Watch our live TV broadcast from 8 p.m.-midnight April 12.
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Another regular session of the West Virginia Legislature ends on April 12 at midnight. All evening, the West Virginia Public Broadcasting newsroom will follow along as the House of Delegates and the Senate work to even out differing approaches to legislation and the state budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
This year, legislators introduced 2,460 bills, a fairly typical number for a legislative session. But only about 10 to 12% of those bills become laws. The final number for this session remains unknown until the final call, but both chambers approached this session intending to move forward with greater deliberation.
The House of Delegates, under House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, implemented another step this year in the committee process to attempt to increase discussion and public comment on pending legislation. The Senate didn’t make structural changes, but under new Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, senators seemed to take more time to work on bills, rather than rushing them through to the finish line.
Vaccine Exemptions, DEI And The Budget
Major bills up for discussion included creating exemptions for childhood vaccine schedules for children entering schools in the state. That bill died in the House of Delegates but senators tried to bring it back by amending it into other legislation. Finally, the amendment was pulled from the unrelated legislation and the effort to change vaccine requirements for school aged children died for the 2025 session.
Another major bill was the effort to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs from state government. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order on his first full day in office to remove those programs. The legislation reinforced his moves. Over protest from minority groups, including women, the bill has continued to move forward.
Most importantly is the budget bill. As soon as Morrisey took office, he said the state was facing a $400 million budget shortfall. Finance leadership quickly disputed that claim. After the governor introduced his budget, both chambers set to break it apart and make changes to it.
The budget is the only piece of legislation lawmakers are constitutionally required to do. They don’t have to finalize it during the regular session, but can come back into a special session later if necessary.
The House introduced its version of the budget first. The Senate then took the House’s version and overwrote it with a budget of its own — called a strike and insert amendment. The budget bill completed the legislative process Friday night and now goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Live Updates
Check back to this live blog for the latest updates from the West Virginia Legislature throughout the day and night on April 12.
And follow along with our live TV coverage from 8 p.m. to midnight on our WVPB live stream.
In Eleventh Hour, Senate Republicans Suspend Rules To Pass DEI Ban
Update at 2:43 a.m. from Jack Walker and Briana Heaney:
With minutes left in this year’s legislative session, the West Virginia Senate fell into chaos over a late-night technical error.
Senate Bill 474 — ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives statewide — has been one of the most hotly contested pieces of legislation set forth this year, shepherded by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. But procedural confusion threw the state’s upper legislative chamber into a scramble Saturday night, casting doubt over the bill’s fate.
The Senate ultimately passed the bill, but ranking members say they are unsure whether the steps taken were entirely legal. Some even say the debate over Senate Bill 474 could spill into the courtroom.
Read the full story here.
Update at 12 a.m. April 13:
The West Virginia Legislature has adjourned sine die.
Bill That Requires Teachers ‘Out’ Trans Students Heads To Governor’s Desk
Update at 10:25 p.m. from Briana Heaney:
A bill that would restrict public schools from teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation passed the Senate. It would also obligate teachers to “out” transgender students to their parents or guardians.
The bill requires teachers and other school employees to report to parents when a student requests for an accommodation that is intended to affirm a student’s gender identity.
For example, if a male student asks to be called a name that is generally considered to be a female name, then teachers would be required to inform the student’s parents. If a teacher fails to do so, they could be written up and suspended without pay or fired.
The bill was passed the house on Friday, and the Senate concurred Saturday with changes made.
Some of those changes include protecting teachers from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in specific circumstances.
Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-Randolph, said these protections would be for instances of instruction or to address specific interpersonal situations.
“This prohibition cannot be construed to prohibit a teacher responded to student questions during class regarding sexual orientation and gender identity as it relates to any topic of instruction referring to sexual orientation or gender identity of any historical person, group or public figure, when the information provides a necessary context in relation to any topic of instruction and referring to sexual orientation and gender identity if necessary to address a disciplinary matter, such as an incidence of bullying,” Coop-Gonzalez said.
