Day 16: A Major Disaster Declaration and the docket includes multiple bills affecting the LGBTQ+ community

The West Virginia ... Weakly Legislative Daybook for February 27, 2025

Feb 27, 2025

Today is Thursday, February 27, 2025 — the 16th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.

After nine days of waiting, southern West Virginia has started getting federal help following this month’s devastating flooding. A press release from Gov. Morrisey’s office hit inboxes last night announcing that President Trump has declared a major disaster in McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties. The declaration opens the door to Individual Assistance. Visit FEMA’s website for information on how to apply.

But West Virginia has yet to get everything it requested. The release says other counties remain under consideration and funds to help rebuild infrastructure under the Public Assistance program are still under review.

At the state Capitol in Charleston, the Legislature’s Activity Calendar is crowded. Today is West Virginia Volunteer Firefighter Recognition Day. It’s also Motion Picture and Entertainment Day and Sexual Violence Awareness Day. The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services will be in the Lower Rotunda.

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9:00 a.m.— House Finance will hear from the state Departments of Human Services, Health and Health Facilities.
9:00 a.m. — House Judiciary has several bills on its agenda including H.B. 2702, which would give the governor authority to name a temporary appointee until a permanent successor is appointed in the case of a vacancy in the constitutional offices of Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General and Agriculture Commissioner. Another bill, H.B. 2683, would ban rank choice voting, a form of vote counting endorsed by former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.
11:00 a.m. — Several bills we’ve been following are on track toward an up or down vote on the House floor:
- H. B. 2354 is the House’s version of the food dye bill. It was laid over for a day and remains on second reading, the amendment stage. The bill would ban synthetic dyes in the food West Virginians buy at the grocery store.
- H. B. 2006 will be on first reading. This bill is part of Gov. Morrisey’s efforts to combat what he has called “gender ideology.” It would define the words “men” and “women” in state law.
- H. B. 2515 will also be on first reading. The measure addresses school discipline. It’s similar to a bill that failed on the final night last year.
11:00 a.m. — The most attention-getting bill on the Senate floor today will be the upper chamber’s version of Gov. Morrisey’s “defining men and women” measure. S.B. 456 will be on first reading.
1:00 p.m. — Dave told you about H.B. 2008 yesterday. The bill requested by Gov. Morrisey would reorganize the Executive Branch. The House Government Organization is set to vote on it.
3:00 p.m. — House Human Services Subcommittee takes up a couple of bills addressing the state’s troubled foster care system.
3:00 p.m. — Senate Judiciary has two bills on its agenda affecting the LGBTQ community.
- S.B. 154 would prohibit instruction related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
- S.B. 299 would extend the state’s ban on gender affirming care to all but close the exemption for hormone treatment for children diagnosed with gender disphoria.
3:00 p.m. — Senate Finance will hear budget presentations from the state Parkways Authority and the state Department of Transportation.
5:00 p.m. — House Subcommittee on the Environment, Infrastructure and Technology will get a presentation on Artificial Intelligence from Heather Abbott of the state Office Technology.

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