By TAYLOR STUCK The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On the final day of what will be known as a historic session, the West Virginia Legislature worked well into the night to pass the final bills of the 2018 session. All agreed the atmosphere Saturday was different than past final[Read More…]
Government
Following two years of impasses, WV Legislature passes 2018-19 budget bill early
2018-2019 budget at $4.38 billion By Phil Kabler The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the first time in 36 years, the Legislature passed the budget bill Saturday before the end of the 60-day regular session, avoiding the traditional extended session to complete work on the state spending plan. “This is a[Read More…]
Medical marijuana bill dies in House in final minutes of WV legislative session
By Andrea Lannom and Jordan Nelson The Register-Herald of Beckley CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill involving the state’s medical marijuana program died in the West Virginia House of Delegates in the final minutes of the legislative session and advocates are worried about the future of the program. The Senate amended the bill earlier[Read More…]
Priorities of session changed, but leaders satisfied with outcome
By Andrea Lannom and Jordan Nelson The Times West Virginian of Fairmont CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the 2018 legislative session drew to a close, leaders agreed the priorities going into session shifted into something they weren’t expecting, all of which made history along the way. Senate President Mitch Carmichael, who[Read More…]
Education roundup: What passed in WV Legislature and what didn’t
By Ryan Quinn The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Following pushback against them, including from public school employees who flooded the state Capitol during the nine-school-day-long strike, several education-related bills like ones affecting union dues failed to survive this year’s regular legislative session, which ended Saturday. Also dying was a[Read More…]
Editorial: Investing in teacher pay right thing for West Virginia
From The Herald Dispatch of Huntington: Days into a statewide strike of teachers and school service personnel, Gov. Jim Justice returned to his campaign theme of “investing in education” and promised teachers a 5 percent pay raise. Even though the state Senate was not initially aboard on that commitment, it[Read More…]
Editorial: Solving W.Va. PEIA dilemma
From The Intelligencer of Wheeling: Members of a task force appointed by Gov. Jim Justice to find “a permanent solution” to the Public Employees Insurance Agency are to hold their initial meeting on Tuesday. Let us hope their first step is to agree to find a real solution, not just[Read More…]
Several bills await reconciliation as WV legislative session nears end
By Jake Zuckerman The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — This year’s regular legislative session ends Saturday at midnight, and a stack of bills have passed both chambers in different form. Before bills arrive on the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, the House of Delegates and the Senate must pass identical[Read More…]
WV Senate votes to dismantle Dept. of Ed and Arts; final decision on Saturday
By Ryan Quinn Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate narrowly passed a bill Friday afternoon to do away with the state Department of Education and the Arts. House Bill 4006 passed 18-15, with Senate Education Chairman Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, absent. All Democrats voted against it, as did[Read More…]
Sports betting bill will become law in West Virginia
Work on state’s budget continues into final day of legislative session By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer of Wheeling WHEELING, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice said Friday he will allow the sports betting bill adopted by the Legislature to become law, which means West Virginia’s four racetracks and The Greenbrier resort —[Read More…]