The West Virginia House of Delegates advanced several bills this morning, including the following:
House Bill 5453 would modify the school aid funding formula. This bill would revise the base amount of funding for the next three years and establish additional funding for special needs students. In addition to changes to funding, this bill also establishes the legislature’s oversight power in case of maladministration.
Delegate Gary G. Howell (R – Mineral, 87) proposed an amendment that would establish a floor for the previous funding years. In Howell’s amendment, the allowance of money cannot be less than the previous year’s funding. This amendment passed with a vote of 49 to 43.
House Bill 5074 would allow for the allocation of existing funds in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund. After the bill was amended on the floor, this bill would allocate $3 million to the Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a child protection program, $20 million to Ibogaine research, and $5 million to the Division of Primary Care to expand/enhance services addressing homelessness.
Delegate Michael Hite (R – Berkeley, 92) and Delegate Ryan Browning (R – Wayne, 28) proposed an amendment to allocate the $20 million to Ibogaine research. This is split by $10 million to Marshall University and $10 million to West Virginia University. This amendment was adopted with a vote of 47 to 46.
Delegate Evan Worrell (R – Cabell, 23) proposed an amendment to allocate $5 million to the Division of Primary Care to expand and enhance services for the homeless community. This amendment was adopted with a vote of 59 to 34.
From July 1, 2026, the funding in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund of $38 million would be distributed as follows:
- 15% to the Office of Medical Cannabis
- 15% to the Department of Agriculture for medical cannabis testing at West Virginia State University.
- 20% to the Fight Substance Abuse Fund
- 10% to Marshall University for cannabis research.
- 10% to West Virginia University for substance abuse research.
- 10% to the Supreme Court of Appeals for a child protection commission.
- 20% to the Division of Administrative Services for grants to train agencies, drug diversion programs, and other crime and addiction programs.
House Bill 5687 would reduce the severance tax rate on metallurgical coal from 5% to the following:
- 4.5% for the Fiscal Year of 2027
- 4% for the Fiscal Year of 2028
- 3% for the Fiscal Year of 2029 and onward.
Committee Meetings, Today, March 3
- Education at 4:45 p.m. in Room 432M
Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, March 4
- Finance at 9 a.m. in Room 460M
- Judiciary at 9 a.m. in Room 410M
- Rules at 10:45 a.m. in the Speaker’s Conference Room
- Government Organization at 1 p.m. in Room 215E
- Education at 1 p.m. in Room 432M
- Health and Human Resources at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Energy and Public Works at 3 p.m. in Room 410M
The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Tomorrow, March 5.
