A friendly reminder that the League of Women Voters of WV will host will a
virtual consensus meeting on *Saturday, March 15 at 10 AM* *ET* to
discuss issues related to the Federal Judiciary. This is an opportunity for
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*. More on the process and
importance of this study and links to specific resources can be found here
<https://lwvwv.org/2025/03/02/join-our-consensus-meeting-on-the-federal-judi…>
.
Also, please save the date for the *LWVWV State Convention*, which will be
held via Zoom on *Saturday, May 3*.
The agenda will include the election of all officers and directors;
approval of changes to the by-laws; and approval of the 2025-2026 budget.
League members can download relevant documents here
<https://lwvwv.org/2025/03/09/lwvwv-state-convention-may-3-2025/>.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has taken action in response to our *Make
Some Noise* alerts. You can find all of our action alerts
<https://lwvwv.org/category/league-of-women-votes-of-wv/action-alerts/>, as
well as testimony
<https://lwvwv.org/category/league-of-women-votes-of-wv/press-releases/>
submitted by the League, on the LWVWV website. We encourage you to follow
us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/lwvwv/> for the latest legislative
updates and actions.
[image: lwv msn logo.png]
OPPOSE HB 3016, another voter suppression and discrimination bill.
On the MARCH 4, 10:00 am ET agenda of Legal Services, a subcommittee of
House Judiciary (legal.services(a)wvhouse.gov and judiciary(a)wvhouse.gov)
🛑HB 3016 eliminates from WV’s long list of voter ID options all the IDs
without photographs.
🛑HB 3016 requires non-citizen status to be identified on state-sanctioned
photo IDs issued for purposes other than voting. Historically, badges such
as the ones described in this bill have been used to segregate an unfavored
group from the rest of the population and reinforce their inferior status.
Under new House rules
<https://blog.wvlegislature.gov/house-floor-session/2025/02/12/23370/>,
each bill is considered over two days in each of its committees or
subcommittees. For House bills you can now submit comments directly from
the bill history page by clicking the grey box that says “Add a Public
Comment on This Bill.”
BILL:
https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=3016&year…
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.
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
[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/
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
[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.
[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…>
[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.
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/