1306&end=1480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d/thumbnail_1306000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122525/West-Virginia/Committee-moves-bill-to-require-Medicaid-and-PEIA-to-cover-doula-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122525-fb3fd3a967cade6f42564d9eaeb328b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757680&Signature=m-RMZmhGohcoWYAgCsGahXl486ImyUzWvqkYW21TDn1CUspDkqY4KW~lBfIji90uU~p28nWpMAj83ZfAjHQT4LC1NDzigJzQcnGT7HpP8lfj2W2H~Ei0FJ4S95HkOL6TNd-8TlbSPP8uKxvI26j6iFGECN6eZRnMHE2fyVnNfGtI22Iilobuo4A50L7OAZvSywxftH8PaaZwopqe8nhOrShTmW3S5k1mqntrcr1dxEfyOIny60CT3NPROdKtauhry5zdqv4rhJ8G4h1sj6QDyM8D1YwB0D3W1kogzZOZ65W7nkTryJ926PCoSd6uSWzLoYqezCHcBTjr-jMzEUb-xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report Senate Bill 292 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass.

Committee Counsel summarized the measure as requiring both PEIA (the Public Employees Insurance Agency) and Medicaid to cover doula services, which neither program currently covers. Counsel defined a doula in committee: a trained, nonmedical professional who provides physical, emotional and informational support during pregnancy, complementary to medical care but without authority to administer medication or medical treatment.

Counsel said the bill would provide coverage from the date of confirmed conception up to 365 days after delivery. Counsel also reported a cost estimate for PEIA of $311,000 and indicated the explanation was provided by the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

A senator representing the thirteenth expressed support, saying constituents had reported that doula support can improve pregnancy outcomes and that state Department of Health and Human Resources staff believed the services could help. There were no recorded amendments; the vice chairman moved the bill be reported and the chair declared the ayes had it on a voice vote. Senate Bill 292 will be reported to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 292 — motion to report to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass; voice vote; chair declared motion adopted (counts not specified).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Mar 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report Senate Bill 292 to the full Senate, a bill that would require PEIA and Medicaid to cover doula services.","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},6122530,"Committee backs letting campus police join municipal police and firefighters retirement system",405,960000,1365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d&start=960&end=1365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d/thumbnail_960000.jpg","/articles/6122530/West-Virginia/Committee-backs-letting-campus-police-join-municipal-police-and-firefighters-retirement-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122530-af335f5dee2d124abc2d18aed926b01d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757680&Signature=XdZtQ2CrjBvEOK56K~H5QdjqKjaSg6lx7rPCcZM3jll5Rh1a2cXfDnKAS1e5x~0hziG2GkfeiazaoWkKyhCaw-dznvx2CLDWqLf-iM0nP94S7BDmPVIYUnRLSzO~SXrOEakbQG~0yTuEBSONZxMErQMUdMTrNu6tc5-6fh9Kls7hAlk~~rUkb7uBq7zNeVOI4-Qp20yMleGV1HG4DDqsJTaO91I6ZkqprEn7tOVLGmPFU-bE53QeroCYLR7AMs0bYyeY-xOjoofWVriRFqLK8kd0-phwbQP1zhwBFGPQyFk1ZO~SQrhCUSVkMMpPNjV6QmMMTDYyqbksD9nQyuiRYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass.

Committee Counsel explained the measure (noting the agenda typo) as a bill that permits campus police officers at specified public higher-education institutions to participate in the municipal police and firefighters retirement system administered by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board (CPRB). Counsel listed the affected institutions as BridgeValley, Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Marshall, Shepherd, West Liberty, West Virginia State, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, West Virginia Institute of Technology, Potomac State College, and West Virginia University.

