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Podcast - The Legislature Today Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Hosted by digital@wvpublic.org (WVPB Staff) · EN
Telling West Virginia's Story
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Budget, Policy Expert Talks Microgrids And Tax Revenues
Apr 10, 2025Tap to summarizeOn 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 to the state. Curtis Tate talks with Kelly Allen of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy about this issue. The Senate met Thursday morning to go over the first half of bills in the final stages of consideration. Several bills passed narrowly, and many more were left to be considered after our broadcast deadline. Briana Heaney reports from the morning's bills. With session winding down, members of the House convened for an hours-long floor session Thursday. Jack Walker has this story. And concerns over the economy, job futures, DEI changes and more extend beyond the legislature in Charleston. Randy Yohe went out earlier Thursday to gauge student concerns on Marshall University’s campus. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nauo7wCCdco The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Health Stakeholders Discuss Proposed Changes To State Code
Feb 19, 2025Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, Health Reporter Emily Rice speaks with Jim Kauffman, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, and Jessica Dobrinsky, chief of staff and certificate of need policy expert at the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, about changes lawmakers are proposing to state code this session. Also, the much-watched vaccine exemption bill was laid over in the Senate Wednesday. Legislators have told WVPB the bill likely won't be voted on until Friday. Also from the Senate, the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 banned gender-affirming care for transgender minors, with narrow exceptions for hormone therapy. Now, a more conservative Senate is moving to do away with those exemptions. A bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Rose, R-Monongalia, would ban hormone therapy for new and existing patients under 18. Briana Heaney brings us this story. The House Health and Human Services Committee spent more than three hours Tuesday evening deliberating two bills related to food sales in the state. Two hours of debate centered around HB 2354, which would add seven food dyes to the list of banned food alterations. Finally, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said the state is facing a $400 million shortfall. But many in the legislature are not so sure. Caelan Bailey looked into it for us. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/live/jul48_W1TQc The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Senate President Smith Weighs In On Legislative Goals
Feb 18, 2025Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas speaks with West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston. Smith was elected to be the Senate President for the 87th legislature that started this year. Against the backdrop of legislative action Tuesday, much of the state is reeling from massive flooding over the President's Day weekend. Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed the flood-related deaths of two people in McDowell County. He has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting disaster assistance for 13 West Virginia counties. In the Senate, a bill that would allow for broader vaccine exemptions for schools hit that second reading stage. Briana Heaney has more. On the House floor, delegates adopted a resolution rejecting the redesignation of part of a Potomac River tributary. And some of the first bills discussed in the Senate Education Committee this year are trying to address the ongoing issue of staffing in West Virginia’s schools. Chris Schulz has more. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/live/cWUN_R0XAL8 The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Deputy Speaker Of The House Talks Floor Debate Changes, Vaccine Exemptions
Feb 17, 2025Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, News Director Eric Douglas speaks with Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speaker of the House Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell. They discuss plans for legislation, the new process of debating bills in the House and legislation implementing religious exemptions from vaccines. Rohrbach is also a doctor. We also feature a conversation between Health Reporter Emily Rice and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, to discuss his objectives this session as chair of the House Health Committee. In the Senate Monday, SB 460, or the vaccine bill, was on first reading. The bill will be on second reading Tuesday, or the amendment stage, and is likely to have amendments offered. Also, we bring you the latest on changes in the House of Delegates. The most notable does away with public hearings in favor of public comment in the committee process. Supporters say the procedural overhaul will give delegates more time to carefully consider bills and their effects on West Virginians, including public input. But opponents argue the new system gives committee chairs discretion to ignore certain members of the public.And LGBTQ advocacy groups brought a rainbow of color to the Capitol rotunda Monday. They came to discuss their work, plus their priorities and concerns for this year’s legislative session. Jack Walker has the story. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Smq0Sp6XY The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Reporter Roundtable Recaps First Week Of 2025 Session And Looks Ahead
Feb 14, 2025Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, we have a roundtable with our Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate, Health Reporter Emily Rice and Statehouse Reporter Briana Heaney. They discuss the first days of the 2025 state legislative session and look ahead to the remaining weeks. Also, members of the House Education Committee have wasted no time getting to work on big issues. The committee held two informational hearings, first on the Hope Scholarship Thursday and then on the state school funding formula Friday. And, lawmakers began the process of establishing a religious exemption to childhood vaccines Thursday. There were so many questions from lawmakers that the Senate Health Committee had to come back for an extended meeting. Last year, we introduced a new segment in our program featuring two West Virginia high school students who learn about the legislative process by following bills that interest them. Those students last year were Ben Valleau and Ameera Mustafa. In December, on their winter break from college, Valleau and Mustafa came back to our studio to pass the torch on to one of our new high school hosts, Emma Browning. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://youtu.be/KhvYn0R-I4M?si=UWPOGODnaHVJ0JGD The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Minority Leaders Respond To Morrisey’s First State Of The State Address
