Bill Text: WV SJR5 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Bi-annual Legislative Session Amendment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-12 - To Judiciary [SJR5 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2025-SJR5-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2025 regular session
Introduced
Senate Joint Resolution 5
By Senator Chapman
[Introduced February 12, 2025; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia by amending article VI, section 18, relating to establishing that the Legislature assemble bi-annually; that session commence on the second Wednesday in each odd-numbered year; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2026, which proposed amendment is that article VI, section 18 be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI. THE LEGISLATURE.
§6-18. Time and place of assembly of Legislature
The Legislature shall assemble annually bi-annually at the seat of government, and not oftener unless convened by the governor. Regular sessions of the Legislature shall commence on the second Wednesday of January of each odd-numbered year. Upon the convening of the Legislature, in each odd-numbered year each house shall proceed to organize by the election of its officers for two-year terms and both houses shall then in joint assembly open and publish the election returns delivered to the Legislature as prescribed by other provisions of this constitution and by general law. When all of these matters have been completed in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three and every fourth year thereafter, the Legislature shall adjourn until the second Wednesday of February following. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-one of this article and any other provisions of this constitution, on and after the effective date hereof, there shall be submitted by the governor to the Legislature, on the second Wednesday of February in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three and every fourth year thereafter, and on the second Wednesday of January of all other years, unless a later time in any year be fixed by the Legislature, a budget for the next ensuing fiscal year and a bill for the proposed appropriations of such budget.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment 1" and designated as the "Bi-annual Legislative Session Amendment" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "To make regular Legislative Session occur once every two years."
NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to modify the frequency of Legislative Session from annually to bi-annually.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
