Tag: Surrogacy

Reporter Roundtable Looks Ahead To Final 3 Weeks Of Session

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, 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.

Also, there are just three weeks left in the 2024 state legislative session. The pace is picking up, and the respective Finance committees in the House and Senate have been working on a state budget.

In the House, a contentious bill regarding schools, libraries and obscene material went to third reading – meaning the voting stage. Randy Yohe has the story.

In the Senate, the chamber passed quieter bills. The chamber approved 11 bills and sent them to the House for consideration. The Senate also advanced more than 20 other bills, seven of which are House bills, and there was emotional debate around a resolution. 

Also, surrogacy is legal in West Virginia, and a Senate bill aims to add legal structure to the process. Emily Rice has more.

Finally, our student reporters this week took a look at several environmental bills moving through the legislature. We check in with them.

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The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Surrogacy Bill Hits Debate Roadblock

Surrogacy is legal in West Virginia and a Senate Bill aims to add legal structure to the process.

Currently, no law prohibits surrogacy in West Virginia. The only state code related to surrogacy states that commercial surrogacy is legal, meaning the pregnant person can be reimbursed for carrying a child.

Senate Bill 575 would add a legal framework for surrogacy, not a required contract. Counsel explained the amendments to the bill to Senators.

“It sets up again, the system, and if and what this basically says, this bill says is if you follow these steps, and you do it this way, your interests are protected,” staff counsel said.

Senators on the Judiciary Committee debated the bill at length Friday morning. Debates focused on residency requirements for the application of the law.

Some Senators, like Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, worried this bill would make West Virginia a destination for surrogacy.

“I am not happy with the amended amendment,” Rucker said. “I honestly think, two problems, if you aren’t a resident of this state why would you want WV law to apply to you? To me it’s like you’re inviting people to use our state for this. I was hopeful this wasn’t about making this a destination state for this.”

The committee voted to place the bill in a subcommittee made up of Senators Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, Mike Caputo, D-Marion, and Rucker.

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