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 ...

Economist says state could see growth

January 31, 2023

While Gov. Jim Justice hit the road again to promote an income tax proposal, Republican legislators were hearing an economist’s broader message about unleashing the power of the free market. “As long as you get your policies right, you’re going to grow,” economist Russ Sobel, a former professor at West Virginia University, told GOP lawmakers in an early-day caucus Monday. One of Sobel’s books, frequently cited by Republican lawmakers, is “Unleashing Capitalism.” Justice has expressed urgency about his proposal to cut personal income taxes by 30% next year, 10% the ...

State senate unanimously approves school safety, U.S. motto bills, sends them to the House

January 30, 2023

MORGANTOWN — The state Senate sailed through a series of bills on Monday, passing them all unanimously with no debate — including a school protection bill and one to put a framed copy of the U.S. motto in every government building. All bills head to the House of Delegates. SB 282 ...

Senate president says in tax cut conversation, state’s expenses must be scrutinized

January 27, 2023

Senate President Craig Blair says the other side of the big tax cut proposal is the state’s expectations on dealing with mounting expenses. “The bottom line is, and I’ve asked for this for the last two weeks, is to prioritize our expenses,” Blair said on MetroNews’ ...

Senate overwhelmingly approves bill to change annual vehicle inspections to every 2 years

January 27, 2023

MORGANTOWN — Annual vehicle inspections could change to every two years under a bill the Senate sent to the House on Friday. SB 254 changes the annual inspection to biannual and raises the sticker price from $3 to $6 to reflect that. The total price, including the sticker, would go ...

House bill increasing penalties for child abuse and neglect heads to the Senate

January 26, 2023

MORGANTOWN — The House of Delegates hopes to increase the penalties for child abuse and neglect — unanimously passing a bill to that effect on Thursday and sending it to the Senate. HB 2113 increases the penalty for child abuse causing injury from the current 1-5 years to 2-10. For ...