Day 28: More counties added to disaster declaration in time for Flood Resiliency Day

The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for March 11, 2025

Today is Tuesday, March 11, 2025 — the 28th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.

Today is Flood Resiliency Day and Health Freedom Day at the Capitol.

It being Flood Resiliency Day is a bit of a coincidence. Last night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Logan and Wayne counties have been added to the Trump administration’s major disaster declaration related to flooding in southern West Virginia last month.

“I’m grateful to the Trump administration for approving my request for recovery assistance in Logan and Wayne counties” Morrisey said in a news release. “The Individual Assistance program will provide relief to those in need and aid our recovery efforts across southern West Virginia.”

Highlights (all times and agendas subject to change)

9:00 a.m. — A pair of elections bills are on the docket for the House Judiciary Committee this morning.

• SB487 - Removing ineligible voters from active voter rolls

• SB486 - Clarifying eligibility requirements to vote in WV elections

11:00 a.m. — In the House of Delegates this morning, lawmakers will put two bills to a vote on reworking the executive branch of West Virginia’s government:

• Com. Sub. for H. B. 2008 - Executive Branch Reorganization [Right to Amend]

• H. B. 2009 - Relating to the merging and reorganizing of the executive branch [Right to Amend]

Three other bills catch my eye that will also go up for a vote in the lower chamber this morning:

• Com. Sub. for H. B. 2382 - Camping ban on certain public property.

• Com. Sub. for H. B. 2411 - To provide and change graduation requirements and change duties relating to academic content standards

• Com. Sub. for H. B. 2634 - To double the criminal penalty for anyone found guilty of sexual assault on a minor

11:00 a.m. — Over in the Senate, Sen. Mike Azinger’s (R-Wood) S. B. 280 will be on the amendment stage. The measure seeks to put “In God We Trust” on display in West Virginia’s public schools.

1:00 p.m. — In the House Public Education Subcommittee, a bill dealing with legal action against the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission is on the agenda. HB 2973 finds itself in the legislative hopper after a dust-up this past fall over school classifications, which caused the high school football playoffs to be delayed.

1:00 p.m. — Remember ivermectin? The controversial treatment for COVID-19 that was never approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the virus? Today in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, lawmakers on the panel will take a look at SB 614, which would authorize the sale of the drug over-the-counter.

Finally, an update on Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel’s (D-Cabell) threat to have bills read in their entirety over alleged heavy-handed tactics on the part of Gov. Morrisey's office. According to a social media post by Ogden Newspapers reporter Steven Allen Adams, Woelfel told reporters at the Capitol that he decided against it after a productive conversation with Morrisey.

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Weakly Links: News and opinion from around West Virginia

• Checking the Pulse: WVU Medicine, Mon Health oppose certificate of need repeal ~ David Beard, The Parkersburg News & Sentinel

• As cabinet secretary declines study of child welfare system, senators say responsibility is his ~ Brad McElhinny, WVMetroNews

• WV Senate passes elementary school disciplinary bill, state teachers union calls measure ‘great step’ ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch

• At Black Policy Day, participants oppose efforts to end DEI programs in West Virginia ~ Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch

• Four W.Va. Agencies Addressing Substance Use Secure Federal Grants ~ Jack Walker, West Virginia Public Broadcasting