Day 31: After Thursday's public hearing, The Women's Bill of Rights remains on second reading
We'll tell you why
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days, your daily guide to the West Virginia Legislature.
Today is Friday, February 8th, 2024 — the 31st day of the Legislature’s regular session. We’ve made it past the halfway point. It’s all downhill from here.
Today is Eat Right Day at the Capitol. Experts and students will be on hand to lobby lawmakers on nutrition policy.
Advocates will also be at the Capitol to raise awareness about harmful eating disorders. Two years ago, Governor Justice signed a bill known as “Meghan’s Law,” which requires that educators be trained to recognize eating disorders and other harmful actions. It was introduced during the 2022 session by Delegate Wayne Clark (R-Jefferson), whose family has first-hand experience. The law is named for his daughter.
This session Del. Clark is sponsoring H.B. 5226, the Child Social Media Protection Bill. Clark has said his work on “Meghan’s Law” led directly to the social media bill. It’s pending in the House Judiciary Committee after it won approval from House Tech.
Today’s Agenda:
Expect attempts to amend The Women’s Bill of Rights on the House floor today. That’s because H.B. 5243 and other bills that were on second reading yesterday remain at that stage of the legislative process today. They were held back a day because of a traffic jam caused by requests that nearly all the bills on third reading, the passage stage, be read in full. The session dragged on until nearly 3 p.m.
Legislative fun!
The Women’s Bill of Rights will be at the amendment stage following yesterday’s public hearing in the House Chamber during which most speakers voiced opposition.
Opponents decry the proposal as just another culture war bill that does nothing for women. They also characterize it as an attack on transgender people.
Supporters say it would protect women in single-sex spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms.
Democrats could try again to make lemonade by offering amendments, including a measure to include equal pay protections. Equal pay was rejected by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee earlier this week.
You can find the full active calendar for the House’s floor session at 11 a.m. here. Among the bills delegates could pass today include:
H. B. 4233 - which would prohibit the use of “non-binary” on West Virginia birth certificates.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 4845 - this bill would increase the penalties for what’s known as “swatting,” or falsely reporting an emergency incident.
It’s Friday, so the Senate will start it’s floor session two hours earlier than usual, at 9 a.m. The full docket is here.
S. B. 441 is at the passage stage. That’s the bill that would restrict driving in the left late of multi-lane highways in West Virginia.
Also on third reading is H. B. 5045, which seeks to give the state Department of Environmental Protection primary enforcement authority over underground carbon dioxide wells. This bill is part of efforts to pave the way for a state hydrogen hub and other carbon capture projects.
The committee substitute for S. B. 614 is at the amendment stage. The measure is aimed at addressing the behavior of elementary school students. It would outline actions teachers can take when behavior is determined to be violent, threatening or intimidating. Opponents say the bill’s reliance on removal and suspension is misguided.
And following years of futility, S. B. 378 is advancing. The bill is on second reading. It would ban smoking in a vehicle with young children.
Committee meetings:
9:00 a.m. – House Finance
9:30 a.m. – House Judiciary
10:00 a.m. - House Education
10:00 a.m. Senate Workforce
Workforce has a committee substitute for S.B. 562 on its agenda. It would expand employment and training requirements necessary for SNAP benefits. Critics of the bill fear that thousands of West Virginians will lose food assistance if it is enacted.
60 Days links: Reading that’s good for you and good for West Virginia. Click on the links to help support the reporters who work at the state Capitol day in, day out.
The fight over Gov. Justice’s Greenbrier Sporting Club is heating up. Lawyers for the Club are contesting plans by a Virginia bank to collect hundreds of millions of dollars in debt by auctioning off Club property. Brad McElhinny of WVMetroNews reports that lawyers for Gov. Justice’s companies are seeking to block the auction.
Amelia Ferrell Knisely of West Virginia Watch was in the House Chamber for Thursday’s public hearing on The Women’s Bill of Rights and has this report.
Babydog news: Rick Steelhammer of the Charleston Gazette-Mail says Gov. Justice’s 4-year-old bulldog has a couple of surgeries ahead of her.
Resources:
Know of any bills we should be keeping tabs on? Any events, press conferences, etc., we should know about? Tell us about them in the comments.