February 19, 2025 Edition

In Review

Under the Dome delivers a review of issues being considered by the West Virginia Legislature. It provides information on matters that impact WVU and higher education, as well as other hot topics being addressed that affect the Mountain State and its citizens. This edition includes information on the State of the State, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, WVU priorities and some of the high-profile legislation introduced so far.

State of the State

Last week, Governor Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address. In the speech, he called for better efficiency in state government, lower taxes, the repeal of Certificate of Need (commonly referred to as CON), economic development, the workforce and combating the drug epidemic.

Governor Morrisey addressed the $400 million budget gap that his administration has announced and is trying to solve for in his introduced budget. He also called for a short-term and long-term solution to PEIA, and he asked the Legislature to work with him on more competitive pay for teachers.

FY26 Budget

With a $400 million budget gap, Governor Morrisey’s introduced budget (Senate Bill 300 and House Bill 2026) contains a 2% reduction in some line items and no new programs or surplus spending. The budget does not contain pay raises for State employees.

WVU’s budget line items have not been decreased. In fact, the Governor’s introduced budget slightly increases our line items over last year.

WVU Priorities

Government Relations is focused on three main priorities for the 2025 session: supporting the University Police Department, protecting and enhancing Athletics and ensuring the rising costs of PEIA are top of mind as the State considers potential changes.

Two bills are being introduced to help members of the University Police Department. One will allow campus police officers access to a state pension plan. The other will ensure that retirement benefits are tax-free, boosting financial security for officers. Both will bring UPD in line with comparable benefits all other law enforcement agencies receive in West Virginia.

Governor Morrisey has introduced Senate Bill 499, which would authorize institutions of higher education to establish a nonprofit controlled by the institution to manage revenue sharing and Name Image Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes, maximize revenue-generating opportunities and efficiently conduct athletic business. The legislation was proposed by the University and will be considered by Senate Education. The same bill, House Bill 2576, has been introduced in the House and will be considered by House Education and House Judiciary.

West Virginia POWER Tech Center

In his State of the State, Governor Morrisey announced the formation of the West Virginia POWER Tech Center. The initiative (Powering Our Workforce through Energy and Revolutionary Technology) is a collaboration between four higher education institutions – WVU, Marshall, Shepherd and Blue Ridge – and the Center will focus on building an energy and workforce supply for the growing technological sector, attracting new investment, new jobs and new technology, including data centers.

DEI

Two bills have been introduced in the State Senate eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion personnel and programs at institutions of higher education.

Senate Bill 424 (Restoring Sanity Act) has been introduced by Senator Rucker. This is the same legislation as introduced last year, which was amended and passed by Senate Education, but not considered by Senate Judiciary. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee this year.

Governor Morrisey has introduced Senate Bill 474 to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The legislation largely codifies his Executive Order from January 14. However, it also incorporates some of the provisions from the Restoring Sanity Act. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Childhood Immunizations

Senate Bill 460, which would create a religious and conscientious exemption to the requirement for all school-aged children to be immunized before attending public schools, has been introduced and passed by the Senate Health Committee. It will be up for final passage in the Senate later this week before going to the House of Delegates for review.

Bill Tracking

Senate
SB 35 – Permitting campus police officers to participate in Deputy Sheriffs Retirement System
SB 299 – Modifying West Virginia regulations on pubertal modulation, hormonal therapy and gender reassignment
SB 300 – Budget Bill
SB 424 – Restoring Sanity Act
SB 435 – Updating West Virginia Law Institute
SB 447 – Creating Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act
SB 452 – Relating to Executive Branch Reorganization
SB 453 – Repealing Certificate of Need Process
SB 456 – Defining ‘Men’ and ‘Women’
SB 460 – Repealing Vaccine Requirements
SB 466 – Making Vaccines Voluntary and Not Mandatory
SB 474 – Ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs
SB 484 – Relating to Disclosures and Penalties Associated with Use of Synthetic Media and Artificial Intelligence
SB 499 – Nonprofit Athletics Act
SB 504 – Prohibiting Camping in Public Places
SB 519 – Adopting Statewide Public Camping Ban

House
HB 2004 – Relating to Vaccine Requirements
HB 2005 – Ending DEI Programs
HB 2006 – Defining Men and Women
HB 2007 – Repealing Certificate of Need Process
HB 2008 – Executive Branch Reorganization
HB 2152 – Prompt Payment Act of 2025
HB 2166 – Establishing the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Initiative at HEPC
HB 2370 – Relating Generally to Mental Health Treatment
HB 2378 – Prohibit Needle Exchanges from Providing Services in West Virginia
HB 2382 – To Ban Homeless Camps in Municipalities
HB 2384 – To Allow Those Who Are 18-20 Years Old to Carry a Deadly Weapon Concealed without a Permit
HB 2396 – Removing Schools, Public Libraries and Museums from the List of Exemptions from Criminal Liability Relating to Distribution and Display to Minor of Obscene Matter
HB 2403 – Remove Hormone Blockers from Transgender Code
HB 2406 – Eliminate Woke, Anti-Women Words from State Government
HB 2411 – To Provide and Chance Graduation Requirements and Change Duties Relating to Academic Content Standards
HB 2427 – Relating to Capitol Carry
HB 2430 – To Create State Civil Liability for Pharmaceutical Companies for Vaccine Injuries from COVID-19 Vaccines
HB 2481 – Businesses in West Virginia Must Accept Cash
HB 2485 – Exempt an Existing Hospital Under Certificate of Need to Move Their Facility Up to 10 Miles to a New Location
HB 2564 – Business and Public Area Liability Protection Act
HB 2574 – Relating to Nondiscrimination at Institutions of Higher Education
HB 2576 – Name Image Likeness Protection Act
HB 2595 – Nonprofit Athletics Act

Legislative Calendar

Wednesday, March 5        WVU and WVU Extension Day
Tuesday, March 18           Last Day to Introduce Bills in House of Delegates
Monday, March 24           Last Day to Introduce Bill in State Senate    
Tuesday, March 25           Undergraduate Research Day
Sunday, March 30            Bills Due Out of Committee
Wednesday, April 2          Final Day to Consider Bills on Third Reading (50th Day)
Saturday, April 12            Adjournment at Midnight (60th Day)

More Information

To learn more about the Legislature, including district maps, committee assignments, bill tracking and a summary of daily activities, please visit wvlegislature.gov.

To learn more about WVU’s government relations and legislative initiatives, please visit governmentrelations.wvu.edu or contact Travis Mollohan, associate vice president for government relations and collaboration, at tmolloh1@mail.wvu.edu or Dan Kimble, director of state relations, at dkimble3@mail.wvu.edu.