Story by David Beard, The Dominion Post
Charleston, W.V.
The milk bill is HB 4911. The current law requires herd sharing – a cow is the owner of a share to legally obtain raw milk. The bill removes with him and allows anyone to buy it “until the containers are clearly labeled in the form of raw milk, with the seller’s name and date of production.”
The debate was not about milk, but was about this sentence: “A person who sells raw milk will be immune with suit and liabilities, or is out to claim or is related to personal injury or other citizen liability, or is related, a real or alleged act, error, or omission that happened.”
The only exception to that immunity is deliberate or willful and desired misconduct. De-kanawha, de-kanawha, Delegate Mike Pushkin proposed a failed amendment last Friday to eliminate the immune segments.
Delegate JB Aksars, R-Kanwa again raised the issue again on Monday, discussing the Bible principle of restoration and said that the jury reduces the constitutional right of the test by the jury and sets up a bad example for other businesses that want equal protection.
Delegate Brandon Steel, R-Railway and a lawyer said that it is fundamental for the Republic for citizens to hear a jury your complaint. “I have fought a long time to get rid of immunity.”
There is no immunity in any other food product or production. It is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that what you are doing is not negligent or harmful. And if the seller is immune, the cost will fall on the West Virginia taxpayer.
Some of the discussion established that the immune section does not cover negligence – to accidentally find its way into milk with the frequent examples of glass glass.
Defending the bill, Amy Summers, R-Teller, said that it eliminates bureaucratic prone to sharing herds to give everyone an option to buy raw milk. “We are going to give you freedom to do so. We have received a freedom bill in front of us, after all. ,
Lead sponsors Mike Horbi, R-Barkle, admitted the risks of drinking raw milk, saying that it is naturally health issues, but in the last eight years, less than four people have become ill per year.
He said that 18 other states allow direct-to-consumer sales (similar to this bill), allowing 17 herds to share, 12 states allow retail raw milk sale, and three allow it to be sold as pet food.
Asked how many of them offer the same kind of comprehensive immunity, they did not know.
The vote was 76–19, and it goes to the Senate. The opposition was bilateral. Locally, all eight Republicans voted for this and three of the four Democrats voted against it; A democrat was absent.
HB 4850 oil and gas belongs to individual property taxes. The issue recently created the news when it was discovered that a state tax department contractor misunderstood the tax evaluation for oil and gas properties in eight counties, which cost him more than $ 22.9 million.
Tyler was killed the worst in $ 15.8 million. Mongelia County lost about $ 1.7 million.
The evaluators had earlier assessed oil and gas wells on a category system, but the Supreme Court of the state unconstitutionally ruled the method in 2019 and the legislature passed a bill in 2022, which required to personally evaluate each property; Mistakes occurred in 2023.
The emphasis of the bill was to terminate the sunset of July 1, 2025 from the 2022 law, which made it permanent.
David Kelly, R-Tyler, did not complain about the bill, but about the tax department to allow errors. He said, “Get your work together and take this authority,” they said, or call the Governor to find someone.
Persent Count watched the smallest hit at $ 110,277, and Representative to Tanton Barnhart, R-Placesmen said they could not vote to implement a problematic process. They need to bring stakeholders back together and fix it.
In response to a question, R-Wood, Finance Chair Vernon Chris said that if they do not raise sunset, eight counties can see their revenue falling at zero next year. He wants to convince the department to explain to his committee during next year’s interim to explain how they are going to fix the problem.
Bills are headed by Senate after 71–25 votes. The opposition was again bilateral and locally, again, the breakdown 8-3.
The objective of HB 5528 is to modify the 2020 law that allows the state’s two regulated utilities, AEPs and Firesnergy, produces a total of 50 MW of 200 MW solar features for each utility.
The bill increases the maximum size to 100 MW and removes December 31, 2025 sunset. Energy Vice-Chair Mark Zetzalo, R-Hancock said that the request for sunset came from one of the utilities (that was not a name, but AEP meant) who has not started any project and is trying to generate interest.
Delegate Bak Jennings, R-Poston, asked Zetzalo if the bill would help stabilize the electric grid. Zatezalo stated that the state has a total capacity of 16,000 MW and the 400 MW allowed by the bill is not important. “This will not make the grid particularly strong, but it is definitely not hurting it.”
Delegate Bill Ridenore of R-Jefferson said that hundreds of people in his county have complained to him that a huge solar farm has already overwhelmed the agricultural sector and there are three more big projects in the works.
“My components are tired of solar, who are banging their throat down; They do not want a new green deal.
It goes to the Senate after 61–36 votes. Locally, three Republicans voted against it and for the other nine, for both sides, voted for it.
On a warm-stained note, the House unanimously passed the SB 790 to elevate the title of the Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Arts, Culture and History. The bill does not name a person, but as in the Senate, the current curator fell on the Ridel Reed-Smith, which helped the agency for 19 years.
The delegates praised the state and his publicity of its art, culture and history.
CRISS referred to Reid-Smith’s financial lover in running his department. “Curator can take a deer and go further than someone else in this government, so far.” And he returns to any remaining.
Dengate Daniel Linville, R-Cabel said, “Curator presided over the US to fall back in love with our Appalachian culture and fell in love with West Virginia.”
Vote 94-2-two Republican objected-and he was the head of the governor who requested the bill.