Under the Dome

Under the Dome delivers a review of the issues considered by the 83rd Legislature during its Second Session and provides information on matters that affect WVU and higher education. This edition covers the final days of the session and details action on bills passed by the Legislature and signed or vetoed by the Governor.

Following two years of extended sessions to deal with the State budget, the Legislature passed the budget unanimously on the last day of the regular session. This is the first time in 36 years that a budget has passed during the 60-day session.

On March 6, the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill to give teachers, school service personnel and state police officers a five-percent pay raise. The governor held a press conference to sign the bill, ending the nine-day teacher strike. The bill (HB 4145) passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. As part of the agreement between the governor and legislators, other state employees will receive a five-percent pay raise via the FY 2019 budget bill. Additionally, the Legislature has approved a pay raise for correction officers in separate legislation.

Watch a video of Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop explain what this will mean for WVU faculty and staff.

Under the Dome delivers a review of the issues being considered by the 83rd Legislature during its Second Session and provides information on matters that affect WVU and higher education.

On February 12, House Bill 4298 passed the House Education Committee. The bill would prohibit our Board of Governors, except in three defined instances, from banning individuals with a concealed weapon permit from carrying a concealed weapon on our campuses or in our buildings. Current law authorizes the Board of Governors and administration to make those decisions.