On this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas speaks with Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speaker of the House Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell. They discuss plans for legislation, the new process of debating bills in the House and legislation implementing religious exemptions from vaccines. Rohrbach is also a doctor.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have a roundtable with our Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate, Health Reporter Emily Rice and Statehouse Reporter Briana Heaney. They discuss the first days of the 2025 state legislative session and look ahead to the remaining weeks.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address to the West Virginia Legislature Wednesday night. Minority Leaders Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, sat down with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss Morrisey’s State of the State address and about being a minority to a supermajority in the legislature.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our final reporter roundtable of the 2024 state legislative session. WVPB statehouse reporters Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney talk with Leah Willingham from the Associated Press about the past 60 days and the upcoming final hours of the session on Saturday.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our Senate reporter Briana Heaney talks with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, to discuss where things stand and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia. 

On this episode of The Legislature Today, much of the debate Tuesday morning in the House of Delegates focused on satisfying a $465 million federal claw back regarding the state’s spending on education. When it came to the budget debate – some promised program funding not education related – fell by the wayside.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we’ve begun the final week of the 60-day West Virginia Legislative session, and everything wraps up Saturday at midnight. Randy Yohe talks with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, to see how his caucus feels about the session and whether they met their priorities for this year. WVPB invited House Majority Whip Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, to join the conversation, but he was unable to participate.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there is just one more week of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session. These last days of the regular session are usually when state budget issues are debated and resolved. But a surprise notification from the federal government that the state return nearly half a billion dollars in COVID-19 funds has several major legislative funding issues on hold.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we sit down a day early for our weekly reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe, Emily Rice and our newest reporter Jack Walker discuss some of the legislation that has moved so far this week.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, it was Crossover Day, meaning all bills must be passed out of their chamber of origin if they are to be considered this session. We also have a conversation about the possible future of artificial intelligence in West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there has been a lot of discussion this year about vaccines and whether they should be required in private schools, and there has been spirited debate on the topic in the last few days. Health Reporter Emily Rice spoke with Del. Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha, and Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, about this issue.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, West Virginia, like most of the country, is enjoying record setting low unemployment numbers after the coronavirus pandemic. Briana Heaney sat down with Josh Sword, president of West Virginia’s AFL-CIO, and Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, to discuss two bills that would reduce unemployment benefits in the state.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we are in the final stages of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session, and the pace is picking up with just two more weeks to go. Next Wednesday, Feb. 28, marks what is known as Crossover Day. That is the day all bills must be out of their chamber of origin if they are to be considered for passage this year.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, from staffing to security, West Virginia’s schools are facing a variety of issues. Bills introduced this year have ranged from associate degrees for vocational students to reducing barriers to teacher certification. Chris Schulz spoke with Senate Education Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, about legislative action to address the state’s educational problems.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there was contentious third reading debate in the House of Delegates over the much talked about bill to arm teachers as concealed carry protection officers.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, small and rural schools in West Virginia find it difficult to staff school resource officers and other security personnel, but a bill now making its way through the House of Delegates would allow teachers and other school staff to carry a firearm or other weapon on school grounds. Chris Schulz spoke with Del. Elliot Pritt, R-Fayette, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, for their perspective.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Legislative Auditor is a department under the West Virginia Legislature tasked with auditing offices under the executive branch. There is a bill making its way through the legislature that some say will “defang” the work done by the department while others say the bill strengthens it.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our weekly reporter roundtable. Brad McElhinny from West Virginia MetroNews joins Randy Yohe and Curtis Tate in the studio to discuss what’s going on in the West Virginia Legislature and what they expect to see in the final weeks.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 571, creating an Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority for Corridor H. Curtis Tate spoke with Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael about the importance of Corridor H to the state.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, leaders from both sides of the aisle have declared that childcare for the working men and women of West Virginia is a priority regarding economic and workforce development. So far, there has been plenty of talk but little legislative action. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, to explore the issue.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms. Democrats call it an “anti-trans” bill. We talk with lawmakers and stakeholders to get perspective.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we wrap up another week of the West Virginia Legislative session, and the pace is starting to pick up in both chambers. We also have a story from our student reporters and a history lookback as well.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, higher demand for coal and natural gas, as well as higher prices, produced a severance tax windfall for the state over the past few years. But prices have fallen, and with it, tax revenues. To get a better idea of where things stand, Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the House of Delegates passed a bill this week that would restrict how data from community air monitors can be used. The state’s industry and mining trade groups support House Bill 5018, while community and environmental groups oppose it. Curtis Tate spoke with Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, and Lucia Valentine from the West Virginia Environmental Council about the legislation.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, about 20,000 West Virginia children are homeschooled, with that numbers growing every day. Some officials in state education and the West Virginia Legislature help champion school choice. Others worry about the quality of the education and the safety of homeschooled children.  