Counsel said there are currently about 115 campus police officers statewide with roughly 25 positions vacant. Under the bill, campus police who elect to join the municipal plan would leave the existing TIAA 401(a) defined-contribution plan administered for higher education and enter the defined-benefit municipal plan. Counsel said no prior service would transfer; members who move into the municipal plan would be treated as new hires for retirement-service credit. Counsel also summarized enrollment timing: officers hired on or after Jan. 1, 2026, would automatically be enrolled in the state plan; officers employed before that date may elect whether to transfer but must notify the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

Captain Swain, identified as Captain Swain of West Virginia University Police, testified about recruitment, training and retention challenges on campuses, describing a multi-phase hiring and training cycle that includes pre-academy screening, a 16-week West Virginia State Police Academy certification, and a field training officer program. Swain said departments often lose mid-career officers to other agencies that offer different pension arrangements, creating a 2-to-3-year staffing cycle that affects campus safety.

Senators spoke in support, citing campus safety and staffing concerns. The vice chairman moved the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate; the chair called the voice vote and declared the ayes had it. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 will be reported to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance: committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 — motion to report to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass; voice vote; chair declared motion adopted (counts not specified).","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate, allowing campus police officers at public colleges and universities to elect membership in the municipal police and firefighters retirement system.",{"_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},6122534,"Senate committee advances substitute to exempt livestock processing from state sales tax",60,896000,956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d&start=896&end=956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6122534/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-substitute-to-exempt-livestock-processing-from-state-sales-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122534-55cb3be64e8a636b2db6f42cba55e0f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757680&Signature=KrYdcAs-78tc0XfcxNH~1THAeViAoADzhzt1M0BROvg6IVXoUIwp5Vo2BPHql~1h-cEndBQowWSJHDWQT5OVv3zOf-7a4BAXaj5rMpdbq70fCkl2DRRVemFnAMOj4gFLYeVGQNynCpHO7ZqGt66Y9S1Y-A713llecUkZjyU2HHowp7bH759Ec1WUj4~wZhbtDWpE9Pr3CK-W9pOgCKdOteUQBDFT4IpwePowUZQjvMTuLATUOtQ-SaUGR-mUaBm5T8jUJQRMoEkRHkyKZVpZL020wfBMjs4NqeLzLkHxeEb1qDLUbEL3FoXzkSoARfuBmPKVV-RQLm9~7TRyzRAOtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee on the floor reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 10 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.

The committee counsel explained the substitute, saying the change removes the requirement that slaughterhouse services be performed \"for the owner,\" making processing services for beef, pork and lamb tax exempt. The counsel said the substitute brings the bill into conformity with pending House Bill 2146 and noted an attached fiscal note from the Tax Division.

The counsel summarized the fiscal estimates: under the introduced version the Tax Division estimated a $430,000 revenue loss in fiscal year 2026 and about $1,000,000 in each subsequent year; the committee substitute estimate aligned with House Bill 2146 was $600,000 in FY2026 and $1,400,000 each year after that.

Committee members had no extended public debate recorded on the floor; the chair called for a voice vote and declared the ayes had it. The committee recorded the motion as adopted and the substitute will be reported to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance: committee substitute for Senate Bill 10 — motion to report to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass; voice vote; chair declared motion adopted (counts not specified).","The Senate Finance Committee on the floor reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 10 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.",{"_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},6122520,"Senate committee advances bill to expand SNAP employment-and-training requirements amid debate over exemptions and capacity",1458,1462000,4000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d&start=1462&end=4","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694716-acc2a4f3297f94b15bd76937fccaa36d/thumbnail_1462000.jpg","/articles/6122520/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-expand-SNAP-employment-and-training-requirements-amid-debate-over-exemptions-and-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122520-fba4c68ff4dfc4be30ef5a2c49a32ebb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757680&Signature=NwVYf8A-vgfqSdALgrHm0SbBTDROZNp-1wR0RBs~OOoK4jPJkmXGZL1z9XhuOnrYZrkjuLiN1saKXRnmy9ju916n3KkgyWlvFZIiakCcipqVCQTBHh0s5UFbuaIGRVyxNm7pyBbT3Oi~ZWidrEAHH3MoLTQn~V9WG2oB7MT9-Ubb4riLdHP~qdjGRxNeYO8JU~fCATEnqfuXfi8wmgOiUTpZAEBof4yHZgYWRc~v8lGYRCWnp~cXI~AIVpWGlbAWZiTp6UgVMUmpfW8aSulZtEDjCn~DNB3AXewK8YYWH7bBfC~2c9XhipFpe2YFqIV6rsbzCPDhWx-hePCSbfQZPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report Senate Bill 249 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass after extensive questioning and outside testimony about program capacity and exemptions.

