Wheeling, W.Va. (WVDN) — Today, Governor Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia Legislators, and local elected officials celebrated executive and legislative achievements in the first 100 days of the Governor’s term.
“My administration has hit the ground running to start moving the needle on issues that matter for West Virginia,” said Governor Morrisey. “West Virginia has too much potential and opportunity to let it be squandered away through apathy and simply doing things the way they’ve always been done. We have had a lot of success and made good progress in our first 100 days – but we are just getting started.
Governor Morrisey highlighted signing a balanced budget, removing DEI from higher education, and partnering with the Trump Administration to streamline deportations. He also highlighted significant legislative moves including:
- House Bill 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act, which creates a certified microgrid program in West Virginia to expand microgrid development, utilize coal and natural gas resources, and reinvest in West Virginia by creating funds to lower the income tax, provide funding for economic development, and stabilize the electric grid.
- Senate Bill 456, the Riley Gaines Act, defines sex-based terms like “male” and “female” in the state code to allow for single-sex private spaces. This will protect girls and women – ensuring a man cannot entire a women’s bathroom, locker room, or other similar facility.
- House Bill 2002 creates the One Stop Shop Permitting Program, including providing for the creation of a Permitting Dashboard to operate as a “one-stop-shop” for obtaining and renewing qualifying business permits, streamlining the permitting process in West Virginia. This will encourage businesses to more easily and simply move to West Virginia.
- Senate Bill 458, the Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act, allows licensed and certified professionals to practice in West Virginia without taking additional examinations to attain local licensure or certification. This process will cut red tape, reduce healthcare costs, grow jobs, and encourage more people to come to West Virginia.
- House Bill 2003 limits the use of personal electronic devices like cell phones in school classrooms during instructional time to cut down on distractions and improve student well-being.
- House Bill 2008, House Bill 2009, and House Bill 2013 are government reorganization bills that reduce bureaucracy and create a more efficient government. HB 2008 brings the office of Economic Development under the Department of Commerce. HB 2009 brings the Department of Arts, Culture and History into the Department of Tourism. HB 2013 exempts new hires at the Bureau of Senior Services, the Department of Administration, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Veterans Assistance from the civil service system. This will allow state government to more effectively advance merit-based systems and will enforce government accountability.
- HB 3342 FIND Act, which prohibits companies with contracts with the state from discriminating against the firearm industry or firearm owners.
- SB 474, Ending DEI Programs, which prohibits the state executive branch, county schools, and higher education from having programs that facilitate or promote DEI. It also bans hiring practices that discriminate on race or sex.
During the first 100 days, Governor Morrisey directed state agencies to compile lists of different ways that West Virginia can be competitive economically with all the states we touch, and recommendations on how to eliminate wasteful spending. Morrisey said he will be rolling out these recommendations in the weeks ahead, and is also preparing to grapple with important issues such as PEIA and advancing educational attainment.