On this episode of The Legislature Today, 90 bills to-date have been introduced this year between the Senate and the House about election laws. Briana Heaney spoke with Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, and Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, to get their perspective.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our weekly reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe is joined by WVPB reporter Briana Heaney and Ogden Newspapers’ State Government Reporter Steven Allen Adams to recap the week’s action.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe sits down with Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, and Broadband Consultant Charlie Dennie to broadband connectivity for West Virginians.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Briana Heaney talks with Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, about legislation to make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on the texture and style of their hair.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, lawmakers have introduced bills this session that they say protect single-sex spaces. Advocates with LGBTQ rights organizations, though, say the legislation follows a pattern of singling out transgender people for discrimination.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, an ongoing discussion in the legislature is how to staff and fund fire and EMS services around the state. Randy Yohe has been following this issue and sat down with Chris Hall, the executive director of the West Virginia EMS Coalition, and Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, the vice chair of the House Fire and EMS Committee.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, lawmakers are mulling over countless tax proposals that would directly affect West Virginians and their wallets. Randy Yohe sat down with Kelly Allen, the executive director at the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, to discuss budgets and taxes.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our guests discuss the current conversation over recreational marijuana in West Virginia. Also, lawmakers in the House of Delegates debated whether the first amendment protects your DNA, and a House committee spent the better part of two hours discussing a bill that would restrict bathroom use in schools based on sex, and another that would help arm teachers.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, new companies and new jobs are coming to West Virginia. And with those jobs comes the need for workforce development and new sources of energy. Curtis Tate spoke with Bill Bissett, the president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, and Dan Conant, founder and CEO of Solar Holler, about these issues.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, a bill to rename the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is on its way to the governor for a signature. Also, our guests have a discussion on food insecurity in West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, dozens, if not hundreds, of bills have been introduced in the West Virginia Legislature this year that involve education. Randy Yohe spoke with Senate Education Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, and teacher Del. Jeff Stephens, R-Marshall, about what some of those bills mean for public education in West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have a retrospective show as we end the week.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, host Randy Yohe talks with forensic psychologist Dr. David Clayman and Senate Jails and Prison Committee Co-Chair Sen. Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, to talk about the diversion of certain persons from the criminal justice system.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Emily Rice sits down with Del. Amy Summers, R-Taylor, and Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, to discuss why the Department of Health and Human Resources was broken up into three separate agencies and how it is going.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, to discuss his goals for the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe talks with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, about his hopes for this session. Also, Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, spoke from his seat on the Senate floor Monday to introduce a resolution calling on the state’s congressional delegation to reform the federal permitting process.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have a roundtable with WVPB reporters who recap the first days of the 2024 session and discuss what’s to come over the next eight weeks.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session has kicked off. Chris Schulz brings us an overview of Gov. Jim Justice’s State of the State address, and Randy Yohe brings us the minority response. Yohe speaks with Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we conclude our daily coverage for the 2023 legislative session with one last reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe, Chris Schulz, Emily Rice and Curtis Tate are all on the set together to discuss bills that have passed and the bills that are left. 

