Day 13: Debate over school vaccine requirements moves to the House and 'Certificate of Need' repeal is at the markup stage
The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for February 24, 2025
Today is Monday, February 24, 2025 — the 13th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
Today is Veterans’ Appreciation Day at the Capitol, where it’s shaping up to be a busy day. Lawmakers are taking up a few of Gov. Morrisey’s priorities.
Notable
The House Health and Human Resources Committee is at the top of the Weakly’s agenda this morning.
Fresh from Senate passage on Friday, the panel will be holding a hearing on S.B. 460, the bill inspired by Gov. Morrisey’s executive order on childhood immunizations. It would carve out a religious or philosophical exemption to school vaccine requirements.
Not to be outshone, the bill that would repeal of the Certificate of Need (CON) process will be competing for attention. House Health is scheduled to vote on HB 2007.
It’s another bill submitted at Gov. Morrisey’s request. Sounds wonky, but House Health held an hours-long hearing on the issue that lasted well into the evening on Thursday.
Supporters say a repeal of the law that requires healthcare providers get government permission before creating or expanding services would open up competition in the state’s health care sector. In his State of the State address, Morrisey called CON “big government activism as its worst.”
The repeal is supported by conservative groups including the Cardinal Institute and Americans for Prosperity.
The West Virginia Hospital Association has emerged as a major opponent of the repeal push, saying CON is vital to maintaining West Virginia’s hospital system.
House Health meets at 3:30 p.m.
But first, House Judiciary will take up a number of bills when the panel meets at 9:00 a.m., including HB 2129, Creating the Parents Bill of Rights. But HB 2006, defining men and women, is likely to get a lot of attention.
In his State of the State address, Gov. Morrisey called on lawmakers to define “sex-based terms” for “facilities such as locker rooms, bathrooms, and rape crisis centers to be based on biological sex.”
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups say the measure would threaten those who identify as transgender or non-binary.
If you have concerns about these bills, or any other measure the Legislature is considering, you can always contact your lawmakers directly. Their official email addresses are on the Legislature’s website. The Senate roster is here. The House roster is here. And if you’re really motivated, you can always download the Membership Directory to keep handy.
Other highlights (all times and agendas subject to change)
9:00 a.m. — House Finance will hold a budget hearing for the state Supreme Court and the Higher Education Policy Commission/public Community and Technical Colleges.
10:30 a.m. — WVMetroNews Talkline co-host T.J. Meadows said in a post on the X social media platform over the weekend that state Sen. Tom Takubo (R-Kanawha) will be on the show to talk about the school vaccine bill. Takubo was among 11 senators who voted against sending it to the House on Friday.
11:00 a.m. — On the House floor, H. B. 2354 will be on first reading. The bill would ban synthetic dyes in the food West Virginians buy at the grocery store. It’s a broader bill than the Senate’s version which seeks to address behavioral problems in public schools. S.B. 545 is pending in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. It would ban such dyes in school meals. The dyes have been linked to negative health effects.
11:00 a.m. — A couple of bills expected on the Senate floor are worth notice:
12:30 p.m. — Lawmakers from the West Virginia Democratic Party will gather at the rotunda outside the Attorney General’s office to discuss their priorities and thoughts on the session thus far. It’ll also be streamed live on the party’s Facebook page.
1:00 p.m. — House Finance’s Revenue Subcommittee will hear from John Deskins, the Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at West Virginia University.
1:00 p.m. — The Legislature’s effort to address behavioral issues in public schools is not just about banning synthetic dies. House Education has HB 2515 on its agenda.The measure lays out what happens when a K-6 teacher determines a student is being violent, disruptive or threatening; provides for behavior intervention and safety for students in grades six through twelve and requires the state Board of Education to come up with a Legislature-approved statewide disciplinary policy.
3:00 p.m. — Senate Finance will hear budget presentations from the state Departments of Commerce and Economic Development.
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Weakly Links: News and opinion from around West Virginia (subcription may be required)
West Virginia lawmakers eye ban on artificial food dyes to address school discipline issues ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
Ground to cover: Recent deluges shine light on West Virginia’s need for flood mitigation ~ Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News & Sentinel
Section 504 legal filing draws statewide concern from parents, caregivers, teachers ~ Katelyn Aluise, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Guard leadership says flood costs covered by the Governor’s fund ~ Chris Lawrence, WVMetroNews
The Huffington Post quotes U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice in this story headlined ‘Proposed GOP medicaid cuts could hit these red states hardest’ ~ Igor Bobic and Arthur Delaney, Huff Post