[{"_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",6109094,"mediaKeyId","2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5","parentId",2764731,"title","Senate committee agrees to report bill exempting residential drywall installers from contractor-license requirement","audioSeconds",919,"startMs",1191000,"endMs",2110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5&start=1191&end=2110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5/thumbnail_1191000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109094/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-agrees-to-report-bill-exempting-residential-drywall-installers-from-contractor-license-requirement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109094-bac6838ae5e5fc8049ad20351b0a5564/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140266&Signature=a1pnIhtWB9g7TGHKJUc3ZFIpAIwKuWvr0AHZhBi85YbpHZtQd4fKMMd66aMA5iRy-okNyma4L-Tcjw2hehlzA2faY3Yq~oB1RBVjUQdR9JFwN9xJw55LUViFo~if4AzAzFIR2YV5IYK76NAVuH4-HvAkswKQXQVRL3uYj-EilD-dJl82uhURI4AvN4prRPavdEpLfacsqKPEv6R3rxnTe0pLx~4PPokhrc93MxXb~sukeb5XrJCqec-zps1gfpcnw8JcJRrNqrUPruY-cLwjOJhu6oqsFoKZYAwm-EDN9muDr5jHx2dLCU6e0UfuV7VdVsMtCMLkD1haV-IqzAwYeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","A West Virginia Senate committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 8-71 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The substitute removes residential drywall installation from the statutory definition of \"contractor,\" exempting residential drywall installers from West Virginia's contractor-licensing requirement while preserving licensing for commercial drywall work.

The bill's committee substitute, described by counsel as narrowed to apply only to residential drywall services, would leave commercial drywall work subject to contractor licensing and the business-and-law examination currently used for contractor licensure. Counsel said businesses performing residential drywall work would still be required to register with the state, carry workers' compensation and meet ordinary business licensing requirements.

The change was presented to the committee by counsel, who said the original bill would have exempted all drywall services but was revised to apply only to residential work. \"This, in effect, exempts those persons from being required to obtain a contractor's license,\" counsel said; \"this only applies to residential work. Drywall installers on commercial project are still required to have a contractor's license.\"

Witnesses spoke in favor and against the substitute during the hearing. Brian Page, who identified himself as a representative of ConApp Inc., told the committee that in the 10 states where his company operates, \"we currently don't have any licensing needed to hang drywall.\" Page said his company enforces insurance limits and on-site supervision and that the company \"believe[s] we should be accountable\" for work performed.

Representing building trades interests, Justin Williams of Affiliate Construction Trades urged retaining licensure. \"Licensure, you know, protects the public interest,\" Williams told the committee, arguing that the business-and-law test and contractor licensing require owners to understand payroll, workers' compensation and other employer responsibilities and that licensure helps prevent small employers from being set up to fail.

Several senators questioned witnesses about the business-and-law examination required for contractor licensure and about how subcontracting, supervision and quality control are handled in other states. Counsel noted that the business-and-law exam focuses on business and finance topics rather than installation technique.

After discussion, the committee agreed to the language of the committee substitute and the vice chair moved that the substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The chair said, \"In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.\" The committee substitute will go to the full Senate for further consideration.

The measure, if enacted, would alter licensing requirements for residential drywall installers statewide while leaving commercial drywall work under the contractor-license framework.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Government Organization Committee Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A West Virginia Senate committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 8-71 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.","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":80,"_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},6109085,"Committee reports package of code-cleanup and reporting bills to full Senate",0,1114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5&start=1114&end=1114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5/thumbnail_1114000.jpg","/articles/6109085/West-Virginia/Committee-reports-package-of-code-cleanup-and-reporting-bills-to-full-Senate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109085-88df3f6b5a94c6ce0af2fc98ace5097b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140266&Signature=JmUzLOf85bLZkkRVjgttK-lJZd2ORY-lBb5u~h9-aCSCmuhXYu7c3694yJiXTdViiIEO6Vg52PPdvoCjugFOMvmdUstPn5VqDYDd592Esg5wve9NOY38CatpB~hvr9l9MLMrOhuqlug9bILUT9WnPkNXgwn1V~YSRec-5wYOZVCqHUDVzCjHgXjqhkLxhM88WFzscXiyqCdwKCImtEPFAcuQlY5NfRUmJjLh7Qx4ZUVXBD8S-mkeW7HNVQUpbVzXJsq~~H~OJHUlbbCR35uSfwoFrLoKqqytHiDlRnGFlkCPKw5~PlBD7OO0ZLvGAzyP~S1jEbpVeB2bwCOcpP8jgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A West Virginia Senate committee reported a group of largely noncontroversial code-cleanup and reporting bills to the full Senate with recommendations that they pass.

Among the measures the committee agreed to report were:

- Senate Bill 5-70: Committee substitute as amended readopted and agreed to for further reporting; language agreed to by the committee. Counsel noted the committee substitute was readopted and would be reported with the recommendation that it do pass.

- Senate Bill 8-62: Repeals an obsolete West Virginia Code article regarding the \"Gilding the Dome\" checkoff program, which expired in 1990; counsel described the change as code cleanup.

- Senate Bill 8-63 and Senate Bill 8-61: Technical code cleanups removing obsolete references to the Information Services and Communications Division following its absorption into the Office of Technology and updating higher-education system names where necessary.

- Senate Bill 8-76: Removes 19 specified tax-division reporting requirements for periods on and after Jan. 1, 2025; counsel said the information will remain available in other annual or biannual reports and on request. Tax Division Commissioner Matt Irby was noted in the record as present.

