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State GOP postpones meeting about closing primaries

CHARLESTON — With the state pounded by snow, West Virginia GOP has postponed a meeting that could have included a vote on closing primary voting to party members only. That would have meant voters registered as non-affiliated would not be able to ask for the Republican ballot in primary elections, including, possibly, the one this May. “In view of the governor’s setting a state of emergency for the entire state, it is unlikely that we will have a quorum present and it would be unfair to people most affected by the storm to proceed,” stated Elgine McArdle, chairwoman of the ...

A sampling of bills introduced Friday, Jan. 19

MORGANTOWN — Here is a sampling of bills introduced Friday, Jan. 19. Local sponsors and co-sponsors are noted. HB 4922, to establish a cause of action upon violation of prohibition of providing gender reassignment or gender-altering medication to a minor. HB 4923, to establish ...

Delegates hear Corrections situation improving

CHARLESTON — The state Corrections commissioner told lawmakers Thursday that a staffing crisis has started to ease and that National Guard support has begun to be drawn down. Corrections Commissioner William Marshall also fielded questions about eligibility for parole and conditions in facilities when he spoke before the House Jails and Prisons Committee. Gov. Jim Justice declared an emergency over staffing in jails in August 2022. Last year, the Legislature approved financial incentives meant to help recruit and retain jail workers. Marshall told delegates that the situation ...

Pay raises for educators not a done deal

CHARLESTON — Pay raise bills for West Virginia educators passed their first committee hurdle with a more ambitious proposal than what had been publicly discussed up to now, but there’s still much more to go. The House Education Committee passed two bills providing pay raises for teachers and school service personnel during a Wednesday afternoon meeting. House Bill 4767 would provide pay raises for teachers, saying the change is to “bring them into parity with salaries offered in surrounding states.” The pay raise bill for teachers raises the base pay, with starting pay ...

Tax credit could be an incentive to keep physicians in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, who is also a pulmonologist, supports a bill that would establish a tax credit for physicians who locate to West Virginia to practice medicine. Takubo, R-Kanawha, spoke in favor of SB208 as it advanced from the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The bill is also assigned to consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. “This would be one way that if a person comes back to the state, it may be an incentive enticing them to come back,” Takubo said during the committee meeting. Establishing ...

A sampling of bills introduced Tuesday, Jan. 16

MORGANTOWN — Here is a sampling of bills introduced Tuesday, Jan. 16. Local sponsors and co-sponsors are noted. SB 456, to address and define public camping in public spaces, create a penalty, and address existing ordinances. SB 459, to increase the senior citizens’ tax credit for ...