The West Virginia Senate took recorded actions on multiple measures on March 31. Below are the principal items, the action taken on the Senate floor and the vote tallies as recorded in the transcript. Short descriptions are drawn from the sponsors’ floor explanations or bill titles as read aloud.

- Senate Resolution 42 (designating March 31, 2025 as West Virginia Nurses Day at the legislature): Adopted by voice vote; the Senate “declared the resolution adopted.” Supporters on the floor praised nurses’ contributions to health care throughout the state.

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 506 (enhanced pay for certain teachers): Motion to refer the bill to the Committee on Rules was approved; recorded procedural roll call to send the bill to Rules: 25 yays, 9 nays (demand for roll call sustained). (Action: referred to Rules.)

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 531 (offenses of assault and battery on athletic officials): Passed on third reading; recorded vote 33 yays, 1 nay. Sponsors described increased penalties for assault/battery on athletic officials at organized sporting events.

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 632 (surprise billing — network ambulance services): Passed unanimously on third reading, 34 yays, 0 nays; Senate also voted to make the bill effective Jan. 1, 2026.

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 663 (Fair Access to Financial Services Act): Passed on recorded vote 25 yays, 9 nays after extensive debate (see separate article for full coverage).

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 718 (hospital transparency): Amendment adopted and bill passed 22 yays, 12 nays. The adopted amendment moved some duties to the West Virginia Health Care Authority and narrowed the publication requirement.

- Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 790 (quarterly reporting by certain waste and wastewater utilities): Passed on third reading, recorded vote 34 yays, 0 nays.

- Committee substitute for Senate Bill 869 (Corridor H Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority): Passed third reading by recorded vote 33 yays, 1 nay.

- A number of other bills on the agenda were read, advanced or passed without extended floor debate; the clerk was directed to communicate passage to the House where appropriate.

Why this matters: The items above cover a range of policy areas — education and teacher pay procedure, criminal penalties for assaulting sports officials, consumer protections against surprise medical bills, banking and financial‑services rules, hospital price transparency, water/wastewater utility reporting and regional economic authorities. Several of these measures set new state rules, reassign reporting duties between state agencies, or create private causes of action that could produce litigation.

What to watch: Senate bills that create new private rights or significant reporting requirements (notably SB 663 and SB 718) will proceed to the House and, if enacted, may lead to implementation rulemaking or litigation. Measures with effective dates set by the Senate (for example SB 632) give regulated entities a fixed timeline to comply.