MORGANTOWN — They’ve been talked about, worked on, argued over, taken up and put down countless times over the last 60 or so years. Will 2024 be the year subdivision regulations are adopted in Monongalia County? County Planner Andrew Gast-Bray is scheduled to present the ...
CHARLESTON — An organization representing older West Virginians and retirees is applauding Gov. Jim Justice’s call to exclude Social Security benefits from the state income tax. “We were surprised and delighted, frankly, that he offered the proposal for the Legislature’s consideration,” said Gaylene Miller, state director for AARP West Virginia, speaking on MetroNews’ “Talkline.” “And I will tell you, that this is the number one issue among our members that we hear from them, that they feel that we should exert our influence on the legislation to fully eliminate ...
The House Committee on Health and Human Resources advanced a couple of bills aimed at trying to ensure greater oversight. One, HB 4595, would allow a legislative oversight committee to meet privately to hear details about sensitive matters like child protective services investigations. Even though the provision allows closed-door meetings, the concept is that lawmakers could gain access to sensitive information, perform oversight functions and potentially react in a timely fashion to adjust policies. The committee chair, Delegate Amy Summers, described narrowly tailoring what ...
West Virginia’s Senate Finance chairman expressed concern that some Justice administration spending proposals characterized as one-time allocations could instead blossom into ongoing expenses. Gov. Jim Justice’s financial team is proposing a general fund budget of $5.22 billion, a figure that includes a few proposed tax cuts along with spending increases such as pay raises for state workers. Administration officials have said their proposed budget has enough cushion for one-time expenditures as the fiscal year progresses. Now it’s up to the Legislature to begin assessing ...
MORGANTOWN — With the former Department of Health and Human Resources now trifurcated into three departments, legislators began the process on Thursday of officially naming the new departments. House Health and Human Resources took up HB 4274: a 709-page bill that can be summarized in a ...
MORGANTOWN — Here is a sampling of bills introduced Thursday, Jan. 11. Local sponsors and co-sponsors are noted. SB 201, providing exemption from state severance tax for coal sold to coal-fired power plants located in West Virginia. SB 202, requiring certain municipalities to pay for ...