House Reviewing Numerous Amendments To Proposed DEI Ban
Update at 8:54 p.m. from Jack Walker:
The West Virginia House of Delegates is now reviewing Senate Bill 474, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the state government — plus entities it funds, like public universities.
Abolishing DEI is a central administrative priority for Gov. Patrick Morrisey, and an objective he shares with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party at large. But the bill has been a wide source of contention among Democratic lawmakers, and has even garnered pushback from the governor’s own party.
That debate manifested on the House floor Saturday, where delegates set forth a total of 24 amendments to the controversial bill from members of both parties.
Read the full story here.
Morrisey’s Microgrids Legislation Clears The Finish Line On The Final Day
Update at 8:20 p.m. from Curtis Tate and Briana Heaney:
One of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature pieces of legislation was completed with four hours remaining in the regular legislative session.
House Bill 2014 would expand the number of microgrids in the state to support data centers and artificial intelligence.
On Saturday evening, the Senate gave final approval to the bill by the same total as it voted on Friday. On Friday evening, the state Senate passed House Bill 2014 by a vote of 32 to 1.
Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, was the only no vote on both days. Phillips has been a critic of the bill throughout the session, saying it would do little to lower electricity costs for most West Virginia residents.
A microgrid is a self-contained facility that generates its own power and doesn’t receive any from the electricity grid that powers homes, schools and businesses around it.
The data centers within them take up a lot of land and consume vast amounts of water and electricity. House Bill 2014 largely exempts such facilities from local zoning ordinances.
On Saturday, the House of Delegates approved the amended Senate version by a vote of 82 to 16. All nine Democrats joined several Republicans in opposition.
Morrisey told WVPB at the Capitol Friday that he was pleased lawmakers in both chambers got the bill closer to the finish line.
“Look, I think this is an incredible opportunity for West Virginia,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that this could lead to very good things for West Virginia.”
Earlier in the week, multiple county officials testified to the Senate Economic Development Committee that the bill diverted nearly all the local property tax revenue from the facilities.
They said that structure could squeeze county budgets and services and discourage local communities from seeking microgrid projects.
The committee agreed to carve out 30% of the revenues for the counties with the microgrids.
The bulk of the property tax revenue – 55% – would go to the state for the purpose of further reducing its personal income tax.
Updates at 7 p.m. from Emily Rice:
Legislation To Allow Pharmacists More Prescribing Power Passes With Slim Authorizations
A bill that originally aimed at widely broadening pharmacists prescribing authority in West Virginia was approved by both chambers after being amended about five times since its introduction on Feb. 19.
Senate Bill 526’s lead sponsor, Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, said she is disappointed with the final version of the bill and said the House of Delegates “gutted the bill” during its Friday floor session.
“This Act would give access to our citizens for testable, minor illnesses like strep throat,” Chapman said on the Senate floor on Saturday, April 12. “The house has essentially made it so that our citizens are only able to obtain medication for the common flu. Pharmacists have doctoral degrees. They are probably the most versed medical professionals in pharmaceutical drugs and their interactions.”
The bill was amended on the floors of each chamber and in committees to curtail the pharmacists authorization to treat patients, a measure included in the bill proponents of the legislation argued would have eased access to health care throughout West Virginia’s rural terrain.
“How many times do we hear that our citizens cannot get an appointment with their doctor in a timely manner,” Chapman said. “How many stories do we hear of our constituents who have no local access to medical care? This common sense bill was destroyed yesterday because of protectionism at the expense of patients. It is a bad day for our citizens and their health care and mark my words, we will be back on this issue.”
The introduced version would have authorized pharmacists to prescribe low-risk medications within their scope of practice, specifically addressing conditions like minor injuries, pain, or patient emergencies.
Legislators Pass Bill To Fully Ban Gender-Affirming Care, Scrapping Exemption For Suicidal Teens
Read more on this story here.
In 2023, the West Virginia Legislature banned gender-affirming care for minors with narrow exceptions for specific hormone therapies and puberty blockers.
