The Legislature Today

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Curtis Tate caught up with two committee chairs: Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, the chair of House Human Services, and Sen. Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, the chair of Senate Finance. They spoke about the most pressing issues in their committees, including foster care and the state budget.

Also, advocates for survivors of sexual violence hope the state will continue supporting crisis programs. They're also backing a bill to target "sextortion,” and finding traction in the state legislature.

In the Senate, lawmakers heard from more than 10 speakers from across the country while discussing Senate Bill 545. The bill would ban certain food additives from school nutritional programs, in what lawmakers are calling the West Virginia Feed to Achieve Act.

West Virginia code tends to favor local control of schools via county boards of education. Last year, lawmakers took an initial step to raise the training standards for board members. As Chris Schulz reports, they are revisiting the topic this year.

And West Virginia's legislature has a Republican supermajority. The Senate has the highest percentage of Republicans of any state legislative chamber in the nation. Before the start of this year’s session, Briana Heaney sat down with political science professors and legislators to discuss the impacts of the state’s supermajority.

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 sat down with two physicians – Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, and Del. Matt Rohrbach, R-Cabell, to discuss the legislation aimed at providing exemptions to childhood immunizations. 

Also, it's Disability Advocacy Week at the State Capitol. Groups that advocate for residents with disabilities across the state have visited Charleston to talk about their needs and legislative priorities. Jack Walker stopped by and brings this report.

Nearly everyday each chamber's Finance committees have been holding hearings with testimony from different agencies, organizations and branches of government. The House Finance Committee on Wednesday held a hearing on the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). Briana Heaney has that story.

And the House of Delegates is reviewing a spate of bills that would affect the electoral process in West Virginia. Jack Walker spoke with delegates on both sides of the aisle about some of the bills proposed so far.

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 the chairs of House and Senate Education, Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, and Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer. They discuss a wide range of topics including school discipline and ways the state can improve the ongoing teacher shortage.

In the House Tuesday, lawmakers approved bills related to court-appointed special advocates in the state’s foster care system, destruction of first responder equipment and clarifications for officers, lawyers and judges when distributing child sex abuse materials — described in the bill as “child pornography” — as part of their official duties in the judicial system. All three bills now head to the Senate for consideration.

The House Health Committee held a hearing on a controversial piece of legislation that would allow for religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions for school children.

And school discipline has been a key legislative issue for several years. As part of the new committee hearing process, the House Education Committee spent two days discussing House Bill 2515. Chris Schulz brings us this story.

Also, a bill to remove regulatory requirements for health care providers to expand or offer additional services in West Virginia failed to pass its committee by one vote Monday afternoon. Emily Rice has this 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 sits down with our host this week Curtis Tate to discuss a conversation he had with House Judiciary Chair Del. JB Akers, R-Kanawha, and Minority Chair of House Health Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, about the vaccine exemption bill that passed the Senate and is now before the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Also, the Democratic caucus of the House of Delegates hosted a press briefing Monday to highlight their current legislative priorities. Jack Walker stopped by and brings us this report.

The House Judiciary Committee met this morning to discuss a bill that restricts the rights of transgender West Virginians. Briana Heaney has that story.

And more than a year after lawmakers said making childcare more accessible was their top priority, so far this session, nothing has been done. Still, some lawmakers, parents and childcare providers say the state needs to do something. Briana Heaney also has this 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, in the Senate Friday, lawmakers approved a bill that would allow for broad vaccine exemptions. Briana Heaney has the story.

In the House, a few bills are working their way through committees that aim to adjust state election laws. Also, in a committee hearing that lasted into the night Thursday, delegates grappled with health care regulation laws and heard differing opinions from more than 10 presenters. Emily Rice has more.

We also have our weekly feature with West Virginia high school students, Malia Saar and Emma Browning, who look at the makeup of the West Virginia Legislature and state government.

Finally, WVPB reporters Jack Walker and Briana Heaney are joined by Duncan Slade, deputy managing editor for the nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight, for a roundtable to discuss the biggest news of the week.

Having trouble viewing the episode 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 speaks with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay. They discuss a number of issues including education, flooding in southern West Virginia and the crisis in foster care in the state. 

