Day Nine: Vote on vaccine bill delayed
The West Virginia Weakly Legislative Daybook for February 20, 2025
Today is Thursday, February 20, 2025 the 9th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
It’s Agriculture & Conservation Day, as well as Court Appointed Special Advocates Day at the Legislature. In terms of the latter, some related bills are moving this morning in committee.
Highlights (all times and agendas subject to change)
9:00 a.m. — You may get tired of us mentioning it, but budget hearings continue in the House Finance Committee. Up this morning is the West Virginia Department of Education and the Higher Education Policy Commission / Community and Technical College system.
9:00 a.m. — The House Judiciary Committee has several bills related to child welfare on its agenda.
10:30 a.m. — Judiciary’s Legal Services Subcommittee is expected to vote today on whether to advance H.B. 2400, which would make it unlawful to hand out unsolicited absentee ballot applications — a public document — to any person who has not specifically requested one from the county clerk.
9:30 a.m. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey will hold a media briefing on the flooding in southern West Virginia and the state’s response. You can watch his briefing on YouTube. It will also be streaming on the governor’s Facebook page and the X social media platform.
9:30 a.m. — Among the bills on the Senate Government Organization Committee’s docket is SB 71: WV Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2025. The bill aims to counter movements around the U.S. in recent years to remove or rename monuments honoring Confederate soldiers.
9:30 a.m. — The Senate Education Committee will tackle four bills on its agenda today — namely, SB 154. That bill would prohibit public schools from requiring instruction on sexual orientation, curriculum that currently isn’t required under state code, according to the sexual education advocacy group known as SIECUS. Another measure being considered by the committee (SB 158) would modify eligibility requirements for state Board of Education members.
11:00 a.m. — We spoke too soon on SB 460 going up for passage yesterday. The bill aimed at rolling back school vaccine mandates was laid over and remains on Third Reading. The bill is on the Senate’s floor calendar for today, but Senate Health Chairwoman Laura Wakim Chapman told WVMetroNews that she believes a passage vote is more likely tomorrow.
3:00 p.m. — The Senate Finance Committee will also continue hearing budget presentations from the Department of Administration, the Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia Conservation Agency.
4:00 p.m. ~ The House Health and Human Resources Committee will hold a hearing on H.B. 2007, a bill requested by Gov. Morrisey. It would do away with the health care regulatory process known as Certificate of Need, which requires providers to show an unmet need before expanding services. The West Virginia Hospital Association opposes the bill.
The panel will also consider a pair of bills aimed at addressing the shortage of foster families. One proposal (H.B. 2376) would weaken the vaccination requirement. The other (H.B. 2033) would bar the government from considering “sincerely held” religious beliefs when it comes to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The House and Senate will each gavel in for a floor session at their regular time of 11 a.m.
Senate Floor Calendar Senate Committee Schedule
House Floor Calendar House Committee Schedule
Weakly Links: News and opinion from around West Virginia
Senate Health chairwoman says bill with vaccination exceptions lines up for passage Friday ~ Brad McElhinny, WVMetroNews
Discrimination concerns arise over bills lawmakers says would recruite more WV fosters families ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
Morrisey needs the Legislature (Opinion) ~ Hoppy Kercheval, The Charleston Gazette-Mail
WV House committee considers ‘Make America Healthy Again’ bill restricting SNAP purchases ~ Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
Senate Health Committee works to close loopholes in Gender Affirming Care Ban ~ Steven Allen Adams, The Intelligencer
Protecting children in the Mountain State (Editorial) ~ The Intelligencer