If Gov. Patrick Morrisey signs Senate Bill 299, which the legislature passed today, then that gap will be closed, and gender-affirming care for all minors will be outlawed.
Currently, if a minor is diagnosed with severe gender dysphoria and it is the opinion of two doctors that gender affirming care is medically necessary, then a minor could be a candidate to receive such care. The minors parents would also have to consent to the treatment.
In the state, currently, the only form of gender-affirming care available to minors is hormone therapy and puberty blocking medications.
Senate Bill 299 would close those exemptions. Health care providers who provide hormone blockers or hormone therapy for the purpose of gender transitioning could be disciplined by their governing medical board, and have their license to practice suspended or revoked.
Legislature Gains Control Of Education Rules
Update at 5:10 p.m. from Eric Douglas:
House Bill 2755 passed the West Virginia Legislature Saturday. The bill allows the legislature oversight on rules created by the West Virginia Board of Education. When the board creates rules, they will now have to first go before the Legislative Oversight Committee on Education (LOCEA) and then be voted on by the full legislature.
This bill is effectively the constitutional amendment voters rejected with 58% of the vote in 2023, clarifying that the policy-making and rule-making authority of the State Board of Education is subject to legislative review, approval, amendment or rejection.
When the state board of education was created in 1958, it was given the power to control it’s own rules. Voters didn’t want the legislature involved in education. In 1988, the state Supreme Court of Appeals supported this position, saying the board of education enjoys “a special standing” in the state constitution.
Updates at 4:45 p.m. from Eric Douglas:
Senate Bill 280: Displaying ‘In God We Trust’ At Schools
Senate Bill 280, which would require public schools across the state to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” has completed legislation. The display will be “poster-sized” and will be inside school buildings.
Hope Scholarship Supplemental Appropriations
The Senate concurred on two Supplemental Appropriations bills, House bills 3356 and 3357, which add more than $62 million to the Hope Scholarship Fund. Earlier this year, budget reports indicated the scholarship would cost more than $100 million in the next fiscal year and more after that.
Changes To Higher Ed Boards Of Governors
House Bill 3279, relating to requirements for West Virginia University (WVU) and West Virginia State University (WVSU) board of governors, changes the makeup of the board of governors for all public institutions in the state. It removes voting membership of the board from the student government and the faculty senate. The House of Delegates concurred with Senate amendments 59-38 making it completed legislation.
Law To Increase Criminal Penalties For Drug Offenses In W.Va. Passes Both Chambers
Update at 4:05 p.m. from Emily Rice:
In a unanimous vote on the final day of the regular legislative session, the Senate concurred with changes made to Lauren’s Law by the House of Delegates.
The bill increases penalties for drug offenses in West Virginia and now awaits Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature.
Lauren’s Law passed the House of Delegates Friday with only one lawmaker voting against its passage.
Senate Bill 196 would raise criminal penalties for drug trafficking offenses, and is named after Lauren Cole, a 26-year-old Morgantown resident who died after ingesting drugs laced with fentanyl.
The bill was amended earlier this week in the House’s Judiciary Committee to add clarifications around what constitutes drug delivery and to more explicitly target wide-scale drug traffickers.
Lauren’s Law targets six drugs: fentanyl, methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, cocaine and heroin.
For the six targeted drugs, the penalty would be increased for the manufacture, delivery, possession with intent to deliver, transportation of drugs into West Virginia, and conspiracy to do any of the above. Other drug penalties are also increased, as well as limitations to probation authorization for certain offenders.
Anyone guilty of transporting one of the six listed substances into the state would also face stricter penalties if this law is enacted, up to 30 years for more than five grams of fentanyl.
New ‘Western’ Civics Center At WVU Passes Legislature
Update at 11:15 a.m. from Jack Walker:
State lawmakers have paved the way for a new center at West Virginia University for civics education, which would focus on “classical western history and culture.”
On Saturday, members of the West Virginia House of Delegates convened for the final day of this year’s legislative session. They voted to approve changes set forth by the West Virginia Senate to House Bill 3297, which would require the state’s flagship university to open the Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship.
Read the full story here.