Feb 13, 2025Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address to the West Virginia Legislature Wednesday night. Briana Heaney has our recap. Minority Leaders Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, sat down with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss Morrisey's State of the State address and about being a minority to a supermajority in the legislature. Also, a new set of rules in the House of Delegates was approved Wednesday with Democrats and advocacy groups both raising concerns. Delegates offered nine amendments to the rules but none of them passed. Briana Heaney has this story. And child welfare advocates came to the Capitol Wednesday to urge lawmakers to make changes to Child Protective Services. Curtis Tate reports. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/live/kk5XQ7UzfyM The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Reporter Roundtable Looks Ahead To Final Hours Of 2024 Session
Mar 8, 2024Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our final reporter roundtable of the 2024 state legislative session. WVPB statehouse reporters Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney talk with Leah Willingham from the Associated Press about the past 60 days and the upcoming final hours of the session on Saturday. In the House Friday, the chamber started the day with more than 60 bills on third reading. Bills passed and sent to the governor included posting the national motto in schools, lowering prescription costs, fixing substandard recovery residences and the development of Corridor H. Randy Yohe has the story. In the Senate, the chamber has so far approved 361 bills from both the House and Senate this year, but there are several left to discuss and a lot of those bills are controversial. Briana Heaney looks at what the Senate worked on Thursday night, on Friday, as well as some of the legislation slated for Friday evening. Finally, for their last story, our high school reporters Ben Valleau and Ameera Mustafa look at bills in the legislature that involve mental health issues. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezii7F1lo7I The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Join WVPB Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. for our special Final Hours program on The Legislature Today. Please note, this program will only be available on WVPB TV and not live streamed on YouTube.
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State Senators Weigh In On The Bills That Passed, Failed This Session
Mar 7, 2024Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, our Senate reporter Briana Heaney talks with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, to discuss where things stand and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session. Also, earlier in the day Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation to extend the legislative session by one day to allow the legislature to finalize the state budget bill. There has been discussion about a special session in May to finalize questions regarding a potential federal claw back of COVID-19 relief funds. In the House, there was a long debate over minorities purchasing car dealerships and another contested debate over control of the Legislative Auditor’s office. Other proposals included smoking in the car with a child and taking action over a massive federal deficit. In the Senate, the chamber passed several House bills, some of which head to the governor and others back to the House to concur on changes. Some notable bills in the Senate Thursday were on topics such as renewable energy, pornography and cyber security. Briana Heaney has more. Finally, a state Senate committee heard new details Wednesday about how the Pleasants Power Station will be converted from coal to hydrogen. Curtis Tate has the story. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjOSfLshVA The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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WVPB Reporters Recap Bills Passed And Failed This Session
Mar 6, 2024Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia. In the House Wednesday, several Senate bills on third reading were sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information, and leadership and structural changes to the Educational Broadcasting Authority – which governs West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Randy Yohe has more. Also, a bill with bipartisan support to criminalize artificial intelligence (AI) child pornography now has an unexpected insert – resurrecting a bill regarding libraries and obscene materials. Randy Yohe has more. In the Senate Wednesday, the chamber processed many House bills with zero debate and unanimous or near unanimous votes. It was also Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. Briana Heaney has more. Finally, the Senate Health Committee met in front of a room full of white coat-wearing physicians to discuss House Bill 5105 – a bill to eliminate vaccine requirements for public virtual schools. The committee approve the bill after amending it to remove religious exemptions for public school students, but not for private and parochial school students. The bill will now be considered by the full Senate. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVcnojxp9ug The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Lawmakers Debate Budget And Federal Funding Claw Back
Mar 5, 2024Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Legislature Today, we are in the final days of the 2024 session, and there is a rush to get bills across the finish line – including the budget bill. In the House, much of the debate Tuesday morning focused on satisfying a $465 million federal claw back regarding the state’s spending on education. When it came to the budget debate – some promised program funding not education related - fell by the wayside. Randy Yohe reports. Also, two bills debated in the House Judiciary Committee dealt with two lightning rod issues: crimes regarding married couples and sexual abuse, and setting parameters on teaching scientific theories when it comes to the creation of the universe – and of life. Randy Yohe has more. School discipline was identified as a key issue coming into this year’s legislative session. But with the session’s end just days away, a key school discipline bill is in question after a contentious committee meeting Monday afternoon. Chris Schulz has more. Finally, community air monitoring has been a topic of debate this session. House Bill 5018 would restrict how data from the monitors could be used in the regulatory process or in court. But a Senate hearing on the bill Tuesday was canceled, so the fate of HB 5018 is unknown. Also, the West Virginia Office of Energy released a priority action plan last week. Curtis Tate spoke with Morgan King, the West Virginia regional organizer for the Climate Reality Project, and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, to get an update on that and other issues. Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCVgfV2WoI The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session. Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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