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Make Some Noise Updates and Actions
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 03 Mar '25

03 Mar '25

Senate contacts: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/senate/ SB 299 will be up for a vote by the full Senate later this week along with SB 154. 🛑 SB 299 denies access to necessary gender-affirming healthcare. (On first reading March 4) 🛑 SB 154 prohibits instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, and it requires notification of parent/guardian if a student requests an accommodation related to gender identity. This puts a child’s safety at risk. (On second reading March 4) … House contacts: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house/ SB 460 hasn't come up for Mark Up & Passage in House Health ( health(a)wvhouse.gov) yet, but it could be back on the agenda at any time, possibly this week. 🛑 SB 460 will relax WV’s first-in-the-Nation childhood vaccination standards. At least one child has died from a current and growing measles outbreak in Texas, which has lax vaccination standards. 🛑 HB 2400 prohibits distribution of absentee ballot applications—public documents. The bill is parked on the inactive calendar because its provisions have been amended into HB 2117 parked on the inactive calendar. 🛑 HB 2117 changes date for mail-in ballots to be received by clerk, and after being amended in committee, prohibits distribution of absentee ballot applications. HB 2117 is on first reading March 4. … Legal Services, a subcommittee of House Judiciary ( legal.services(a)wvhouse.gov and judiciary(a)wvhouse.gov), is advancing: 🛑 HB 2382, a statewide camping ban, which will criminalize homelessness under the guise of protecting public health. A similar ordinance is on the ballot for repeal in Morgantown’s city election in April as a result of a citizen petition. House Education (education(a)wvhouse.gov) has on its March 3 agenda: 🛑 HB 2187, to permit teachers in elementary and secondary schools to carry concealed firearms, stun guns, and tasers. Under House rules, each bill is considered in committee over two days. This is day one for HB 2187.

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Join Our Consensus Meeting on the Federal Judiciary - March 15 @10AM
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 02 Mar '25

02 Mar '25

During the 2024 LWVUS Convention, delegates voted to conduct a one-year study on the Federal Judiciary to arrive at a Position. This effort is ongoing and the process will yield a new position by June 2025. On *Saturday, March 15 at 10 AM* *ET*, the LWVWV will host a virtual consensus meeting to discuss issues related to the Federal Judiciary. These consensus meetings are opportunities for all League members to exchange ideas and opinions as part of the decision making process. Every state and local League hosting a consensus meeting will answer the same set of consensus questions. Answers will be used by the Federal Judiciary Study Committee to write the new LWVUS position. *Click here* <https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2A7dDAqPSPOVFcPm7yCMhw>* to register in advance for the consensus meeting*. *Please see the attached handout for more on the process and importance of this study and links to specific resources.* If you missed our February 11 briefing on the Federal Judiciary Study, you can *view the recording here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB9JbvyOz48>*. Additional resources are provided below. *Recording of National Town Hall on the Federal Judiciary* On February 4, the LWVUS hosted a town hall with experts on the federal judiciary. Panelists included Alicia Bannon from the Brennan Center, Thomas Berry from the CATO Institute, and Erinn Martin from NVG LLC. You can *view the recording here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0gEKqafpg4>*. *Join the Federal Judiciary Study Groups.io <http://groups.io/>* To sign up, *visit the discussion group's homepage <https://default.salsalabs.org/T5a908a2f-a894-4418-b4ca-01f8eb9d23ad/b9c7252…>* and click the button “Apply for Membership to this Group” to join the list. Please contact progplan(a)lwv.org <https://default.salsalabs.org/Te9b15da5-dce6-4bab-a044-335574a74a0a/b9c7252…> with any questions. *Federal Judiciary Study Materials Available* To help Leagues prepare for their study meetings, the Federal Judiciary Study committee has drafted a series of policy briefs on topics related to the federal judiciary for local and state Leagues. *Policy briefs with a Glossary of Key Terms for the Federal Judiciary Study are available on the League Management Site <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tf35e4ed9-53a3-4bfb-a34c-d3cb5ab51fe4/b9c7252…>* . Attachments

