MORGANTOWN — The state Senate moved through a series of House bills on Thursday, as both chambers head into the 60th and final day of the session on Saturday. Here are a few highlights. HB 4851 came out of the House as a bill to allow public, charter and private schools to employ armed ...
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a pay raise bill for public employees, but with a twist. The Senate’s version of the bill would tie an average 4% raise for public employees to whatever happens with an upcoming trigger on personal income tax cuts. If the trigger based on economic indicators activates another personal income tax cut, then there will be no raise. If there is no triggered personal income tax cut, then there would be a raise. Got it? If you are trying to figure out if you might be in line for a raise, here is how the trigger works: The trigger to ...
The Senate Health Committee advanced a bill that loosens some of West Virginia’s school vaccination requirements, with the chairman saying he wouldn’t have run it if he’d had a choice about it. House Bill 5105 removes vaccination requirements for students in virtual public schools, and it also would allow private and parochial schools to set their own standards. But senators have pulled out a provision that would have allowed parents to send in a letter citing a religious exemption to vaccination requirements. Senate Health Committee Chairman Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, ...
MORGANTOWN — In 2022, the Morgantown Building Commission took ownership of Morgantown City Hall, the Norwood Fire Station and the city’s public works garage in exchange for the issuance of bonds to finance significant improvements to the aging facilities. Fast forward two years, ...
KINGWOOD — Members of the Preston County Commission were provided information about the Rank One Computing (ROC) Smart Community Initiative during their Tuesday meeting. Jessica Sell, vice president of Congressional Affairs and Community Outreach, said the program allows individuals to know who is in their schools, businesses or government buildings by enhancing proactive security capabilities. Some of the other counties using this technology are Marion, Taylor, Putnam and Dodridge. According to the ROC website, ROC Watch can be used to identify visitors through a mobile ...
CHARLESTON — Delegates passed a $4.99 billion general revenue budget that includes raises for state employees and a phase-out of state taxes on Social Security. But, with just days left in the regular legislative session, the state’s financial plan is anything but clear. That’s because the Senate Finance committee chairman has continued to express doubt over whether the state can afford the pay raises and Social Security tax cut right now. And because a special session is already being planned for May to focus on financial matters. Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr, speaking ...
