Huntington Herald-Dispatch - The West Virginia Legislature has passed controversial, far-reaching legislation aimed at attracting facilities that could grow the state’s tax base but also threaten to raise power bills and cause environmental harm. Read the full article. In the final hours of the state’s 2025 regular legislative session Saturday night, the Senate sent House…
Tax and Budget
HB 2014, the "Microgrid bill" establishes special rules for the property tax distribution from High Impact Data Centers. Under it, all ad valorem property tax from the incremental assessed value of the data center is diverted to the state rather than the county sheriff’s tax office- that includes property tax revenue that would have been…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - On this episode of The Legislature Today, microgrids are one of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s top legislative priorities this year, and House Bill 2014 is the vehicle to bring more of them to the state. But county officials came to testify earlier this week against the diversion of local property taxes from those facilities…
Public schools are essential for creating communities where all members can thrive through high-quality education and opportunities for enrichment via school meals, extracurricular activities, health services, college and career preparation, and other support services. Our public schools are facing growing challenges of disinvestment of funding and resources, a declining education workforce, and decreased student enrollment…
HB 2014, Governor Morrisey’s “Certified Microgrid Program” legislation, passed the House last week and is now under consideration in the Senate. While much of the attention has focused on how this bill could draw "High Impact Data Centers" to West Virginia, it would also take local control from counties and municipalities to enforce their own…
West Virginia Watch - Last week West Virginians sent a clear message: Don’t cut Medicaid. Read the full op-ed. In overwhelming numbers, families, advocates and health care providers turned out to reject House Bill 3518, and called on their legislators to reject this dangerous proposal that would have automatically eliminated the Medicaid expansion — and with…
West Virginia MetroNews - As Congress moves closer to a budget deal, Senator Shelley Moore Capito has acknowledged the possibility of significant effects on Medicaid. Read the full article. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program for health insurance and medical services, traditionally for low-income people but more recently also for the working class.…
West Virginia Watch, News from the States - While facing the huge uncertainty around proposed federal cuts to food banks, SNAP and school feeding programs, county officials have been sounding the alarm that if their county jail bills keep increasing, they do not know how their counties can afford funding popular, non-mandated services like senior…
Public Employees Won’t See a Pay Raise in Any Version of the State Budget. Here’s What Else to Know.
Mountain State Spotlight, Charleston Gazette-Mail - In the final days of the session, lawmakers are hashing out the only bill they are required by law to pass – the state budget. Read the full article. In February, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the budget would be tight. Money coming into the state coffers has decreased over…
West Virginia Watch, Yahoo - Funding for foster care has been slashed in the House Finance Committee as members opted to ignore Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s proposed budget, including his $182 million request for a child welfare system in crisis. Read the full article. There are more than 5,800 children in foster care, and there aren’t…