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OPPOSE SB 299 in Senate Judiciary, Feb 27, 3 pm
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] *OPPOSE SB 299* -- passed Senate Health, Feb 19, on SENATE JUDICIARY agenda, FEB 27, 2025, 3 p.m. SB 299 denies access to necessary healthcare. This bill singles out certain West Virginians seeking gender-affirming healthcare and denies them rights afforded to others. The LWV supports equal rights for all under state and federal law regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. BILL: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=299&year=… LWV TESTIMONY submitted Feb 21, 2025: https://lwvwv.org/2025/02/21/lwvwv-testimony-in-opposition-to-sb-299/ We’ve heard a lot of rhetoric in this Legislature about respecting the autonomy of individuals and families to make healthcare decisions. This bill fails to do that. We’ve also heard rhetoric about following the science. This bill ignores the science and accepted clinical guidelines followed by medical experts. This Legislature is wasting precious time and effort on bills like SB 299, which will only serve to impede medical practice and harm children. These priorities do not reflect the priorities of WV voters. And, never forget, the children that will be harmed by SB 299 are far more likely to end their own lives than live without the gender-affirming care they so desperately need. The LWV urges you to contact your representatives in the WV Senate to OPPOSE SB 299. In WV, we need to stop stigmatizing and demonizing our most vulnerable citizens. Look up contact info for Senate Judiciary: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/senate-judiciary-committee/ Contact info for full Senate: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/senate/

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Fw: newsletter
by bmurrell＠frontier.com 25 Feb '25

25 Feb '25

Subject: newsletter League Local Presidents, State Board and League Friends: Attached is the February newsletter from the Huntington League of Women Voters. Enjoy! Sincerely, Beverly MurrellPatricia Keller

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OPPOSE SB 460 now in the House of Delegates
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 24 Feb '25

24 Feb '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] *OPPOSE SB 460*, which passed the Senate on Friday, and has moved on to the House. If it passes the House, Gov. Morrisey has already telegraphed his support, despite medical evidence against this bill. A hearing on SB 460 is scheduled before the House Health Committee on MONDAY, February 24 at 3:30PM. This bill will: - Remove WV’s longstanding vaccination requirements. - Permit “religious exemptions” and “philosophical exemptions” from vaccines proven to keep our children safe from infectious diseases. - Permit unvaccinated children to participate in activities that could threaten the health and well-being of their classmates. BILL: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb460%20su… NEWS: https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/02/21/wv-senate-approves-bill-loosening-… SENATE VOTE: See how your Senators voted here: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/2025/RS/votes/senate/02-21-0018.pdf This bill permits disinformation and the religious beliefs of some to override the safety of us all. We know it will make WV’s children less safe. Other states that have chosen this path are seeing disastrous consequences. A growing measles outbreak is occurring in Texas right now. WV has been a longstanding leader in protecting our children with mandatory childhood vaccinations. We have been A LEADER, when we’re usually last! Please contact members of the House Health Committee and your own Delegates. You can look them up here: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/wv-house-health-and-human-resources/ Tell them to oppose SB 460 and protect our children.

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OPPOSE HB 2400 - Status Update
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 20 Feb '25

20 Feb '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] OPPOSE HB 2400 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2400&year…>, which restricts access to absentee ballot applications. *UPDATE*: HB 2400 -- with minor amendments added today -- has passed in Subcommittee and is headed to the full House Judiciary Committee. To submit written testimony *according to new House rules*, send your testimony to: judiciary(a)wvhouse.gov Attached is a copy of the testimony submitted by LWVWV last night. This bill makes it illegal for any person or organization to distribute absentee ballot applications -- blank applications, NOT ballots. Applications will be available only to voters who request them directly. This makes no sense. Absentee applications are public documents available to anyone from the Secretary of State’s website. Absentee voting is essential for West Virginians with disabilities, those who lack transportation, the elderly, and residents of rural areas. This bill targets vulnerable West Virginians least likely to have computers and direct Internet access. And it conflicts with Federal regulations designed to help nursing home residents vote. That means voter suppression. Contact members of the Judiciary Committee ASAP. Tell them to OPPOSE HB 2400. Here’s the list: https://wvecouncil.org/wv.../house-judiciary-committee/ <https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house-judiciary-committee/?fbclid=IwZ…>