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there was a united reaction from lawmakers to a bill passed yesterday that limits the number of treatment beds a county can have. Government reporter Randy Yohe has more.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, education reporter Chris Schulz sits down with House Education Committee Chairman Joe Ellington, R-Mercer. Just before the start of the session, the state had to come to grips with several reports showing concerning declines in math and reading scores. They discuss what has been done so far to improve student outcomes.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Gov. Jim Justice signed House Bill 2526 into law today. The bill includes a 21.25 percent tax cut across all six income brackets, with the governor’s office calling it the largest tax cut in state history. Government reporter Randy Yohe has the story.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have officially begun the final week of the 2023 West Virginia Legislative session. WVPB’s News Director Eric Douglas talks with reporter Curtis Tate about bills he’s been following this legislative session, including the latest on a bill that would limit gender-affirming health care in West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our weekly reporter roundtable to recap the week and explore what’s still to come. WVPB’s Chris Schulz and Emily Rice sit down with Brad McElhinny of WV MetroNews.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, with West Virginia’s abortion ban clarified and solidified in state code by recent legislation, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice speaks with Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, and Del. Ric Griffith, D-Wayne, on women’s and maternal health in West Virginia.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, it was Crossover Day at the West Virginia Legislature, meaning it was the last day for a bill to be read a third time in its chamber of origin. Chris Schulz talks with Dels. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, and Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, about the day’s action.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Chris Schulz speaks with Fred Albert, president of AFT-WV, and Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell, the deputy speaker of the House, about proposed changes to PEIA.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, with West Virginia tourism growing as a four season, nationwide destination, there’s an abundance of legislation to enhance hiking and biking, with rail trails and rest stops along the way.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have another Friday reporter roundtable. WVPB reporters Chris Schulz and Randy Yohe are joined this week by Mountain State Spotlight’s Ian Karbal to discuss bills proposed to give more money to charter schools and study alternative school schedules to help districts without enough teachers. 

On this episode of The Legislature Today, heavy rainfall late last week prompted Gov. Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency for all 55 counties in West Virginia. Flooding is common in West Virginia and Assistant News Director Caroline MacGregor brings us this perspective on the problem.

Large budget surpluses, in recent years, have encouraged what to do with that money. One thought is to use a large portion of it for economic development projects — enticing companies to set up shop in West Virginia. Another school of thought is to invest that money in poverty programs and to bring the poorest West Virginians up. Reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Mitch Carmichael, the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, and Rev. Matthew Watts from the Tuesday Morning Group, about possibilities.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, between the Roads to Prosperity and the federal infrastructure law, there is a lot going on when it comes to roads and bridges. Curtis Tate speaks with Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston and Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, the chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to discuss the state’s progress.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Senate Bill 10 is expected to pass the House of Delegates on Tuesday and head to Gov. Jim Justice for a signature. The bill would allow people with concealed carry permits to carry guns on college and university campuses. West Virginia University and Marshall, among others in the state, have spoken out against it. At a public hearing last week, 38 of the 40 speakers spoke against the bill.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our Friday reporter roundtable where we discuss the big news of the week. WVPB’s Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz are joined this week by veteran TV newsman from WCHS in Charleston, Bob Aaron.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, substance use disorder, sober living homes, homelessness, mental health treatment – the challenges facing West Virginia to help people regain sobriety continue to mount. Government Reporter Randy Yohe speaks with two delegates, Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and Del. Scot Heckert, R-Wood, to discuss what’s working and what needs changed.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, from the Hope Scholarship to charter schools, West Virginia’s educational landscape has changed in the last few years. Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, and Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, to discuss.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, West Virginia often gets poor grades for the health of its citizens. Recently, the American Lung Association rated the state as failing when it comes to several categories relating to smoking cessation. WVPB’s Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice sat down with Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell, who is a practicing physician.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Government Reporter Randy Yohe talks with the House and Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, and Del. Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, to get a better understanding about the judicial redistricting process.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have another Friday reporter roundtable. This week, Chris Schulz and WVPB’s Energy and Environment Reporter Curtis Tate are joined by Leah Willingham from the Associated Press.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, energy costs have gone up for West Virginians in the past couple of years. Local governments in the state have been some of the most vocal opponents of utility rate increases. Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate speaks with Emmett Pepper of the Charleston City Council and Kent Carper, president of the Kanawha County Commission, who say they’d like the West Virginia Legislature to get more involved in the effort.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice speaks with the chairs of the House and Senate Health committees – Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, and Del. Amy Summers, R-Taylor. Both lawmakers have been directly involved with legislation that would restructure the DHHR.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the House of Delegates last week approved House Bill 2007. The bill would limit gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18. During two committee hearings on the bill, lawmakers called no expert witnesses. Curtis Tate talks with Del. Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, and Isabella Cortez, gender policy manager with Fairness West Virginia, to understand the potential impacts.

Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, the Senate Education Committee chair, and Del. David Elliot Pritt, D-Fayette, the Minority vice chair of the House Education Committee, to learn more about what is being done to secure the state’s future.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, there have been a number of health-related issues discussed this legislative session – from gender-affirming care, to PEIA coverage and foster care. For this week’s reporter roundtable, Chris Schulz speaks with WVPB’s Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice and Allen Siegler from Mountain State Spotlight.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, from school safety to student success, there has already been a lot of discussion around the state’s educational system this legislative session. Education Reporter Chris Schulz sat down with two West Virginia teachers to discuss the state of our schools and some of the proposed changes.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, government reporter Randy Yohe sat down with Gov. Jim Justice to discuss a number of issues facing the state, including budget surpluses and tax reductions.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Government Reporter Randy Yohe speaks with Senate Finance Chair Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, and House Finance Committee member Del. Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha, to get the latest on the state budget.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz talks with Del. David Kelly, R-Tyler, and Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, to get their take on the state’s jail challenges and how the West Virginia Legislature could help.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our WVPB reporters Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz sit down with fellow reporter Steven Allen Adams of Odgen Newspapers to discuss the past week at West Virginia’s statehouse.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Government Reporter Randy Yohe talks with the chairmen of the Senate and House Workforce committees, Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell.

Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate talks with Del. Bill Anderson, R-Wood, Chairman of the House Energy Committee, and Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, Minority Vice Chair of the House Energy Committee.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate passed a bill that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses. Reporter Chris Schulz has more. Also, a bill that would clarify the authority of governor and legislature to proclaim and declare a state of emergency and preparedness, passed the House 93-3.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz talks with Del. Charlie Reynolds, R-Marshall, and Fred Albert, the president of the American Federation of Teachers — West Virginia, to get their perspectives on the latest concerns surrounding PEIA — the health care benefit for state employees and teachers.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the pace is beginning to pick up at the West Virginia Legislature as bills are passing through their originating chambers. WVPB reporters Yohe and Chris Schulz are joined by Crystal Good, the founder and publisher of Black By God | The West Virginian, for a reporter roundtable.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses. Reporter Chris Schulz has more.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Gov. Jim Justice has tested positive for COVID-19. Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice joins our host Bob Brunner to discuss what that means for the legislative session and the state.Also, in this show, the House o…

On this episode of The Legislature Today, government reporter Randy Yohe sits down with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay. We get his take on progress and problems in these early legislative general session days.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz sits down with Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley. The state Senate wasted no time in getting to work this year, passing 25 bills in the first two days of the legislative session. Republicans hold a supermajority, and despite an early start in the Senate, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Improvements to the state’s educational system, departmental restructuring and promised tax cuts are on Blair’s agenda this year.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Margaret Pomponio, CEO of reproductive health and rights advocacy group WV FREE, to learn more about HB 2002, which would create the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support program. We also explore bills in the House and Senate calling for the reorganization of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources and have our first reporter roundtable of the legislative session.

On today’s episode of The Legislature Today, the 2023 session started as the Senate got down to business on opening day and suspended rules to pass 23 bills and send them to the House of Delegates. Most of these were bills the upper chamber passed last year, but for one reason or another didn’t become law.

