Legislative Update… By Lori Dittman WV House of Delegates 63rd District

I attended the Glenville State University (GSU) Board of Governors Retreat and participated in a legislative panel discussion along with GSU President, Dr. Mark Manchin, Senator Ben Queen, Senator David Stover, and the moderator, David Hutchison. Glenville State University announced its largest overall enrollment since 2015, an increase in the number of online students, and a 109% increase in students in graduate programs. GSU is experiencing a renaissance. “We are thrilled to witness such a robust increase in our student enrollment, which reflects the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, and administration to provide an outstanding educational experience,” remarked Dr. Mark A. Manchin. “This accomplishment underscores our commitment to preparing our students for success in a rapidly changing world while maintaining the close-knit, supportive atmosphere that Glenville is known for.”
I would also like to congratulate Kyla Lovejoy, GSU’s 2023-24 Pioneer. She is enthusiastic about the university and her role as the Pioneer.
Gov. Jim Justice announced that Fidelis New Energy®, LLC (Fidelis) has selected Mason County as the site for a lifecycle carbon neutral hydrogen production facility – The Mountaineer GigaSys-tem™ and the Monarch Cloud Campus for data centers powered by net-zero hydrogen.
Mountaineer will be implementing the proprietary FidelisH2® technology that enables production of hydrogen with zero lifecycle carbon emissions from a combination of natural gas, carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) and renewable energy.
Bills signed by Gov. Justice included those that increased correctional officer salaries, provided $1 million to WV Veterans Nursing Facility, allocated $4 million for new firefighting equipment, renamed Region Four Division of Forestry, provided $25 million in funding to Pierpont Community and Technical College Aviation Maintenance Program, and resolved vehicle property tax credit confusion.
The start of school has been a good one. I enjoyed meeting my students and seeing so many teachers and families excited about the school year.
Fall sports will be in full swing this week providing opportunities for students and communities to come together to support them.
Sports were a significant part of my school years. Just this past weekend I got to get together with some of my Lady Eagles teammates for the second summer in a row. We enjoyed an evening of reminiscing and helped support our current Lady Eagles at the Ballerina 5K at Holly Gray. Thanks to the coaches and players for hosting a fun event! We don’t get to see each other often, but our affection and care for each other has continued through the decades.
“The important thing is that your teammates have to know you’re pulling for them, and you really want them to be successful.”
(Kobe Bryant)
I look forward to hearing from people in the district and hope to see you out and about enjoying all the great things our area has to offer. I can be contacted at lori.dittman@wv house.gov or 304-701-8600.