In the House Thursday, HB 2712 was introduced on the floor and sent to the House Health and Human Resources Committee. The bill would remove rape and incest exceptions to West Virginia’s abortion ban. A similar bill in the Senate, SB 51, was withdrawn by its sponsor.

In the Senate, issues of gender identity have been prominent in the legislative session this year. As Chris Schulz reports, the Senate Education Committee took up the issue in their meeting Thursday.

Finally, this year’s session is already underway, but a partisan tug-of-war over the 91st district House seat hasn’t been resolved. Jack Walker talked to Berkeley County residents, plus state lawmakers, about the drawn-out search for a successor.

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, Health Reporter Emily Rice speaks with Jim Kauffman, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, and Jessica Dobrinsky, chief of staff and certificate of need policy expert at the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, about changes lawmakers are proposing to state code this session.

Also, the much-watched vaccine exemption bill was laid over in the Senate Wednesday. Legislators have told WVPB the bill likely won't be voted on until Friday. 

Also from the Senate, the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 banned gender-affirming care for transgender minors, with narrow exceptions for hormone therapy. Now, a more conservative Senate is moving to do away with those exemptions. A bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Rose, R-Monongalia, would ban hormone therapy for new and existing patients under 18. Briana Heaney brings us this story.

The House Health and Human Services Committee spent more than three hours Tuesday evening deliberating two bills related to food sales in the state. Two hours of debate centered around HB 2354, which would add seven food dyes to the list of banned food alterations.

Finally, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said the state is facing a $400 million shortfall. But many in the legislature are not so sure. Caelan Bailey looked into it for us.

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 speaks with West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston. Smith was elected to be the Senate President for the 87th legislature that started this year.

Against the backdrop of legislative action Tuesday, much of the state is reeling from massive flooding over the President's Day weekend. Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed the flood-related deaths of two people in McDowell County. He has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting disaster assistance for 13 West Virginia counties.

In the Senate, a bill that would allow for broader vaccine exemptions for schools hit that second reading stage. Briana Heaney has more. 

On the House floor, delegates adopted a resolution rejecting the redesignation of part of a Potomac River tributary.

And some of the first bills discussed in the Senate Education Committee this year are trying to address the ongoing issue of staffing in West Virginia’s schools. Chris Schulz has more.

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 speaks with Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speaker of the House Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell. They discuss plans for legislation, the new process of debating bills in the House and legislation implementing religious exemptions from vaccines. Rohrbach is also a doctor.

We also feature a conversation between Health Reporter Emily Rice and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, to discuss his objectives this session as chair of the House Health Committee.

In the Senate Monday, SB 460, or the vaccine bill, was on first reading. The bill will be on second reading Tuesday, or the amendment stage, and is likely to have amendments offered.

Also, we bring you the latest on changes in the House of Delegates. The most notable does away with public hearings in favor of public comment in the committee process. Supporters say the procedural overhaul will give delegates more time to carefully consider bills and their effects on West Virginians, including public input. But opponents argue the new system gives committee chairs discretion to ignore certain members of the public.

And LGBTQ advocacy groups brought a rainbow of color to the Capitol rotunda Monday. They came to discuss their work, plus their priorities and concerns for this year’s legislative session. Jack Walker 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, we have a roundtable with our Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate, Health Reporter Emily Rice and Statehouse Reporter Briana Heaney. They discuss the first days of the 2025 state legislative session and look ahead to the remaining weeks.

Also, members of the House Education Committee have wasted no time getting to work on big issues. The committee held two informational hearings, first on the Hope Scholarship Thursday and then on the state school funding formula Friday.

And, lawmakers began the process of establishing a religious exemption to childhood vaccines Thursday. There were so many questions from lawmakers that the Senate Health Committee had to come back for an extended meeting.

Last year, we introduced a new segment in our program featuring two West Virginia high school students who learn about the legislative process by following bills that interest them. Those students last year were Ben Valleau and Ameera Mustafa. In December, on their winter break from college, Valleau and Mustafa came back to our studio to pass the torch on to one of our new high school hosts, Emma Browning. 

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.