The Legislature Today

On this episode of The Legislature Today, bills about crime and punishment come before the West Virginia Legislature every year. Often, they adjust punishment or even establish a new section of the state’s criminal code. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and a former U.S. attorney.

Also, in the Senate, the chamber approved seven bills and sent them to the House. The body also advanced more than 20 other bills.

In the House, seven bills on third reading were sent to the Senate. The controversial House Bill 5243, so-called the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” was removed from the active calendar without announcement. It could be brought back at any time.

And, lawmakers heard from cancer patients, survivors and advocates during Cancer Action Day. Emily Rice has the story.

Finally, Bob Brunner spoke with representatives from the corrections department at the capitol, asking how things are going after legislative changes last year increased salaries and recruiting efforts for more officers.

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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.

Updated on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 at 11:20 a.m.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we wrap up another week of the West Virginia Legislative session, and the pace is starting to pick up in both chambers. We also have a story from our student reporters and a history lookback as well.

In the House, 10 bills passed through third reading, all with either unanimous or near unanimous votes. Some follow a trend this session of creating more legislative oversight. Others increase consumer protection on gift card fraud and phone spam. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate, the chamber approved five bills on things like new energy technology and left lane driving. Seventeen bills advanced. Briana Heaney has more.

Debate broke out on the House floor after amendments were proposed to the Women’s Bill of Rights. Emily Rice has more.

Our high school reporters this week bring us a look at three bills they’ve been following.

Also, the House earlier this week introduced House Bill 5006. The bill is related to the administration of the A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan. Who was he? We asked Bob Brunner to give us a little more background.

Finally, we regularly invite reporters from outside news organizations into our studio to discuss what they are seeing during the legislative session. Our own Briana Heaney and Emily Rice spoke with Lori Kersey, a reporter from the independent news organization West Virginia Watch.

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, higher demand for coal and natural gas, as well as higher prices, produced a severance tax windfall for the state over the past few years. But prices have fallen, and with it, tax revenues.

To get a better idea of where things stand, Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

In the House, among the bills on third reading Thursday included a proposal to allow schools to hire trained security guards. The bill led to a social debate over the issue of training in systemic racism. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate, the chamber advanced 13 bills. They sent Senate Bill 596 to committee. That bill is the same as House Bill 5045, which would give the EPA assurances that carbon capture and storage will not pollute groundwater. The House version was amended to be fused with the Senate bill.

Also, House Democrats held a press conference to highlight their priorities going forward. Randy Yohe has that report.

Finally, the House of Delegates held a public hearing on a bill that would restrict transgender West Virginians access to bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

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 this week that would restrict how data from community air monitors can be used. The state’s industry and mining trade groups support House Bill 5018, while community and environmental groups oppose it.

Curtis Tate spoke with Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, and Lucia Valentine from the West Virginia Environmental Council about the legislation.

In this House Wednesday, the chamber advanced eight bills to the Senate, including legislation that would help provide for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and fathers, getting dentures while on Medicaid, and patriotic societies recruiting in West Virginia schools. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate, the chamber passed seven bills including a bill designed to make certain drugs affordable to low income and uninsured people. Briana Heaney has more.

Finally, it was Black Policy Day at the Capitol, and advocates gathered to talk about legislation affecting people of color in the Mountain State. 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, about 20,000 West Virginia children are homeschooled, with that numbers growing every day. Some officials in state education and the West Virginia Legislature help champion school choice. Others worry about the quality of the education and the safety of homeschooled children.  

Randy Yohe sat down with public school teacher Del. Jeff Stevens, R-Marshall, and Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, chair of the Senate School Choice Committee, to discuss all things homeschooling.

In the House, spirited debate echoed through the chamber. Bills on third reading included a bill on what air monitoring systems can be used in court, and another bill toughening laws on copper theft. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate, the chamber passed four bills and sent them to the House for consideration.

Also, student discipline continues to be an issue in West Virginia schools, and lawmakers continue to try and address the issue through legislation. A bill in the Senate is trying to expand on a law that was passed last year. Chris Schulz has more.

Finally, it was Food and Farm Day at the Capitol, and the emphasis was on West Virginia farmers getting legislative help to better market their produce and products. Randy Yohe 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, 90 bills to-date have been introduced this year between the Senate and the House about election laws.

We’ve heard a lot since the 2020 general election about potential voter fraud, although numerous courts have ruled there was no election fraud that would have changed the outcome of that election. Secretary of State Mac Warner has also said there was also no major election fraud in West Virginia. He has prosecuted a handful of people for election violations in the last few years.

