Day 29: Gov. Morrisey holds a pair of press conferences today -- one for tourism, another on defining sexes
The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for March 12, 2025
Today is Wednesday, March 12, 2025 — the 29th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
Today is History Day and Preston County Day at the Capitol. If memory serves correctly, there will be Buckwheat Pancakes thanks to the fine folks from Preston County.
Also, health care providers will hold a legislative reception this evening at the Culture Center.
A quick note that the session hits the half-way mark at the end of tomorrow. Consider the end of Day 30 to be 13.1 miles into the marathon that we’re all running together.
A few important deadlines are also looming — most notably “Crossover Day.” But don’t worry, we’ll get you up to speed about what that is and what it means very soon.
For now, revel in the run-of-the-mill normal goings-on of the Legislature:
Highlights (all times and agendas subject to change)
9:00 a.m. — The Office of Inspector General and Workforce West Virginia will give budget presentations to the House Appropriations Committee.
10:00 a.m. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey will hold the first of two news conferences this morning. The first gathering will be held at the West Wing Governor’s Drive. Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby is also slated to attend.
11:00 a.m. — The House of Delegates and the Senate each gavel in at their standard start time this morning. The Senate is scheduled to vote on seven bills today. Among them are:
S. B. 280 - Displaying official US motto in public schools
Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 521, a bill that would return West Virginia to partisan elections for judicial offices
Com. Sub. for S. B. 592 (Relating generally to aboveground storage tanks) will get its first reading in the Senate. Regulation of above ground storage tanks was brought into focus following the January 2014 Elk River Chemical Spill and environmental groups like the West Virginia Rivers Coalition are rallying opposition to the latest effort to rollback regulations.
In the House, Com. Sub. for H. B. 2233 - Authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate legislative rules, is set for a vote this morning. The measure would make it easier to reclassify West Virginia waterways away from being a source of drinking water.
12:30 p.m. — The second of Gov. Morrisey’s news conferences will be held in the Governor’s Office reception room. According to a release from Morrisey’s office, swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines will be in attendance. Gaines’ appearance comes as Morrisey is set to sign SB 456, a measure that defines men and women. Before being completed, the measure was stripped of a Senate amendment that sought to allow a healthcare professional to examine a child’s genitalia to confirm their sex without a parent’s consent.
3:00 p.m. — The Senate Finance Committee will hear budget presentations from the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services.
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Weakly Links: News and opinion from around West Virginia
House of Delegates passes statewide camping ban addressing homeless populations ~ Brad McElhinny, WVMetroNews
WV Senate clarifies gender definition bill can’t be used to inspect child’s genitals ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
WV Senate Health committee advances bill allowing over-the-counter sale of ivermectin ~ Caity Coyne, West Virginia Watch
Student Behavior, Phone, Tobacco, Focus Of House Subcommittee ~ Chris Schulz, West Virginia Public Broadcasting
What lawmakers’ rollback of drinking water protections reveals about how the state regulates the chemical industry ~ Sarah Elbeshbishi, Mountain State Spotlight