Host Eric Douglas leads a reporter roundtable with Lacie Pierson, a political reporter with the Charleston Gazette-Mail, and Steven Allen Adams, the government reporter and columnist for Ogden Newspapers. They discuss the session so far, covering everything from jails to schools to broadband and the budget.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, it’s been a week full of activity, split floor sessions and Crossover Day – when all bills must make it out of their house of origin if they are to continue through the legislative process. This rule affects all bills except for the budget bill and supplementary appropriations bills.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, we explore taxes and energy, and we learn more about two bills related to children and child welfare.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, we look at abortion access and a controversial education bill.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, we explore election reform and the price of insulin, and lawmakers in the House of Delegates have approved a bill that would reduce all personal income tax brackets by 10 percent.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, we hear about the push to allow nuclear energy in West Virginia. It is a move that was once unthinkable, but it is now awaiting a signature from Gov. Jim Justice.

On this week’s episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Curtis Tate brings us a recap of Gov. Jim Justice’s 2022 State of the State address. The governor was expected to give his speech two weeks ago but tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the scheduled event.

This week on The Legislature Today, West Virginians weigh in on a controversial piece of legislation. As health reporter June Leffler reports, pro-life and pro-choice residents spoke on two abortion bills at a public hearing Monday in front of state lawmakers.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, reporter Liz McCormick looks at a busy first week at the West Virginia Legislature, including a special session, economic development announcements and Gov. Jim Justice testing positive for COVID-19. Reporter June Leffler speaks with Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw about COVID protocols and what would make a successful legislative session.

A legislative committee heard sobering testimony about West Virginia’s workforce participation rate on Monday afternoon.

House lawmakers voted to oppose Maryland efforts to reclassify parts of the Potomac River to protect cold water aquatic life from climate change.

Much attention has been paid to the state’s teacher shortage, but schools have struggled to staff other positions in recent years as well. Some of the first bills discussed in the Senate Education committee this year are trying to address those ongoing issue.

West Virginia EMS Coalition President Trish Watson says funding issues continue to threaten the state's EMS providers, especially in rural areas.

LGBTQ advocacy groups tabled at the State Capitol rotunda on Monday as part of an annual event known as “Fairness For All Day.”

The House of Delegates has changed its committee process to promote more deliberation on bills, but critics are concerned the changes limit public input in the process.

The 2024 West Virginia legislative sessions may be an indication of what's to come in 2025: contentious debate, bills that unexpectedly die in committee, and others signed into law.

In lawmakers’ first vaccination discussion of the 2025 legislative session, testimonies and questioning took the committee’s time before they could take action.

Some West Virginia corrections officials called for more virtual trials during a House subcommittee meeting Thursday morning.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey will address state lawmakers Wednesday evening to kick off this year's legislative session.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivers his first State of the State address for the 2025 West Virginia Legislative session.

The West Virginia Democratic Party filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Monday, seeking the court’s intervention in the appointment of a new lawmaker to the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has named Ian Masters to represent Berkeley County in the House, in a seat won by Joseph de Soto but vacated by lawmakers this month.

As the deadline for Gov. Jim Justice to sign bills into law approaches, there are still numerous bills on the table awaiting his consideration.

Nearly 130 years since the first three women were elected to state legislative offices in the U.S., women remain massively underrepresented in state legislatures. In 10 states, women make up less than 25 percent of their state legislatures, according to Rutgers’ Center for American Women in Politics. West Virginia is at the very bottom of that list, having just 16 women in its 134-member Legislature, or just under 12 percent.

West Virginia's Republican-dominated state Legislature on Saturday concluded a 60-day session marked by budget disputes and controversial social issue bills that advanced but ultimately didn't go anywhere.

Saturday, March 9 marks the 60th and final day of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative regular session. Once the gavel falls at midnight, lawmakers will no longer be able to consider bills introduced during the past 60 days. The only exception is the budget bill. Check back to our live blog throughout the night for the latest updates from the West Virginia Legislature. 

