Mark your calendars: what’s happening in the WV State Legislature and when

Mark your calendars. If you’re keen to follow the legislative process over the next six months, here are the dates you need to know about.

Legislative Interims

These are two-day monthly meetings that the Legislature holds at the State Capitol to get ready for the upcoming session. These meetings primarily consist of Interim Committee meetings (check the Legislature’s website the week before for a schedule of committee meetings). They also serve as a great chance to meet legislators if you can come to Charleston.

• Oct. 18-19 (Sunday and Monday)
• Nov. 15-16 (Sunday and Monday)

Interims are usually held in December and January, too, but as yet no announcement has been made about these months.

2016 Legislative Session Dates (Tentative)

The Legislature has not yet posted the dates of the 2016 legislative session. Rules for the session dates are covered in the State Constitution (WV Const. Art. VI, §18) and in the House and Senate Rules.

• First day of session: Wednesday, Jan. 13
• Last day to introduce bills in the House and Senate (Forty-First Day): Monday, Feb. 22
• Last day for bills to pass out of committees (Forty-Seventh Day): Sunday, Feb. 28
• Cross-Over Day (day that bills have to be passed by the chamber they are originated in) (Fiftieth Day): Wednesday, March 2
• Last day of session (Sixtieth Day): Saturday, March 12