Day Six: The first full week of legislating
Watch for the Governor's tax cut proposal on the House floor today as well additional movement on splitting DHHR into three separate agencies this week.
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days!
It’s Monday, January 16, 2023 — the sixth day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
State lawmakers are entering their first full week today. But first, thanks for subscribing. Handing over your email address is an intentional thing to do and Dave and I appreciate it. If you know of someone who might be interested in following along with us, please forward this newsletter to them. And don’t forget to share it to Facebook and Twitter.
The current class of lawmakers have only been meeting in Charleston since last Wednesday, but already hundreds of bills have been introduced — 548 in the House alone, according to a press release we received late Friday. But as state government reporter Steven Allen Adams tweeted later that night, it’s not the number of bills that are introduced that’s important, it’s the bills that make it on committee agendas.
Speaking of committee agendas, House Finance has already taken action on Governor Justice’s proposal to cut personal income taxes by 50% over three years. It’s House Bill 2526 and the panel advanced it Thursday night. It will be on first reading on the floor today.
Delegates are expected to complete work on the measure this week and send it to the state Senate, where the proposal faces a more uncertain future.
Senate leaders have met with Governor Justice on the issue, but as Metronews reported last week, “hard feelings remain after the fight over Amendment Two.”
A bill that would split the state Department of Health and Human Resources into three separate agencies is moving quickly through the legislative process.
The Senate passed SB126 on the first day of the session and now the House will take up the issue this week. It’s on the agenda for Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of the House Health and Human Resources Committee.
According to WSAZ-TV, Governor Justice appears to have an open mind to a DHHR split after rejecting a proposal to split the sprawling state agency into two last year and then spending $1 million on a consultant’s report that recommended it remain one agency.
Today at the state capitol, the House convenes at 11 a.m. Following the floor session:
The House Government Organization Committee meets at 1 p.m. in Room 215-E.
The House Education Committee is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432-M. The panel is to hear from State Superintendent of Schools David Roach as well as Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Sarah Tucker.
The House Judiciary Committee meets at 3 p.m. in Room 410-M. The panel is scheduled to take up two Senate passed bills that would expand the power of the state Division of Natural Resources.
SB 161 and SB 162 were among the bills the Senate passed last week when constitutional rules were suspended, leading to complaints that the Republican majority is abusing its power.
The state Senate gavels in at 11 a.m. and is expected to finish work on a concurrent resolution to rename a portion of Route 92 in Pocahontas County the “Dr. Roland P. Sharp Memorial Road.”
Also, a bill authorizing tactical medical professionals to carry firearms is on first reading.
Today’s Senate Committee meetings:
1 p.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure (451M)
Organizational Motions
Com. Sub. for SB 7: Returning refundable exemption for road construction contractors to State Road Fund
2 p.m.: Agriculture and Natural Resources (208W)
Organizational Motions
SB 200: Allowing leashed dogs to track wounded elk, turkey, bear, and wild boar when hunting
SB 202: Increasing appointment term of director for DNR from four to seven years
3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)
Appointment of Subcommittees
Referrals to Subcommittees
Com. Sub. for SB 53: Relating to DNA data maintained for law enforcement purposes
SB 115: Providing procedure for WV to select delegates to Article V Convention
3 p.m.: Finance (451M)
Budget Presentation: Office of the West Virginia Attorney General – Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General
Budget Presentation: West Virginia State Auditor's Office – John B. McCuskey, State Auditor
Budget Presentation: West Virginia Secretary of State – Mac Warner, Secretary of State
Finally, a shout out to our former West Virginia Public Broadcasting colleague Suzanne Higgins. She retired last week after 38 years at WVPB. She wore many hats during that time, including as the Executive Producer and Host of the venerable The Legislature Today.
Go have some fun, Suzanne!