The bill barely slipped through the GOP supermajority House, with dozens of Republicans joining the Democrats to vote against the bill.  It would have been the first bill to be rejected by the Senate this session after it was voted down 16-15. But after it was initially rejected the Senate took a recess.

The House of Delegates started Friday, Day 59 of the 60 day legislative session, with more than 60 bills on third reading. Many of the lighting rod bills were moved to the bottom of the agenda. Bills passed and sent to the governor include posting our national motto in schools, lowering prescription costs, addressing substandard recovery residences and who should help develop Corridor H.

Spouses can now be charged with marital sexual abuse against their partners after a bill to close the loophole in the law passed both chambers Friday.

On third reading in the House of Delegates Thursday, there was a long debate over minorities purchasing car dealerships and a separate debate on control of the Legislative Auditor’s office. Other bills and resolutions included smoking in the car with a child, and taking action over a massive federal deficit.

House Bill 5528 updates that law to allow for 100 megawatt projects and eliminates the sunset clause.

A bill to ban smoking in a car with a minor present is headed to the governor to become law.

Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information - and leadership and structural changes in West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s parent organization, the state Educational Broadcasting Authority.

A House Bill that aims to change vaccine requirements for virtual public, private and parochial students in West Virginia moved through the Senate Health Committee Wednesday afternoon after a lengthy discussion.

School discipline was identified as a key issue coming into this year’s legislative session. But with the session’s end just days away, a key school discipline bill is in question after a contentious committee meeting Monday afternoon. 

With four days left in this legislative session, tension between the two chambers is rising. Each chamber is waiting for their prospective bills to be passed by the other chamber before the fast-approaching deadline. 

Much of the debate in the House of Delegates Tuesday morning focused on satisfying a potential $465 million federal clawback regarding the state’s spending on education. When it came to the budget debate, some promised program funding that was not education related, fell by the wayside.

House Bill 5091, or the West Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, increases penalties for trespassing or damaging those areas. There are some drastic increases in fines in the bill like an increase in the  maximum fine from $5,000 to $100,000. The bill heads back to the House for consideration. 

Republicans in the West Virginia House of Delegates have backed a resolution allowing residents to vote to add protection from euthanasia to the state constitution during this fall's general election.

Advocates gathered under the capitol dome Monday to educate lawmakers about the prevention of addictions and mental health struggles.

A surprise notification from the federal government that the state must return nearly half a billion dollars in COVID-19 funds has several major funding issues on hold.  These last days of the regular session are typically when state budget issues are debated and resolved.

Hundreds of high school students filled the Capitol Rotunda on Friday to show off their career and technical skills.

The video is produced by an anti-abortion rights group and has come under fire over questions of scientific accuracy.

Global partnerships and international politics took center stage in the House of Delegates Thursday, along with a continuing legislative effort to address the mental health crisis among the state’s first responders.

Members of a House of Delegates committee expressed confusion over a bill modifying indecent exposure penalties in West Virginia, and had extensive debate over additional amendments to the bill.

The engrossed bill that passed the Senate shaves two weeks of the current 26 weeks of unemployment benefits available to workers who have lost their job due through no fault of their own. It increases the initial benefit to up to $712 per week, or 70 percent of the original wage, for the first four weeks of unemployment. That's up from $624 per week, and 65 percent of the wage. However after those first four weeks, the benefit decreases by 5 percent of the original wage, or max benefit.

The issues ranged from parents' involvement in school curriculum to gender affirming care.

Foster parents and kinship caregivers will have access to a new information portal if a House bill becomes law.

Senate Bill 468 requires that public schools show a four minute video on human development to eighth graders and eleventh graders. An amendment to the bill includes language that life begins at conception.

The House of Delegates worked through more than 30 bills on third reading Tuesday. Proposals that included water service cut offs, banning mugshots, helping veterans and outlawing deep fake election material.

