Many question governor’s plans for ARPA funds

February 3, 2023

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice submitted a bill meant to transfer $678 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to state development funds. Not everybody thinks that’s a great idea. House Bill 2883 calls for $500 million to be transferred to the state Economic Development Authority, a $177 million transfer to the state Water Development Authority and another $1 million to be transferred to Marshall University. Twenty-one people spoke against the transfer during a public hearing at the state Capitol on Thursday. All said there are more urgent uses for the money, and ...

State Senate sends its TikTok ban bill to the House of Delegates; bill to promote gas-fired power plants also advances

February 1, 2023

MORGANTOWN — The state Senate passed its version of the TikTok ban bill on Wednesday and sent it over to the House, where its bill awaits Judiciary Committee review. The TikTok bill was among several the Senate sent across the Capitol on Wednesday. Both TikTok bills originated as ...

Bill to exempt certain workers from city user fees sparks confusion but passes House committee

February 1, 2023

MORGANTOWN — A bill to exempt certain employees from municipal user fees advanced out of a House of Delegates committee Wednesday morning, but with concerns that it's too vague and needs work before it hits its next committee desk. HB 2576 says that “a municipality shall not assess a ...

Gov. Justice hopeful for progression of proposed income tax cut

February 1, 2023

Gov. Jim Justice is hoping for an answer soon from the state Senate about his proposal to cut personal income taxes. “I’m going to be more blunt. I’m going to tell you that, basically, what’s happening is stall, procrastination. That’s what’s going on,” Justice said during an appearance in Martinsburg on Tuesday. “And at the end of the day, if we just keep messing around with this we’re going to get to a point in time and we’re worried about protecting the state, so let’s don’t do anything. I can’t imagine we’re just going to walk off and leave. It’s ...

Senate votes to end Future Fund investment account meant to capitalize on shale gas severance taxes

January 31, 2023

MORGANTOWN — A severance-tax investment fund once considered a great hope for the state is now heading for the dustbin. SB 444 will formally terminate the Future Fund. The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday and sent it to the House. Talk of a Future Fund began back in 2011 as the ...

House to consider gender-affirming surgery ban after judiciary debate

January 31, 2023

CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s full House of Delegates will consider legislation that would ban physicians from providing gender-affirming surgery to minors. The original version of House Bill 2007, “Prohibiting certain medical practices,” focused on irreversible gender-affirming surgery. A revised version advanced Monday by the House Judiciary Committee also includes gender-altering medication. Members of the House Judiciary Committee debated the bill among themselves for about an hour Monday, but there was no testimony from medical experts, transgender people, youths or ...