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Bill passes allowing employees to defend themselves without being fired

CHARLESTON — Employees who defend themselves from attacks in the workplace could not be fired under a bill passed Friday by the House of Delegates. House Bill 5621 says anyone who is physically attacked by a workplace intruder and responds with reasonable and proportionate force — including the potential use of deadly force — to defend themselves or others may not be punished or fired for their actions. The bill allows self-defense not just for actually being attacked but also for instances of a reasonable apprehension about being attacked. The bill passed 91-5 and now goes ...

Senate passes bill expanding work requirements for SNAP benefits

CHARLESTON — Senators passed a bill that would expand requirements for work or employment training for able-bodied adults without dependents for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill passed on a 32-2 vote and now goes to the House of Delegates. SB 562 also extends the age range for people affected to 59. The age range for current procedures is from 18 to 52. And the bill would establish requirements to report information about how the program is working to a legislative oversight committee. There’s a three-year implementation schedule for ...

Social Security tax exemption bill eagerly passed by House of Delegates

CHARLESTON — The House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed a bill that would phase out state income taxes on Social Security benefits. The legislation would build on a 2019 bill signed into law by the governor to exempt Social Security income from personal income taxes for most West Virginians, particularly those in lower tax brackets. That was also a three-year phase-out. This proposal would exempt those in higher brackets from being taxed on Social Security benefits. The bill was introduced in the House of Delegates as HB 4880. Delegates passed the bill 96-0, and it now goes ...

House passes bill allowing educators to carry concealed weapons

CHARLESTON — The House of Delegates passed a bill that would allow educators to carry concealed firearms as designated school protection officers. The bill passed 89-11 Wednesday after more than an hour of debate. The bill now goes to the state Senate. Supporters maintained educators could represent a first line of defense against an attack from the outside, especially in rural counties where school protection officers are hard to find or spread thin. “School shooters are terrorists. That’s all they are. They’re there to terrorize the people in the school,” said ...