The Special Session of the West Virginia Legislature called by Governor Justice concluded October 8, at approximately 9:30 pm. The following bills were passed:
- HB 201: $10 million for Communities in Schools program
- HB 202: Approval to spend $150 million for road maintenance
- HB 203: $1.2 million for veterans’ assistance
- HB 204: $375,000 WV State Police dispatch center
- HB 205: $15 million adjutant general’s office
- HB 206: $2 million WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute research
·• HB 207: $379,468 additional funding for aid to exceptional children - HB 208: Making WV a nuclear regulatory agreement state (applies to low level radioactive materials such as that used in medical tests not nuclear fuel energy)
- HB 211: $100 million for matching federal grants for water, sewer, and other projects
- HB 212: $22 million for nursing and fire and EMS training
- HB 213: $135 million grant match funding for local water, sewer, and other local projects
- HB 214: $2 million Office of Inspector General operations
- HB 215: $2.8 million Minden community hazardous clean up
- HB 216: $9.3 million Office of Technology operations
- HB 218: $1.15 million WV conservation Agency for dam repair
- HB 219: $1.05 million to pay for public defender services
- HB 226: Providing a childcare and dependent child tax credit
- HB 227: Allowing public charter schools to apply for SBA funding
- HB 230: $1 million to Department of Education safe schools’ fund
- HB 244: Placing a moratorium on new municipal fire fees imposed on non-municipal residents
- HB 245: $5 million to the Office of EMS
- SB 2009: $87 million to PEIA reserve fund
- SB 2010: $40 million to rural hospitals deferred maintenance
- SB 2020: $13.6 million to WV School of Osteopathic Medicine deferred maintenance
- SB 2020/2021/ 2024 $40 million Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Regional Jails and Juvenile Services
- SB 2028: Allowing two clinical trials related to medicated assisted treatment for substance abuse disorder
- SB 2031: $5 million to SBA for public charter schools
- SB 2032: $10 million Dept of Agriculture for drought assistance
- SB 2033: Two percent additional decrease in personal income tax
- SB 2034: $175,000 to WV State Police
- SB 2035: To provide funding for broadband expansion projects
- SB 2036: $8.3 million to Higher Education Policy Commission for correction to funding formula
- SB 2037: $349,715 to New River Community and Technical College
- SB 2038: $15 million from Dept of Treasury to General Revenue account
- SB 2039: $15 million to colleges and universities for deferred maintenance
If you have questions about any of the bills passed during the special session or want to talk about any legislation, please give me a call.
Friday, I enjoyed the Gilmer County High School Homecoming game and a visit from Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Patrick Morrisey. We were able to visit with constituents and discuss ideas for West Virginia. Congratulations to Gilmer County High School on their homecoming victory!
Will and I also had the pleasure of spending the evening with the Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department at their end of the year awards dinner. Thank you to Martin Hess and the rest of the
department for a delicious meal and congratulations and thank you to the department for the tremendous service to our communities. They are truly the guardians of our communities, ready to answer the call to help at a moment’s notice.
October 12th was National Farmers Day. I had an amazing time at the Braxton County Farm Crawl! It was wonderful to see so many families out enjoying the beautiful weather and learning about the hard work that goes into farming. Thank you to all the farmers that welcomed visitors, shared their products, and came to Gassaway to be a part of the day! From fresh produce to homemade goodies, every stop was a reminder of the dedication and passion our farmers put into their work.
Let us take a moment to appreciate the farmers who provide us with fresh, healthy food and contribute so much to our community. Their efforts are truly the backbone of our society.
Congratulations to the Braxton County High School Girls and Boys soccer teams for winning the Little Kanawha Conference Championship.
I, like so many others, enjoyed a couple of beautiful evenings viewing the northern lights. We grow accustomed to beautiful skies during the day, but seeing the glorious colors at night is a treat.
Amid the majesty of night,
What splendid vision
strikes my eyes,
In glory bursting on the sight,
Forth from the northern skies?
(Stephen Greenleaf
Bulfinch)
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.