Representatives from 14 groups fighting to curb domestic violence in West Virginia gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday morning to request new funding and spread awareness about domestic violence.

Currently there is a exemption for sexual abuse in marriage. Monday the Senate passed a bill that would change that. 

Senate Bill 840 would reduce the maximum amount to $550 dollars a week.  Senate Bill 841 reduces the duration of benefits. It works on a tiered system based on statewide unemployment numbers. If the statewide unemployment number is under 5 percent — which it currently is —  then the maximum benefit duration would be 12 weeks, cutting it down by more than half.

The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would grant youth vaccine exemptions for religious purposes, and give private, parochial and virtual schools priority over student vaccine requirements.

The proposal defines "illegal alien" and “human smuggling,” noting that people being transported, or harbored, are, under the bill’s terminology, illegal aliens. Smugglers either knowingly transport these individuals into West Virginia or transport and harbor those already in West Virginia.

The bill, known as Laken's Law, is named after Morgan Laken, who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2021. It requires students to be taught about fentanyl, heroin, and opioid awareness, prevention and abuse, addiction, community resources, substance abuse among young people, and how to administer opioid reversal agents like Narcan. The instruction will begin in the 2024-2025 school year. 

The Senate considered bills Friday on welfare programs, the Crown Act, oil and gas taxes, and a bill that would affect West Virginia Public Broadcasting. 

From improving schools and learning, to providing guidance on social media and political campaign ads, along with harsher penalties for the sexual assault of a minor the House of Delegates had a wide range of bills on third reading Friday.  

Marriage would no longer be a defense in cases of sexual assault if a Senate Bill becomes law.

The Senate sailed through more than 30 bills Thursday on subjects like missing children, SNAP benefits, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and Oil and Gas property taxes.

Among the bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Thursday were: cutting the Social Security tax, getting all that broadband fiber optic cable on poles, and making it easier to visit certain gravesites.

The House Education Committee moved to address a critical shortage of special education staff, while the Senate Education Committee took a rarely seen action in their meeting. 

Special education instructors, students and their families gathered at the Capitol Wednesday to advocate for more support in their classrooms during the first ever Special Education Day.

House Bill 4299 permits staff in K-12 schools to be authorized to carry concealed firearms, along with tasers and stun guns, and become a designated school protection officer, or SPO.

The use of photos to create deep fakes of sexually explicit content is becoming a trend among child predators. Photos of children can be plugged into AI to create child pornography. 

Tuesday, with a decorum of honor and duty, the House broke from routine.

Education committees in the West Virginia Legislature started the week off by considering changes to homeschooling requirements, as well as sports outside the school. 

The Senate and the House of Delegates both have bills that make changes to the Legislative Auditor's office. 

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.  

Right now, public and school libraries and museums have exemptions to West Virginia’s law against displaying or disseminating obscene material to minors. House Bill 4654 would remove those exemptions.

How long you can stay active as a voter without using that right may be changing if a bill passed Thursday by the Senate becomes a law. 

Whether or not to teach middle schoolers about fentanyl and overdose-reversing medicine sparked discussion in the House Education Committee, while Senate Education modified a House bill on special education. 

Children attending state-run virtual school may no longer have to be vaccinated if a House Health Committee becomes law.

Abortion is banned in the state of West Virginia unless medically necessary, or if the pregnancy is no longer viable. There are also exceptions in the abortion ban in the case of rape. Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, sponsored two notable bills related to pregnant persons in the state.

A bill under discussion in the West Virginia House of Delegates would allow teachers to carry guns on school property if they complete a state-mandated training.

The House of Delegates held a public hearing on a bill that would remove a sunset clause from the current oil and gas personal property tax assessment.  A sunset clause is a note in the bill that gives it an expiration date, unless other legislative action is taken to extend the bill.

On Tuesday, lawmakers on the House Health and Human Resources Committee moved to legalize the sale of raw milk in West Virginia.

The education committees of both chambers started the week off by advancing bills to improve management of local school districts, as well as bills on gender identity instruction and hunger on college campuses.