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OPPOSE HB 2400 - Stop Voter Suppression in WV
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 18 Feb '25

18 Feb '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] OPPOSE HB 2400 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2400&year…>, which restricts access to absentee ballot applications. This bill makes it illegal for any person or organization to distribute absentee ballot applications -- blank applications, NOT ballots. Applications will be available only to voters who request them directly. This makes no sense. Absentee applications are public documents available to anyone from the Secretary of State’s website. Absentee voting is essential for West Virginians with disabilities, those who lack transportation, the elderly, and residents of rural areas. This bill targets vulnerable West Virginians least likely to have computers and direct Internet access. And it conflicts with Federal regulations designed to help nursing home residents vote. That means voter suppression. HB 2400 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2400&year…> is on the agenda for the *Legal Services Subcommittee* of the House Judiciary Committee for Wednesday, Feb 19, 9:30 a.m. Contact members from your district ASAP. You can look them up here: House Judiciary Committee members <https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house-judiciary-committee/>. Subcommittee members include: Laura Kimble - Chair; Josh Holstein - Vice Chair; Butler, Flanigan, Fluharty, Hornby, Marple, Maynor, Ridenour, Roop. Tell them to OPPOSE HB 2400.

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Help us Revive Priority Bills that Died in 2024
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 16 Feb '25

16 Feb '25

Help Us Make Some More Noise 📣 on LWVWV Priorities! Legislative leaders have announced their priorities for the upcoming session. Help us Make Some Noise on *our* priorities! Write to your delegates and senators and ask them to reintroduce and/or support great bills that didn’t survive the 2024 session. Helpful instructions provided on website. List of bills by legislator here ... https://lwvwv.org/2025/02/12/help-us-make-some-noise-on-lwvwv-priorities/

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Please! Oppose SB 460
by John Aldis 16 Feb '25

16 Feb '25

I'm a retired Family Medicine physician living in Shepherdstown. I have advanced degrees in Medicine and in Public Health. Over my long career I saw the value of immunizations which are usually required for attendance at public schools in West Virginia. During my overseas career in many underdeveloped countries I saw what happens when these safe and effective immunizations are not required (or even available) to the public. The required vaccinations here in the United States (and especially in West Virginia) are so effective that many physicians have never even seen rubella, mumps, measles, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, and chicken pox. I have seen *all* of these infections in the overseas communities where I worked, and there was little that I and my local medical colleagues could do to significantly alter the outcome of the infections since "treatment" of these infections is too often ineffective. Prevention with vaccines is the only solution. We cannot go there. The illnesses being prevented by "routine" vaccinations are horrific and completely unnecessary in our country. "Religious" or "philosophical" or "political" exemptions to the vaccines are meaningless when the child (or adult) is lying in front of you dying. Don't ask medical personnel in West Virginia to pick up the pieces of the lives shattered by these infections in unvaccinated children and adults. John W. Aldis, MD AAFP, MPH & Tropical Medicine jwaldis(a)gmail.com Mobile:(304) 283-0041 =================================

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OPPOSE SB 460 - Protect our Children
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 15 Feb '25

15 Feb '25

[image: lwv msn logo.png] WV has been a longstanding leader in protecting our children with mandatory childhood vaccinations. We have been *A LEADER*, when we’re usually last! Gov. Justice vetoed an attempt to overturn this law in 2024. He listened to the vigorous opposition from the medical community. Now, at Gov. Morrisey’s request, SB 460 <https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb460%2…> is up for consideration by the WV Senate after being approved by the Senate Health Committee <https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/02/13/senate-health-committee-advances-b…> on Thursday. SB 460 will: - Remove our longstanding vaccination requirements. - Permit “religious exemptions” and “philosophical exemptions” from vaccines proven to keep our children safe from infectious diseases. - Permit unvaccinated children to participate in activities that could threaten the health and well-being of their classmates. This bill allows disinformation and the religious convictions of some to override the safety of us all. We know it will make WV’s children less safe. Other states that have chosen this path are seeing disastrous consequences. Please contact your Senators. You can look them up here: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/find-your-wv-state-legislators/ Tell them to oppose SB 460 and protect our children.

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