Public Comments

I support House Bill 5260 because it allows regulated medical cannabis edibles for certified patients who may not be able to inhale cannabis safely. Providing edibles options through licensed dispensaries with strict THC limits,labeling, and saftey rules would help patients manage pain and other conditions while keeping the program regulated and safe. Thank you

Hello, hope everyone that is reading or listen is have a day they deserve. As a trans man I say this something weird cause locker rooms are used in gyms and schools. Who can say that a person is trans unless they're just starting out in the HRT journey. You really can't unless you search them, and many time I know every trans person that not confident will be changed behind the curtains of the showers in the back of the locker room.

Please support SB927 without amendments. As a beekeeper I need to make decisions about my apiary and for the benefit of my bees.

Hello,

As someone who deeply cares about the well-being of children and families in West Virginia, I strongly oppose the privatization of our child welfare system.

It is deeply troubling to see a bill of this magnitude appear at the 11th hour, especially when it could place major decisions about our children’s welfare in the hands of private organizations. Our children, our caseworkers, and our communities deserve transparency and thoughtful consideration—not rushed legislation.

I am also very concerned that there is still no fiscal note for the state attached to this bill. How can such a significant policy move forward when lawmakers and the public have not been clearly told what it will cost? We are already hearing estimates of over $12 million for just two counties alone. That raises serious questions about the financial impact on the rest of West Virginia.

Please slow this process down and put the interests of West Virginia families first. Decisions that affect our children’s safety and well-being should be made carefully, openly, and with full accountability.

1. Please bring gummies & other edibles to West Virginia for us older people.
2. Please bring back the 30% off discount for Senior Citizens...many of us are on fixed incomes.

1. Jonda Stocklask

I respectfully urge the committee to oppose this legislation due to the significant risks it poses to administrative stability, community services, and responsible governance in West Virginia.

Public policy should be guided by careful evaluation, measurable outcomes, and the protection of systems that serve our communities. Unfortunately, HB 937 raises substantial concerns in each of these areas.

1. Disruption to Existing Systems and Administrative Processes

HB 937 proposes changes that could significantly disrupt existing administrative and operational frameworks that agencies, organizations, and service providers rely upon. Major structural or procedural changes implemented without clear transition planning create unnecessary uncertainty and operational risk.

When policy changes occur too rapidly or without clear implementation guidance, the burden falls on frontline agencies and local organizations tasked with translating legislative intent into practical operations. This often results in delays, confusion, and inefficiencies that ultimately affect the public.

2. Increased Compliance and Administrative Burdens

The provisions outlined in HB 937 appear likely to introduce additional reporting, compliance, or operational requirements. While oversight and accountability are important, policies that increase administrative workload without corresponding resources can reduce the ability of organizations and agencies to focus on their primary mission—serving West Virginians.

For many local programs and community-based organizations, administrative capacity is already stretched thin. Adding new regulatory layers may divert time, funding, and personnel away from direct services.

3. Potential Harm to Community Services and Vulnerable Populations

Stable policy environments are critical for programs that provide essential services to West Virginia residents. Sudden policy shifts can create unintended consequences that disrupt service delivery and negatively impact individuals and families who rely on these systems.

Legislation should prioritize strengthening service delivery infrastructure rather than introducing uncertainty that could destabilize it.

4. Insufficient Evidence of Policy Benefit

Sound policymaking requires a clear demonstration that proposed legislative changes will produce measurable improvements. At present, HB 937 does not appear to provide sufficient evidence that the benefits of the proposed changes outweigh the risks.

Before adopting sweeping policy changes, the legislature should ensure that comprehensive impact assessments, stakeholder consultations, and fiscal analyses have been conducted.

5. Need for Broader Stakeholder Engagement

Effective legislation benefits from the perspectives of those directly responsible for implementation. Agencies, community organizations, and subject-matter experts should have meaningful opportunities to provide input prior to advancing legislation that affects operational systems and public services.

Greater stakeholder engagement would strengthen policymaking and help ensure that legislation achieves its intended goals without unintended consequences.

Conclusion

For the reasons outlined above, I respectfully urge the committee to reject House Bill 937 or delay its advancement until further analysis and stakeholder consultation can occur.

West Virginia deserves policies that strengthen administrative systems, protect community services, and ensure that legislative changes are implemented thoughtfully and responsibly.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Drury

"(2) A child shall be exempt from the mandatory vaccination requirements of this section if a parent, a guardian of the child, or an emancipated child presents a notarized form which shall be developed by the state health officer, that includes a written notification that the parent, legal guardian, or child object on religious grounds to one or more of the vaccines listed in subsections (b) and (c) of this section."

I am writing to oppose any legislation that weakens oversight of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs), particularly those located near drinking water sources. Reducing oversight on these tanks puts hundreds of downstream communities at serious risk of contamination, with little to no warning or accountability when leaks occur. Dismantling or weakening our current regulatory framework is not reasonable when the stakes are the drinking water that families, farms, and communities depend on.

I urge lawmakers to prioritize public health over convenience and reject any measure that reduces protections for our water.

Oppose SB 392

The governor’s tax cut is up for a vote in the Senate Finance Committee even though lawmakers already passed a budget that

The budget has already passed, it under funds Medicaid, provides no new money for public schools, and falls short on child care, water, infrastructure, and roads. Moving tax cuts first while leaving schools and other essential needs behind.

McDowell, Wyoming, Boone, Logan, Mingo, Lincoln, Mercer, Fayette, and Raleigh counties and can’t afford a tax cut...they need clean water first.

SB 4 is unconstitutional and dangerous. A 30‑foot restriction directly infringes upon the First Amendment right to record law enforcement, which federal courts have repeatedly upheld.

At that distance, phones can’t capture clear audio or video details, even with zoom. The video of George Floyd’s murder, which was filmed from 10 feet away, would have been illegal under this bill. The difference between 10 feet and 30 feet is the difference between evidence and unusable footage.

ICE and Border Patrol have a documented history of violating people’s rights and even killing civilians. Those abuses were only exposed because bystanders were close enough to record what actually happened. That transparency was critical because federal officials have repeatedly tried to deny, downplay, or even lie about these incidents until the video evidence proved otherwise.

This bill doesn’t improve safety; it reduces transparency and public accountability while enabling misconduct. If it passes, it will face immediate legal challenges for violating clearly established case law that allow recording as long as a person is not physically interfering.

Lawmakers must reject this bill and uphold the constitutional protections they swore an oath to defend.