West Virginia News - The West Virginia Senate on Friday passed a bill increasing criminal penalties and extending parole eligibility timelines for some of the state’s most serious violent crimes, including second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Read the full article. Senate Bill 137 passed on a 30-2 vote, with one member absent and not voting.…
Tax and Budget
After promises last legislative session that HB 2014, the so-called Power Generation and Consumption Act, would make West Virginia "the most attractive state in the country for data centers", lawmakers are back with a new package of tax incentives for data centers (along with manufacturers and other big corporations). HB 4013 would give major tax…
Exponent-Telegram - The Office of Governor Patrick Morrisey recently released its six-year financial plan through fiscal year 2031. Starting in fiscal year 2028, the financial plan anticipates shortfalls of between $200 million and $400 million for four years totaling more than $1.2 billion in uncovered expenses. Read the full article. These shortfalls are the result…
West Virginia MetroNews, Charleston Gazette-Mail - Governor Morrisey started the 2026 legislative session with a bait-and-switch. Read the full article. During his State of the State address last Wednesday night, he proposed cutting income taxes by ten percent. His language to lawmakers and the public was specific: “I am asking the legislature to pass a ten…
West Virginia Watch - With monthly premiums spiking for many, about 10,000 fewer West Virginians signed up for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare.gov marketplace this year compared to last, according to preliminary data released this week by the federal government. Read the full article. As of the first week of January, 55,127 state residents had…
West Virginia News - In his second State of the State address, Gov. Patrick Morrisey this week announced his intention to push lawmakers to pass another 10% reduction in the state’s personal income tax, which would bring the total reduction since 2023 to 37.25%. Read the full article. While proponents of these cuts say they…
West Virginia Watch, Times West Virginian - Gov. Patrick Morrisey told the public Wednesday night during his State of the State address that he wanted a 10% personal income tax cut, saying it should be a priority to put more money back into people’s pockets. Read the full article. The next morning, his finance staff presented a budget to…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - More tax cuts could be on the horizon for West Virginians, if Gov. Patrick Morrisey gets his way. While delivering his second State of the State address on Wednesday, Morrisey asked both houses of the Legislature to pass a 10% reduction to the state’s personal income tax. Read the full article. Tax…
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia lawmakers have begun considering the governor’s $5.493 billion budget, including whether the state can afford another proposed income tax cut over the longer haul. Read the full article. “Governor Morrisey is presenting a balanced budget as required,” Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson told senators. The biggest drivers of budget growth…
In spite of the wide ranging challenges that West Virginia public schools are facing such as inadequate funding, an outdated funding formula, and the rapidly expanding Hope Scholarship voucher program, our public school system continues to educate and support the vast majority of children in our state. These ongoing challenges have led to waves of…