Day 15: Dems call on Republicans to push Trump for a major disaster declaration following flooding in southern West Virginia
The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for February 26, 2025
Today is Wednesday, February 26, 2025 — the 15th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session. Sixty divided by four equals 15. I’m showing off my math skills because that means — after today — we’ll be a quarter of the way through the 60-day session. We all like milestones, don’t we?
Today is Disability Advocacy Day and Corrections Day at the Capitol.
Before we get into the rundown of what’s ahead for the day, we should note: It’s been nine days since Gov. Patrick Morrisey formally asked President Donald Trump for a major disaster declaration in southern West Virginia following torrential rain and subsequent flooding. The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling on Republican leaders to bring attention to the situation and push the president to approve the governor’s request.
In a Tuesday news release, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said “Governor Morrisey did his job by requesting a Major Disaster Declaration, but over a week has passed without a response from President Trump while West Virginians suffer. Meanwhile, Carol Miller, whose district was hit the hardest, Shelley Moore Capito, Jim Justice, and Riley Moore haven’t said a word. Their silence is unacceptable, and West Virginians deserve answers.”
Highlights (all times and agendas subject to change)
9:00 a.m. — The House Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Banking and Insurance Subcommittee will hold a joint meeting to hear budget presentations from the Public Employees Insurance Agency and the Board of Risk and Insurance Management.
11:00 a.m. — The House and Senate will gavel in for their respective floor sessions at their standard morning start time. The Senate has six bills up for passage. Most notably in the House floor session, HB 2354 (which bans certain dyes in foods) is on the amendment stage. Also in the House, HB 2400 will get a first reading. It would prohibit the delivery of unsolicited absentee ballot applications to any person who has not specifically requested one from the county clerk.
1:00 p.m. — After hearing a number of presentations, the House Subcommittee on Educational Choice will do a technical cleanup to state code dealing with charter schools.
3:00 p.m. — The Senate Finance Committee will hear budget presentations from the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services and the state Department of Veteran’s Assistance.
3:00 p.m. — The Senate Judiciary Committee has multiple bills on the docket related to election law.
Senate Floor Calendar Senate Committee Schedule
House Floor Calendar House Committee Schedule
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Weakly Links: News and opinion from around West Virginia
Senate Education Committee introduces bill for panic alerts in schools ~ Katherine Skeldon, WVMetroNews
Morrisey’s gender definition bill draws opposition from domestic violence shelters serving WV women ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
House committee raises concerns about Morrisey’s executive branch reorganization bill ~ Steven Allen Adams, The Intelligencer