Reporter Roundtable Discusses 2026 Session And What’s To Come In Final Hours

On this episode of The Legislature Today, host and reporter Randy Yohe speaks with Senior Reporter Chris Schulz and Assistant News Director Maria Young. They discuss some of the biggest bills they covered during the 2026 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature — and what issues did not come up. They also look ahead to the legislature’s final day, Saturday, March 14.

Join West Virginia Public Broadcasting Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m. to midnight, for The Legislature Today: Final Hours Live. Learn more — and see our live blog — here.

Wednesday this week was the last day for bills to make it out of committees. In total, there were 2,776 bills introduced this session, which is more than last year. We won’t know how many will officially pass until everything wraps Saturday night.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent out a press release Thursday night indicating he signed Senate Bill 250, the budget bill, and he highlighted several of his key priorities, including full funding for the Hope Scholarship, increased funding for roads, and progress made toward the 5% tax cut he included in his version of the budget.

Also, Maria Young has been following legislative efforts to get struggling students the help they need – but not everyone agrees on the best process for doing that. 

And, the West Virginia Legislature has completed its work on Senate Bill 4, called the halo bill, that creates a misdemeanor for approaching law enforcement officers and first responders in the field. The bill passed Thursday in the House of Delegates by a vote of 83 to 12 with four members absent. WVU student journalist Samantha Smith asked State Police in Monongalia County how they felt about the bill and brings us this report. 

Finally, our student reporters Nevaeh Siggers and Jenna Walker report on bills related to education and the foster care system that were introduced in both chambers this session.

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 every Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting during the state’s regular session.

Keep up with our daily coverage at wvpublic.org/thelegislaturetoday, and subscribe to our new podcast The Legislature This Week for a look back at all the major headlines from the past week at the statehouse.