- Senate Bill 8-56: Removes various reporting requirements from the insurance commissioner's office including certain workers' compensation safety reports and other rate or malpractice reporting; counsel said the information remains available in other reports or on request.

- Senate Bill 8-23: Clarifies that investigations of mine, industrial, well and pipeline accidents are the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Protection while such incidents are reported to the Emergency Management Division.

- Senate Bill 8-29: Eliminates two separate preparedness classes for emergencies and establishes a single state of preparedness that would expire after 30 days unless extended; committee substitute makes only technical, non-substantive changes.

For each of these bills, counsel explained the statutory changes as cleanup, clarification, or consolidation of reporting responsibilities. For the measures, the committee chair routinely called for the question; after the vice chair moved that the committee substitutes or bills be reported, the chair said, \"In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it,\" and the measures were declared adopted and will be reported to the full Senate.

The package contains a mix of code modernization and report eliminations that committee counsel said will reduce duplication while preserving access to information through other reports or on request.","A Senate committee reported a series of bills that largely remove obsolete references and eliminate certain statutorily required reports, sending the measures to the full Senate with recommendations that they pass.",{"_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},6109089,"Senate committee advances bill letting counties set elected-official pay; removes auditor certification requirement",1988,2704000,4692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5&start=2704&end=4692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764731-ca9bc637dfd2bd359f76aaec7cddbdc5/thumbnail_2704000.jpg","/articles/6109089/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-bill-letting-counties-set-elected-official-pay-removes-auditor-certification-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109089-c2c4dcbcc0e1cbc5721606148f90e023/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140266&Signature=KJlrBQFgL5Ox-68TJF5TYDxI7muaNscwCV2Ff4rP~pxcI78VTWf5PYaNheX3hboIqolR05upzgAclzNSpo0xpVq0yVfuXomrtWThnn93GAOPVVCF4roSam~6TYqoAH4YYT2s-2moqCGpZkdDPfpK1lX3jMjk6EVbhcW4W4aMpbEhdRVvUIW70C3HR~HMyx-1CLRpMI1lPi~d1XVSEuIcIAX~BdTy2PtDA4~aOaE6ljhK5hxiuPzBOFId9d3FFjSVjDRYKUDJybnI6ma9k122SAnZifs-OXrOCE6X8fGK16YMtjUzvcykUgj45bkVu4N~dIyL~Q69-7BlQdY1FaHt1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A West Virginia Senate committee voted to report a committee substitute as amended for Senate Bill 6-90 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The substitute would authorize county commissions to set base salaries for elected county officials across the state's 10 county classes and allow biennial salary increases if the county budget meets specified fiscal criteria; increases are capped by the consumer price index and, if given, must be at least 2 percent.

Counsel told the committee the bill amends two sections of West Virginia Code chapter 7 governing counties and establishes a biennial review process. \"It then provides for biennial, every other year, salary increases for county commissioners and the elected officials if, the budget has increased sufficiently to give the county commissioners and elected officials a 2% or greater raise, including the related employment taxes,\" counsel said. Counsel also said the bill is supported by the West Virginia Association of Counties.

Patty Hamilton, identified as retired executive director of the West Virginia Association of Counties and a lobbyist for the West Virginia County Clerk's Association, told the committee the change would reduce repeated requests to the legislature for salary adjustments and allow counties to budget more predictably. \"I absolutely do\" think the bill will solve the repeated need to return to the legislature for county pay increases, Hamilton said under oath.

Melanie Plerio, president of MAP and Associates representing the County Commissioners Association, told the committee commissioners support the measure and noted that commissioners carry fiscal responsibility for county budgets. \"We do,\" Plerio said when asked whether county commissions support the legislation.

The state auditor's office participated remotely. Shelly Humphreys, of the State Auditor's Office, described the auditor's existing role in reviewing county budgets and said the office currently reviews the few counties that have not yet reached the post-2022 salary schedule to determine whether they have sufficient revenue to sustain increases. In initial testimony she suggested that, if the legislature intended to give more control to local officials, the auditor could be removed from the certification role; committee members later proposed and adopted an amendment removing the auditor-certification language from the bill.

Senators questioned whether the bill would require new state funding; counsel said it would not. \"That is correct. This is all county money,\" counsel said. Committee members also confirmed that the consumer price index functions as a cap on raises rather than an automatic increase and that counties would retain discretion on whether to give raises when the statutory fiscal conditions are met.

Senator Summers proposed an amendment to remove references to the auditor's certification role; counsel identified the sections to be struck and the committee adopted the amendment. After amendment, the vice chair moved that the committee substitute as amended be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the chair said, \"In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it,\" and the motion was declared adopted.

The substitute sets base salaries by county class, allows biennial increases when a county's fiscal condition meets the bill's tests, sets a minimum increase of 2 percent if a raise is granted, and caps the increase at the percentage change in the consumer price index over the preceding two years. The bill's proponents said the change gives counties more predictable budgeting authority and reduces the need to seek periodic legislative salary adjustments.","A Senate committee reported a revised committee substitute for Senate Bill 6-90 that would let West Virginia county commissions set base salaries for county elected officials across 10 county classes and give biennial raises if fiscal conditions are met; an amendment removing the state auditor's certification role was adopted.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee agrees to report bill exempting residential drywall installers from contractor-license requirement

Committee reports package of code-cleanup and reporting bills to full Senate

Senate committee advances bill letting counties set elected-official pay; removes auditor certification requirement