W.Va. legislators share high hopes for incoming session

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) - Both the West Virginia State Legislature, and the Virginia General Assembly returned to action on Wednesday with the start of their respective 2024 legislative sessions.

The start of the 86th West Virginia legislature’s second session saw minor developments in both chambers before moving into recess, in anticipation of Gov. Jim Justice’s final State of the State address. Set for 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, Gov. Justice is expected to lay-out his legislative agenda, and the cards are in his favor.

Republican state legislators, with supermajority control of both the House of Delegates and State Senate, shared their hopes for Wednesday’s address with WVVA.

“I think he’s going to talk about a lot of things that have already been done,” said Del. Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer.) “Particularly the tax cut that we did last year.”

“With this being his last year, I think he probably wants to go out with a very positive bang,” said Del. Elliot Pritt (R-Fayette.) “So I’m really hoping for an ambitious agenda, because there’s a lot of things that the state needs done.”

Chances of passage for the Governor’s agenda are excellent as well, since the Democrats can offer no resistance in the House and State Senate. And while one member of Justice’s party isn’t sure if he’ll address one concern -- he says he hopes to resurrect the death penalty in the Mountain State.

“There’s been discussion about re-instituting the death penalty for Fentanyl,” said Sen. Jack David Woodrum (R-Summers.) “Now this isn’t necessarily the user or maybe the person on the street. It’s for whoever manufactured the product and laced it with Fentanyl.”

It’s not just giving live to execution, however. Del. Pritt said he hopes to put more money in some state workers’ paychecks.

“We have to get raises for non-uniformed employees with the Department of Corrections,” said Del. Pritt. “We have to get funding for volunteer fire departments and EMS. So really, those two things are in my mind of paramount importance.”

It’s not just the Mountain State, either. Both Governors in the Two Virginias are laying out their legislative agendas on Wednesday. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth Address wrapped up at 4:00 p.m..

Tune into WVVA News at 10 and 11 on Wednesday for a recap of both addresses...and stay with WVVA.com for the very latest.

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