By WENDY HOLDREN The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia House of Delegates unanimously passed a bill Thursday creating a coalition to study chronic pain management in the state and report its findings to the legislature. While pain treatment is an important element in health care, Senate Bill 339 said, pain[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — A bill that would allow licensed individuals to lawfully grow hemp is heading to the governor’s desk. The West Virginia Senate unanimously voted to pass House Bill 2453, which expands the list of people who are currently allowed to grow hemp to[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — The West Virginia House unanimously passed a bill that would make it a crime to distribute sexual images without consent. The measure has been referred to as the “revenge porn” bill. Under Senate Bill 240, a person convicted on a first offense would[Read More…]

By DAVID BEARD The Dominion Post CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Judiciary Committee amended and approved a handful of House bills on March 6, dealing with child abuse, drug abuse and voting. All came to the Senate floor later Thursday and had their first reading. All passed with little or[Read More…]

By LACIE PIERSON The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the end of the regular legislative session for the 83rd West Virginia Legislature less than 72 hours away, make-or-break time has come and gone for hundreds of bills. The majority of members of the GOP-led Senate and House of Delegates approved their[Read More…]

Staff reports The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va.  — A bill to eliminate regional education service agencies in West Virginia has regained life and is moving again in the state Legislature. Many wondered if House Bill 2711 was dead after it was pulled from the Senate Education Committee’s agenda[Read More…]

By JAKE ZUCKERMAN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia Senate parliamentarian repeatedly shouted at a Democratic lawmaker during a public floor session Wednesday night, alleging the senator had threatened to fire him. Senate President Mitch Carmichael broke up the altercation, directing Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Jake Nichols, the[Read More…]

By SARAH PLUMMER The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Senate Bill meant to prevent State Board of Education rule and policy changes from affecting school districts in the midst of consolidation has been amended to reverse its purpose. Senate Bill 621 originally stated that changes to West Virginia Board of Education policies,[Read More…]

By RYAN QUINN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Sen. Greg Boso, R-Nicholas and Senate Bill 621’s lead sponsor, on Thursday afternoon tried to change a proposed amendment to separate legislation (HB 2561) to preserve language that was in SB 621. This came after the House of Delegates on Wednesday night[Read More…]

By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — A bill calling for the sale of Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley is up for vote today in the Senate. Lawmakers advanced House Bill 2366 to third reading Thursday, after approving an amendment that calls for a new 90-bed facility to be[Read More…]