FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2025
Judy K. Ball, PhD, MPA
Co-President, League of Women Voters of West Virginia
Chair, League Legislative Action Workgroup (LLAW)
240-997-1222
LWVofWV(a)gmail.com
League of Women Voters Releases 2025 WV Legislative Scorecard for 24 Bills
Morgantown, WV: The League of Women Voters of West Virginia has published
its Legislative Scorecard for the 2025 West Virginia legislative session.
This Scorecard compiles the votes of all senators and delegates on 24 bills
that became law. These 24 bills are significant to the LWVWV because they
directly relate to key LWVWV priorities in four policy areas:
strengthening democracy, safeguarding equal rights, protecting children and
families, and creating a sustainable future.
Voter service is a principle mission for the League. The Legislative
Scorecard is designed to inform voters and to hold legislators, regardless
of party, accountable for their votes on League priorities. This
information is particularly important as voters begin to prepare for the
2026 election cycle.
“This is our third year producing a Legislative Scorecard, and we continue
to refine it based on feedback from voters,” says Judy Ball, Co-President
of LWVWV. “This year, we’ve eliminated the Summary Detail section to
improve clarity and, for the first time, included the state budget bill in
our analysis of bills to include.”
When the Legislature adjourns from each regular session, production of the
2025 LWVWV Scorecard represents a significant undertaking — reviewing all
243 bills that became law from the 2,460 bills introduced during the
regular session. Although LWVWV priorities and positions are the focus of
the Scorecard, voters who disagree with those positions may still find the
Scorecard useful because each bill is presented with full transparency.
Whether the League supported or opposed each bill is clearly noted. Bills
included in the Scorecard are selected without regard to their sponsors or
votes for or against. For more information, every bill is linked to its
legislative history on the WV Legislature website.
“The inclusion of HB 2026, the state budget bill, marks an important shift
in our Scorecard this year,” said Ball. “The League opposed this bill not
for what it included, but for what it failed to include for protecting
children and families in our state. Then, the Governor’s 29 line-item
vetoes significantly altered the budget passed by the Legislature. Voters
deserve to know how their representatives voted on this critical
legislation.”
Two additional bills addressing supplementary appropriations (HB 3356 and
HB 3357) would have been included in the scorecard but for the League’s
practice of not incorporating such measures. The LWVWV opposed both bills
under its priority of protecting children and families.
“Once again, our Legislature failed to address many of the critical
challenges facing West Virginia families,” Ball concluded. “Issues like the
ongoing childcare crisis, adequate Medicaid funding, strengthening public
education, expanding voting access, combating discrimination, support for
equal rights, providing family leave, supporting evidence-based substance
use disorder treatment, and protecting our environment — all those remain
unresolved.”
The LWVWV Legislative Scorecard for 2025 is available in a searchable
format at LWVWV.org <http://lwvwv.org/>.
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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that
encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. The
League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but is
engaged in local, state, and national issues of importance to our
communities. The League works to influence public policy through advocacy
and education. League membership is open to all men and women age 16 or
older. More at: www.lwv.org (National) and www.lwvwv.org (WV).
The League of Women Voters is proud to once again join the *John Lewis
“Good Trouble” Day of Action <https://goodtroubleliveson.org/>* — a
national mobilization honoring the legacy of Rep. John Lewis and
recommitting to the fight for voting rights and democracy. League members
are invited to participate by attending, organizing, or collaborating on
community-centered events, from rallies and candlelight vigils to
educational forums and voter outreach actions.
July 17 is the anniversary of Congressman Lewis’s death, and these events
offer a meaningful opportunity to reflect on his enduring legacy—and to
recommit to what he called “good trouble,” especially in the ongoing fight
for voting rights.
Several volunteer organized events are happening across West Virginia. Click
here <https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/?q=wv&show_all_events=true>
to find an event near you.
Posters for Charles Town and Morgantown events are attached.
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State Board Members, Local League Presidents and League Friends:
Attached is the June newsletter from the Huntington League of Women Voters. We hope you enjoy this edition.
Beverly MurrellPatricia Keller