Western Virginia Legislative Body is ignited for 2025 – The Daily Times

The Homish speaker Roger Hanshow crashes a hammer to call the delegates’ house at a session on Wednesday. – With courtesy/WV legislative photography

Charleston – the legislative power of West Virginia began its annual regular session on Wednesday, launching a 60 -day debate on bills and budgets, balancing the wishes of its members with a new governor’s agenda.

Chairman of Chamber Roger Hanshow and State Senate President Randy Smith have evaporated their members at noon on Wednesday for the 87th session of the legislature, with a two-year cycle in which MPs will meet in annual 60-day sessions between now and now and The intermediate elections in 2026

This year has been 10 years since the Republicans first took the majority in the House of Delegates and the State Senate. Speaking on Tuesday during the annual issues and eggs of the Charleston Alliance, the traditional start of the legislative session – Hanchow admitted how far the state has come while recognizing West Virginia, there are still significant challenges to overcome.

“There are still big challenges. There are still great ideas that we as a country have to stand up with and have to stand up, and this is what the delegates’ house intends to take over, “Hanchow, R-Clay, said. “We are very proud … of the things we have done in the last decade to put the state a good course. But now what remains is the challenges that are not easy to solve. What remains now are the challenges that may not have been resolved by a legislative act. “

Hanchow said some of those challenges that the Chamber will meet this year include reforms at the Insurance Agency for Public Officers to deal with continuing issues of increasing premiums and out -of -pocket costs and reform of the State Council for Management of risk and insurance which, which, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance management which which risk management and insurance that, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance, which, which risk management and insurance that it is, which is Provides state agencies with liability insurance and faces fiscal problems. But these issues may not be identified in a legislative session, he said.

“When you visit the Capitol this year, what you will see is much more dialogue … on the problems that face West Virginia; Problems that require a solution, but this may require a solution wider and more comprehensively and more complicated than any single bill may require, “Hanchow said.

Hanchow said it expects the bills that make the state attractive to investment from technology companies for data centers that need reliable access to electricity and the energy sector of the country, as these companies are developing artificial intelligence platforms. The Chamber and the Senate also plan to review possible reforms in the school aid formula, which directs state tax dollars to the district school systems.

Legislators are also preparing to consider the cancellation of the Western Virginia Certificate Program for healthcare suppliers and make changes to the requirements of Western Virginia for school -age immunizations. Governor Patrick Morrisi issued an executive order that allows religious and conscientious objections to school vaccines for school age.

But he remains a lot in the air after Morrisis announced an estimated hole of $ 400 million in a fiscal 2026 total budget for revenue. This, combined with unpredictability caused by executive tariff orders and already received freezing of federal grants that Western Virginia relies largely, may mean that legislators may have to attach their expectations for legislation.

“Every year everyone ask what your agenda is? What do you think will be the main topics that appear in the session? And I always say, well, total chaos, “said Smith, R-Tucker. “Because every year … we put a plan together and invent the agenda of what we will do. And we are excited. We have this program. We’ll press it. And then we get to the second or third day of the session, and it just blows something. So this is somehow difficult and this is not a normal year. “

Smith, who will lead the Senate for the first time as its chairman and lieutenant, said the priorities for the Senate this year include broadband expansion, infrastructure development, directing more state resources to small businesses and families.

“I am all about attracting … the great employers we have introduced over the years, and we will continue to do this,” Smith said. “But to move on, I think we need to focus on the people we represent here in the state of West Virginia. And the bigger part of our employment is the small businesses in West Virginia. This is something I am very passionate about. “

As the session of the Senate on the floor passed quickly on Wednesday, the Chamber spent nearly an hour, discussing the changes to the rules – Resolution 1 of the House – which regulate how the chamber works during the meetings of committees and sessions on the floor. The Chamber changed its structure to committees, creating six standing committees with multiple subcommittees within these standing committees.

The Chamber also changed the way the accounts are going through the committees, a new three -day process to review the introduced bills, including reviews of agencies and comments on the first day, changes to the bill of the second day and voting on the Bill by the Committee for the day three.

“There are rules for the home to help us create a public policy in an open, balanced and effective way,” Del says. Evan Warrell, R-Cabell. “The Commission’s process has changed in order to require a hearing on each bill set out in its agenda … The hearing requires a sponsor to explain the legislation, and then the Committee accepts testimony on the legislation.

“In addition to personal comments on a bill, one can also present a prepared statement that will be placed in the system of the automated camera so that each member can review,” Warrell continued.

Members of the Chamber’s Democratic Coach have proposed numerous changes to HR 1 on the processes of committees, public participation, condominium procedures and access to the media., With all changes fail by voting. Democratic legislators expressed fears whether the new rules provided sufficient notice of public participation with the proposed legislation and amendments. The rules also eliminate the public hearing process.

“The public hearing will not slow down things, but what it does is that it allows people to deal with their legislative process,” Del says. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia. “It provides people with faith in their local authorities, something many people no longer.”

HR 1 also puts restrictions on demonstration materials in the camera’s camera, such as diagrams, graphics and advanced photos. House Minority Whip Shawn Fluharty, D-OHIO, uses a photo last year by Raylee Jolynn Browning, a child in Oak Hill, who died in 2018 due to violence against children from her father after he withdraw her from the state school to attract her Attention to amending a bill to allow district education councils to reject certain demands for home learning when there is a pending investigation of violence against children.

“You are chosen here to get off and express your area’s concerns, whether it is through debate or through the use of demonstration devices such as signs and posters,” Fliharti said. “Suddenly, it was good here, in the State House for a decade plus, since I am here, but now we are suddenly dealing with it?

Stephen Allen Adams can be found at [email protected]