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"The latest from news and more from U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Southern West Virginia located at , , on West Virginia Record."

The Senate passed 11 bills today and sent them to the House of Delegates for consideration. The Senate also advanced more than 20 other bills, seven of which are House bills. There was also emotional debate around a resolution.  

The West Virginia Senate Economic Development Committee has approved a bill that would allow Department of Commerce subagencies to contract for the management of state forests and wildlife management areas to prevent wildfires. Senate Bill 688 would allow the directors of the Division of Forestry and Division of Natural Resources to award management contracts notwithstanding the competitive bidding process, when the contract is needed for an economic development project.

The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would create an economic and energy development board for southern West Virginia counties. The bill, Senate Bill 354, would create a 15-member board that includes representatives of economic development agencies in McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties and governor appointees from the private sector.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, bills about crime and punishment come before the West Virginia Legislature every year. Often, they adjust punishment or even establish a new section of the state’s criminal code. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and a former U.S. attorney.