Good morning and welcome to 60 Days.
Today is Wednesday, March 8, 2023 — the 57th day of the West Virginia Legislature's regular session.
As the session begins to wind down — and because this is the last post I will write entirely on my own this session — I’m in a bit of a reflective mood.
Keeping up with what’s happening in Charleston from afar and coordinating day-in-and-day-out with Giles has been a lot of work. He and I have spent hours on the phone this session — pointing storylines out to one another, sharing gossip and generally goofing off. And if one of us is writing, the other is editing. It may not seem like a lot, but it is.
Don’t take any of that as a complaint. It’s been enjoyable. It connected me back to something I care about and has got me thinking a lot about the work I do and the state of journalism in West Virginia. That’s all difficult to make time for when you’re running in circles under the dome.
It occurred to me recently that, between my real job and this little-side-project-that-could, I’ll have taken two full days off the entire session. One a few weekends ago and one coming up: the “Final Night.” I’m pretty sure that Giles is in the same boat.
It just so happens he’ll be in Morgantown Saturday as lawmakers wrap things up on the last day. We’re planning on clinking a few glasses of adult beverages and then doing some planning on rebranding this thing (because, well, the 60 Days banner wouldn’t make much sense outside of the session).
So, this morning’s coffee ask has a bit of a twist. We’re looking for some support to keep a newsletter about West Virginia news and politics going, albeit in a different form and under a different name. And seeing how he and I are getting together this weekend, we’re also asking for a few drinks of the alcoholic variety to celebrate putting 60 Days — and the session itself — to bed very soon.
Now, down to business:
Gov. Jim Justice has signed the tax cut deal he worked out with lawmakers over a rare weekend work session a few weeks back. A bill signing ceremony held yesterday at the Culture Center Theater for HB 2526 featured Republican leaders and blue and gold balloons.
If you want to watch video of the event, you can do so here:
Just to jog your memory about what’s in this legislation:
A 21.5% reduction to the income tax cut
A rebate on personal property taxes
A tax benefit for veterans
A 50% percent rebate on the taxes small businesses pay on machinery and inventories
The measure also creates triggers for further tax cuts based on future revenue figures.
Gov. Justice and his fellow Republicans are touting this effort as the largest tax cut in state history. But, as we’ve noted before, the left-leaning West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy is also looking to history to argue that this legislation could have disastrous — or unproductive, at least — effects.
Regardless, tax cuts have been a marquee issue for the governor and lawmakers all session — and even in recent years past. So the GOP is touting this bill’s passing and signing as a big win.
The Associated Press offers this reporting on HB 2526 and its potential effect on the state budget.
Looking ahead to this morning, both the House and Senate gavel in at 11 a.m.
The floor calendars for each are expectedly long, so I’m not going to include everything. But, because it’s my duty and I know you’re counting on us to keep you properly informed, I will highlight the following measures that are expected to go up for a vote.
In the Senate, this bill is one that we discussed rather early on:
Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 2002 - Relating to providing support for families
And, notably, on the passage stage in the House:
Com. Sub. for S. B. 558 - Prohibiting law-enforcement agencies from posting booking photographs of certain criminal defendants on social media
Com. Sub. for S. B. 613 - Relating generally to certificates of need
With just a few short days left in the session, committees are beginning to wind down, though there is plenty on the agendas to keep an eye on.
The following House committees will gather today:
9 a.m. – the Committee on the Judiciary will reconvene to take up the remainder of its agenda from yesterday - Room 410M
10:45 a.m. — the Committee on Rules - Behind the House chamber
Senate panels scheduled for today and their agendas will be as follows:
9 a.m.: Military (208W)
HB 2967: Expediting License Applications for active military members and veterans, and their spouses
HCR 15: Requesting That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance send official correspondence to West Virginia’s federal delegations stating West Virginia veterans’ concerns and objections to the two TRICARE for Life (“TFL”) proposals
9:30 a.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure (451M)
Agenda TBA
10 a.m.: Government Organization (208W)
HCR 27: Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study all benefits of state employees to determine which benefits, if any, may be refused by an employee in exchange for a cash equivalent
HB 3203: Relating generally to West Virginia Real Estate License Act
HB 3443: Relating to a development or improvement on land subject to review by the State Historic Preservation Office
HB 3451: Updating the veteran preference ratings in state code for state employment
HB 3354: To authorize municipalities to combine operations with other municipalities and counties to provide governmental services
10:50 a.m.: Committee on Rules (219M)
1 p.m.: Energy, Industry and Mining (208W)
Eng. Com. Sub. for HB 3482: To create the Coal Fired Grid Stabilization and Security Act of 2023
Time TBA: Judiciary (208W)
HB 3560: Relating to expanding the definitions of land and recreational purposes
HB 2621: Relating generally to bail bondsman
HB 3059: Give PSC authority to fine Class I railroads for safety and operational violations
HB 2862: Relating generally to requirements for shareholder voting by the West Virginia Investment Management Board and the Board of Treasury Investments
HB 3018: Establishing that 18 is the age of consent and removing the ability of an underage person to obtaining a consent to marry through their parents, legal guardians, or by petition to the circuit court
HB 3190: Amending the definition of “minor”
HB 2008: Requiring local entities to enforce immigration laws
HB 2007: Prohibiting certain medical practices
3 p.m.: Finance (451M)
Com. Sub. for HB 3035: Relating generally to high-quality education programs and school operations
HB 3408: To clean up statutory provisions regarding the Hope Scholarship program to better reflect the intent and operation of the program
Com. Sub. for HB 3303: Clarifying and expanding the powers and duties of the director of the Coalfield Community Development Office
Com. Sub. for HB 3135: To modify the salaries of the Governor and Constitutional officers beginning January 1, 2025
Com. Sub. for HB 3398: Relating to the establishment of the West Virginia Memorial to Fallen Heroes of the Global War on Terrorism
HB 3156: Raising the compensation rates of panel attorneys
Com. Sub. for HB 3369: Creating a School Safety Unit within the Division of Protective Services
Com. Sub. for HB 3040: Supplementing and amending appropriations to the Department of Administration, Office of the Secretary
And here’s a rundown of news that you should probably know about to get your day started:
West Virginia tax cut digs deep into budget surplus | The Associated Press
House Education Committee struggles with governor’s curriculum bill before passing it |WVMetroNews
Deliberate intent bill advances to full Senate after committee debates workplace lung claims | WVMetroNews
Lawmakers Disagree Over Appropriation Of Federal Relief Funds | West Virginia Public Broadcasting
House approves bill requiring written impact statements for school consolidation | The Charleston Gazette-Mail (paywall)
That does it for me today — and, well, for the rest of the session, at least in terms of writing this thing solo. We’ve got just a few more days and briefings left, so let’s all finish strong.
If you want to get in touch, you can leave us a comment. Despite what Giles has been trying to convince you, we share the brunt of any complaints. But, to be fair, people seem to like us well enough to not complain.
You can also email us at 60daysgilesdave@gmail.com.
I’m on Twitter at @davemistich and Giles is @GilesSnyder.
Thanks so much, this has been very helpful for us to keep track of what is happening in Charleston!!
What happened to PFAS bill?