Committee Counsel described the bill as modifying SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) employment-and-training (E&T) requirements so that all able-bodied adults without dependents would be subject to E&T unless they met listed exemptions. Counsel said the bill would substitute SNAP E&T participation for certain work requirements currently tied to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, expand the age bracket for mandatory E&T from 18–54 to 18–59 and require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide each registrant a comprehensive list of available E&T services. Counsel also described reporting requirements: DHS must submit annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability (LACRA) for three years beginning October 2025 (transcript stated a three-year series beginning October 2025 and ending October 2028); the reports would include specified data on referrals, participant outcomes and the number removed from SNAP due to increased household income.

Testimony: Caitlin Cook, director of advocacy and public policy at Mountaineer Food Bank, opposed a mandatory E&T expansion without investments to support programming and said mandatory programs in other states had strained charitable food networks. She testified that transportation and internet access barriers in parts of the state make mandatory participation difficult and cited examples from other states where mandatory programs were later scaled back.

Jeremiah Samples, representing the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), described SNAP E&T as supports facilitating entrance into the workforce — including education and training and transportation when provided — and said that the bill contains language allowing DHS to exempt individuals if local resources are unavailable. He also explained that SNAP benefits are federally funded transfers to an EBT card and that the state administers eligibility and related program activity. Samples testified that reported counts of people affected varied in prior briefings (different figures cited included roughly 2,269, about 8,000 and broader counts up to 50,000); counsel and witnesses agreed that the department's estimates have varied and that final counts remain uncertain.

Committee members pressed counsel and witnesses on exemptions in the bill: listed exemptions include caring for a child under age 6, caring for an incapacitated person, enrolled students, participants in drug- or alcohol-treatment programs, those employed at least 30 hours per week, people 60 and older, disabled individuals, and others described in the bill. Counsel explained the bill permits DHS to develop additional discretionary exemptions and provides that after enumerated exemptions are applied, DHS may exempt up to 20% of remaining registrants at its discretion. Counsel further explained that if DHS determines it lacks resources to provide required supports in a county or statewide, DHS must report to the legislature within 14 days and, in that circumstance, mandatory requirements would not apply to those registrants.

Committee members also questioned potential federal compliance risks; one senator cited an excerpt of the Code of Federal Regulations saying a lack of state funding for reimbursement could expose the state to a federal error or clawback, and counsel said he was unaware of a regulation that would categorically preclude state exemptions and noted a potential risk of federal clawback if state action conflicted with federal rules.

After extended discussion and questions of witnesses and counsel about counts, exemptions, transportation and administration, the vice chairman moved Senate Bill 249 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation it pass. The chair called a voice vote and declared the ayes had it. Senate Bill 249 will be reported to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 249 — motion to report to full Senate with recommendation that it do pass; voice vote; chair declared motion adopted (counts not specified).","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report Senate Bill 249 to the full Senate, which would expand SNAP employment-and-training requirements and extend the age range subject to mandatory participation to 18–59.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee moves bill to require Medicaid and PEIA to cover doula services

Committee backs letting campus police join municipal police and firefighters retirement system

Senate committee advances substitute to exempt livestock processing from state sales tax

Senate committee advances bill to expand SNAP employment-and-training requirements amid debate over exemptions and capacity