One resolution and two bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Tuesday dealt with helping preserve West Virginia History, increasing help for the coalfields economy and alcohol at community festivals.

A bill under consideration in the West Virginia Senate would require participants in a grocery assistance program receive job training if they are currently unemployed.

Teachers may have the ability to remove troubled children from elementary school classrooms if Senate Bill 614 becomes law. The bill sparked a lot of debate on the chamber floor. It gives kindergarten through sixth grade teachers the ability to remove children from classes or from school if they are exhibiting certain behavior like threatening teachers or classmates or otherwise creating an unsafe learning environment. 

A bill under review in the West Virginia House of Delegates would eliminate work permits for 14 and 15-year-olds, instead requiring the teenagers to receive a state-issued age certificate and parental consent.

A bill under consideration in the West Virginia House of Delegates would ban the state and its political subdivisions from engaging in certain forms of business with nations that hold values deemed "antithetical" to the state.

On Monday, lawmakers heard from cancer patients, survivors and advocates during Cancer Action Day.

Debate broke out on the House floor after amendments were proposed to the Women’s Bill of Rights Friday afternoon.

The process of taking carbon out of the air and storing it is called carbon sequestration. Trees naturally sequester carbon by absorbing it out of the air, using it for energy, and storing some of that energy in their roots.  New green technology called carbon capture can take CO2 released during the burning of greenhouse gasses out of the air. Air is filtered through a fan that uses technology to remove the CO2, turn that CO2 into a liquid, and then pump it into the ground.

Titled the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, House Bill 5251 outlines which telephone solicitations are acceptable and which are not.

The House of Delegates held a public hearing Tuesday on a bill that would restrict West Virginians’ access to the bathrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms that match their sex. The bill sparked impassioned speeches from attendees on both sides of the issue. 

A bill in the House of Delegates is working to give those trade workers academic credit, while a Senate bill is trying to get to the heart of the state’s student absences. 

Among the bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Thursday, a proposal on allowing schools to hire trained security guards, led to a heated societal debate over the issue of training the guards in the concept of systemic racism.

A bill moved through the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee on Thursday that would require medical professionals to educate someone granted an abortion in West Virginia about possible risks.

The West Virginia Senate Government Organization Committee voted in favor of a bill that would standardize state building codes. Proponents of the bill said it would remove a liability for building owners.

A bill defining what air monitoring systems can and can’t be used in regulatory issues and in court has garnered some spirited and extended debate in the House of Delegates. 

Drug manufacturers have been pushing back at a three-decade-old federal law that helps low and middle income patients get prescription drugs. The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday to combat this trend.

In the House of Delegates on Wednesday, eight bills on third reading were advanced to the Senate. The list includes bills that help provide for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and fathers, getting dentures while on Medicaid, and patriotic societies recruiting in West Virginia schools.

Student discipline continues to be an issue in West Virginia schools, and lawmakers continue to try and address the issue through legislation. A bill in the state Senate is trying to expand on a law that was passed last year. 

Senate Bill 571 creates an energy and economic corridor authority for Corridor H.

A bill prohibiting smoking in a vehicle when a minor is present passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources on Tuesday.

Facing a national shortage of doctors trained to perform autopsies, West Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would fund student loan repayments for forensic pathologists in the state.

The West Virginia Senate is currently discussing amendments to state protocol for filling county commission vacancies, following a controversy in Jefferson County late last year.

Senate Bill 472 would require West Virginia hotels to provide human trafficking awareness training and resources to their staff members. The bill will now be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Today the Senate passed a bill aimed at helping children stay safer from internet predators and cyberbullies.  ...

West Virginia’s industrial and mining trade groups support the bill, but most people spoke in opposition.

In a rare occurrence, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, came down from the podium to speak to House Bill 5014.

A bill granting judges more flexibility in shoplifting sentencing passed in the West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday. It will now be sent to the West Virginia Senate for further discussion.