Welcome
Under the Dome is an update on actions and activities of the West Virginia Legislature, provided during the regular legislative session and interim sessions for West Virginia University faculty and staff by WVU’s Office of State, Local and Corporate Relations. This issue provides an overview of the 82nd Legislature’s interim sessions and appointments to state boards and commissions.
Interims
Since adjourning on March 14, 2015, the Legislature has met for two interim sessions on April 13-14 and June 7-8.
Several topics have been discussed during these meetings, including tax reform. During the regular session, the Legislature formed a study committee, called the Joint Select Committee on Tax Reform.
This committee has been meeting during the interim sessions, as well as on separate dates, to discuss West Virginia’s tax structure and the many taxes that affect the businesses and citizens of the Mountain State — business, sales, property, severance, and county and municipal taxes. Additionally, the committee has reviewed numerous past tax studies, including the 2006 Tax Modernization Report Project, which is the most recent comprehensive study of this issue.
Dr. John Deskins, Director of B&E's Bureau for Business and Economic Research, presented at the May 18 meeting of this committee. View his full presentation.
Other high-profile topics discussed during the interim sessions have been the Common Core educational standards, prevailing wage, racing and gaming revenue, and a study of unitization of interests in horizontal well drilling units, commonly referred to as “forced pooling.”
Upcoming Meetings
The Joint Selection Committee on Tax Reform will meet next on August 17 and 31 and is tentatively planning to meet a number of times before the end of the year.
The next interim sessions will be held in Charleston on September 13-14, October 18-19 and November 15-16.
Appointments to State Boards and Commissions
Governor Tomblin appointed Tara Hulsey, dean of the WVU School of Nursing, to the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The seven-member board provides oversight of more than 32,000 registered nurses, advance practice registered nurses and dialysis technicians and is responsible for establishing professional standards and guidance for the profession.
Timothy Sweet, Eberly Family Professor of American Literature in the Department of English, was elected to the board of the West Virginia Humanities Council. The Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization working to provide lifelong learning opportunities in history and culture to West Virginians.
More Information
Learn more about the interim sessions.
More information on the Joint Select Committee on Tax Reform.