The West Virginia Legislature convened for one day to swear in legislators, and elect both House and Senate leadership.
Wednesday was the Opening Day for the new legislature. That means representatives, for the most part, took their seats and officially certified state election results.
But legislating won’t start until they come back in February.
On the Senate side, the ball started rolling when the Secretary of State came into the room to swear in the newly elected and appointed Senators.
New senators to note are Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, who beat out former Senate President Craig Blair in the primary race, and Sen. Joey Garcia of Marion County, one of two Democrats in the Senate.
The new senate president, Randy Smith, R-Tucker, was formally elected today.
Smith is a retired coal miner, and the former chair of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee. He has served in the Senate for eight years.
He said in his speech that he was grateful to his colleagues who elected him and his family that has supported him through his political career.
“You know, you look at most of your Senate presidents, or, you know, are not ex-coal miners or blue collar and it’s just overwhelming and humbling to have your peers to elect you to be their leader,” Smith said.
He said he can’t say what the legislative priorities are yet, but that after this Tuesday’s caucus he will have a better idea.
“Everyone has been asked to bring in their top two priority bills, and tomorrow we’re going to start digging into that to get our priorities,” Smith said.
Patrick Martin, R-Lewis, will be the new majority leader, replacing Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, remains the minority leader.
Top House leadership remained the same. Del. Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, returns as speaker. Hanshsaw, 44, has held the position since 2018.
“It was a humbling honor the first time, five elections ago in 2018, when this body gave me this opportunity,” Hanshaw said. “But it’s been an even greater honor each time since then, because I take it as an affirmation of your confidence in what I’ve tried to do here and the environment I’ve tried to create.”
In his acceptance speech, Handshaw pointed to the billions of dollars in business incentives in the state allocated during the past decade of Republican majorities and attempts to expand social services.
Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, will return as minority leader. He has held the position since 2023.
Del. Pat McGeehan, a R-Hancock, is new to the position of House majority leader. In his speech officially nominating Hanshaw today, McGeehan noted how he and Hanshaw had gone from “bitter, bitter rivals” to joining in the Republican caucus’ top ranks.
Hanshaw made committee assignments Thursday afternoon along with a restructuring of bill procedures in committees: elongating readings, adding subcommittees, and appointing new chairs.