Briana Heaney spoke with Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, and Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, to get their perspective.

In the House, eight bills advanced from third reading to the Senate. Two of the proposals help further protect the environment and one takes telehealth a step further with a proactive technological approach to medical care. Randy Yohe has the story.

In the Senate, the chamber approved five bills, sending them to the House for consideration. The Senate advanced 12 other bills. Briana Heaney has more.

Finally, advocates and recovery experts filled the Capitol rotunda on Monday to educate lawmakers about substance use disorder. Emily Rice 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 our weekly reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe is joined by WVPB reporter Briana Heaney and Ogden Newspapers’ State Government Reporter Steven Allen Adams to recap the week’s action.

In the House, there was a lengthy, heated and partisan debate over border security in a resolution to support the state of Texas. On the flipside, there was full bipartisan support for the House Speaker’s bill to help with groundbreaking, disease curing medical efforts at West Virginia University (WVU).

In the Senate, the chamber passed two rules bills – one is headed to the House for consideration, and the other is off to the governor's desk. Another bill was held over for a day that deals with air quality. Briana Heaney has more.

Also, community and environmental groups testified Friday morning in a public hearing against House Bill 5018. The bill would limit how community air monitoring data could be used in court cases or to affect regulations. West Virginia’s industrial and mining trade groups support the bill, but most people spoke in opposition.

It was also Homeschool Day at the Capitol. With Hope Scholarship funding and a legislature and administration advocating more school choice, homeschooling is a growing endeavor – but not without some basic education and safety concerns.

Finally, for our weekly report from our high school journalists, they look at a couple bills that were of particular interest to them and to other high school and college-aged students around 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, Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and other members of the upper chamber held a press conference to discuss the recent pause on new permits for liquefied natural gas exports. Briana Heaney has the story.

In the House, the House Committee on Energy and Manufacturing discussed a bill that would prevent publicly sourced air pollution data from being used in lawsuits and regulatory proceedings.

Also, in the House, a resolution regarding a constitutional amendment over a woman’s reproductive rights is under consideration.

In the Senate, the Senate Education Committee quickly moved along five bills, many of which updated existing educational programs. One bill would add another university to the list of eligible institutions for the Promise Scholarship. Chris Schulz has more.

And, the full Senate approved and sent one bill to the House. It would permit wineries to serve wine without serving food, and it would also permit wine to be served at festivals. The Senate advanced eight other bills. Two of these bills, if passed without amendments, will head to the governor's desk. Briana Heaney has more.

Advocates from across the state gathered at the state capitol Thursday to bring attention to sexual violence. Emily Rice has the story.

Finally, in meeting the plan to have broadband connectivity for all of West Virginia within five years, there are progress and time markers that must be met to get all the $1.2 billion federal dollars to complete the work. Randy Yohe sits down with Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, and Broadband Consultant Charlie Dennie to talk about meeting those markers.  

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, legislation for the last several years has been introduced that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on the texture and style of their hair. This legislation is typically referred to as The Crown Act.

Every year, that legislation fails.

Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, has introduced two of the same bill on the issue already this session, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, has a version ready to introduce into the House of Delegates. Briana Heaney spoke with both of them to get their perspective.

Also, several health and education bills were on third reading in the House of Delegates. The proposals included one of the most talked about issues this session – getting a handle on a statewide wave of school discipline challenges.

Finally, the state’s two flagship academic institutions, West Virginia and Marshall universities, enjoyed separate featured days at the Capitol. For one school, the growing public, private and academic partnership in workforce development was the leading theme on display.

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 have introduced bills this session that they say protect single-sex spaces. Advocates with LGBTQ rights organizations, though, say the legislation follows a pattern of singling out transgender people for discrimination.

Curtis Tate spoke with Eli Baumwell, interim executive director of the ACLU-WV, and Isabella Cortez, Gender Policy Manager for Fairness West Virginia, about those efforts.

In the House, five bills on third reading were approved, including two that fostered some debate over election laws, voting laws and candidate filing periods.

In the Senate, the chamber passed and sent two bills over to the House and introduced a separate bill that would change rules for wineries in the state. Briana Heaney has more.

Also, to start the week, education committees in both chambers have focused on supporting students in difficult situations. Chris Schulz has more.

Finally, it was WVU Day at the Capitol, and the growing public, private and academic partnership in workforce development was the leading theme on display.

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.