The Legislature Today

On this episode of The Legislature Today, microgrids are one of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s top legislative priorities this year, and House Bill 2014 is the vehicle to bring more of them to the state. But county officials came to testify earlier this week against the diversion of local property taxes from those facilities to the state. Curtis Tate talks with Kelly Allen of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy about this issue.

The Senate met Thursday morning to go over the first half of bills in the final stages of consideration. Several bills passed narrowly, and many more were left to be considered after our broadcast deadline. Briana Heaney reports from the morning's bills.

With session winding down, members of the House convened for an hours-long floor session Thursday. Jack Walker has this story.

And concerns over the economy, job futures, DEI changes and more extend beyond the legislature in Charleston. Randy Yohe went out earlier Thursday to gauge student concerns on Marshall University’s campus. 

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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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Briana Heaney talks with WVPB Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate who has been following several bills this session. As most politicians say, West Virginia is an energy state. Both of West Virginia's U.S. senators were at an event Tuesday sponsored by President Donald Trump where he signed an executive order with the intention of supporting the coal industry.

In the House, delegates made a procedural move to read each bill up for passage in full and debated several amendments. Emily Rice has more.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee reviewed bills Wednesday pertaining to election protocol, drug offenses and the oil and gas industry. Jack Walker brings us this report.

And the Senate Economic Development Committee approved House Bill 2014 on Tuesday after a three and a half hour meeting with testimony from several witnesses. The bill would expand the number of microgrids in the state to support AI and data centers. Curtis Tate has the story.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, lawmakers are moving forward in their efforts to prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in the state. But the push against DEI was opposed by a vocal minority in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning. Jack Walker reports.

News Director Eric Douglas speaks with Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, and Rev. Paul Dunn from the First Baptist Church of Charleston to discuss what the DEI bill potentially means.

Also, Briana Heaney has a story on two bills passed by the legislature that combine state agencies, and she also reports from the House Health Committee where lawmakers met Monday to consider a bill that would close a narrow pathway for minors seeking to receive gender-affirming care.

And as the deadline to read a bill for the first time on both chamber floors Thursday looms, committees on both sides are doing their final work of the legislative session. As Chris Schulz reports, that includes a number of education related bills.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we're in the final week of the regular state legislative session. Everything ends Saturday at midnight. Any bill that isn’t finalized and on its way to the governor by then is effectively dead until next year. 

In the Senate, the body cleared a bill Monday that would change how often a landowner has to certify managed timberland from once a year to once every five years. That bill is headed to the governor's desk. They also approved some supplemental appropriations bills, like one that would give the birth to three programs an extra nearly $6 million.

In the House, delegates approved more than 20 bills without debate and adjourned until 5:30 p.m. Monday. Emily Rice has more.

Last month, senators overwhelmingly passed a bill that would expand criminal penalties against those who sell illicit drugs. But Senate Bill 196 drew a more mixed reaction among members of the House Judiciary Committee Monday morning. Jack Walker brings us this report.

And electricity prices have been rising in West Virginia at a rate faster than inflation. This summer, Appalachian Power seeks to increase them more, sparking public protest at the Capitol and the Public Service Commission (PSC). Curtis Tate talks with Gary Zuckett and Shawn Phillips of West Virginia Citizen Action Group to discuss this issue. 

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the coal and natural gas industries play a large role in the state’s economy and the West Virginia Legislature pays close attention to what's happening in terms of severance taxes, jobs and economic development. For our weekly reporter roundtable, WVPB reporters Briana Heaney and Curtis Tate are joined by Energy & Environment Reporter Sarah Elbeshbishi with the nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight.

The Senate met on Friday and passed several bills without discussion. Some of those had previously garnered debate. One such bill was House Bill 2172, adding an athletic trainer to the Board of Physical Therapy.

And each week throughout this legislative session, our high school reporters have filed stories that interest them as teens, but also as members of the community. This week, Emma Browning and Malia Saar wanted to look into legislation affecting the foster care system in the state. 

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the one thing the West Virginia Legislature is required to do during its 60-day session is pass a balanced budget. Each year, the governor will offer his own budget, and then the chambers take turns preparing the draft budget. This year, it's up to the House of Delegates to put together a budget package. Once it passes the House, it will go onto the Senate for further revision. 

News Director Eric Douglas talks with House Finance Chairman Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, and Minority Chair of House Finance Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, about the House budget. 

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, several cities across West Virginia have implemented camping bans designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping on park benches, in doorways and other public spaces. A bill to ban so-called camping statewide is making its way through the legislature. Assistant News Director Maria Young talks with Margaret O’Neal, president of United Way of Central West Virginia, who is familiar with the state’s unhoused population.

A bill to establish a forest carbon registry was defeated in the Senate. Emily Rice has more.

The House discussed a list of bills Wednesday, including a bill that would exempt the legislature from sharing information that is currently accessible to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Briana Heaney brings us this story. 

And following up on Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order, a bill to codify the elimination of certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) has passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee. As Randy Yohe shows us, while Senate Bill 474 pinpoints the executive branch and schools, some state entities receiving state funding are still wondering where they fit under the new policy.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the House of Delegates passed a bill Tuesday that would allow data centers to establish microgrids — self-contained sites that generate their own power. The bill is one of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s legislative priorities. It is also of interest to Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. Our Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate speaks with Hamilton about issues the coal industry is facing at home and abroad.

The Senate passed a bill that would outlaw the use, sale and distribution of abortifacients in the state. Briana Heaney has the story.

And the Senate Education Committee took up two bills Tuesday that aim to improve school security, a legislative focus for years.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, education related topics from teacher pay, to curriculum and school discipline are all issues before the West Virginia Legislature this session. News Director Eric Douglas talks with Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, in our studio about some of the proposed legislation this session and how it affects teachers. The WVEA and the American Federation of Teachers plan to merge this summer to become a single teacher’s union in the state. 

The House of Delegates approved a bill Monday that would modify the governance structure of the state’s two land-grant universities, West Virginia University (WVU) and West Virginia State University (WVSU).

The Senate convened a couple hours later Monday while they ironed out a plan for the day. There was a lot of debate around bills on health care regulation and banking. The Senate also voted down its first bill since 2020. We will have an updated story on this floor session Tuesday.

And many LGBTQ allies and advocates gathered outside the Senate chamber to speak against legislation that the state legislature is considering, or has already passed. Briana Heaney has that story. 

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas talks with Marshall Political Science Prof. Marybeth Beller to discuss the issues around the super majority and getting things accomplished.

Earlier this week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 2354 into law. The law bans certain food dyes from school meals. The governor was joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. secretary of health and human services, at a media event in Martinsburg Friday. The two of them discussed additional health priorities for West Virginia and the nation.

In the House Friday, business was delayed for close to two hours due to procedural wrangling. Chris Schulz has more.

As opposed to the House, the Senate had a quiet day, moving through several bills without debate.

And for our weekly feature with our student reporters, Malia Saar and Emma Browning, they take a closer look at the budget process that the West Virginia Legislature is required, by law, to complete by the end of session.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

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.