Public Comments

I can understand why they have issues with standardized testing. Its major focus on math and reading doesn’t shine light on other categories like music and other arts. However, I wouldn’t totally get rid of standardized tests. These tests show, not only knowledge in math and English, but an ability to follow coursework and discipline. If a child is scoring in the 900s there is an issue. Therefore, although I agree with some, I wouldn’t abolish these tests.

We need to protect our women. From the entering of their bathrooms, sports, or other places by males. This is not discrimination. This is done in protection of our women. Are we willing to take the risk just because a transgender woman doesn’t want to use the bathrooms that align with her biological sex? I’m sure women wouldn’t we comfortable with a man being in their bathrooms or in the bathroom with their child. Not all transgender individuals are criminals, just as not all cisgender individuals are criminals. Does that mean we should allow men in women’s bathrooms because they feel like they align with it more? This bill would be a good addition to this state.

The Establishment clause of the first amendment prohibits governments from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. Because of this, as well as ethical problems, this bill is a terrible idea. In order for this bill to have a chance at passing, the opposition must show the motive is purely secular and not at all religious. Representative Noble, for example, has tried getting around this by saying the Ten Commandments are a foundational document in our history. Would this truly make the motive secular? In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled the Ten Commandments in schools was unconstitutional. They noted the Commandments had no educational purpose, seeing as they’re merely hanging on a wall, and they promoted religious belief. A good way to see the promotion religious motivation in this bill is to look at what they are putting forth: The Ten Commandments. They don’t only command the absence from stealing or murder, but from the worship other gods. “Thou shalt not have any other gods before me.” Before who? Yahweh. Not only that, they also talk about the sabbath. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Is the sabbath in Hinduism? Is it in buddhism? Imagine the Hindu boys and girls sitting in class looking at the first and fourth commandment, one of which directly attacks their belief. How could this not be religious? Furthermore, which version of the Commandments should be posted? Allowing the government to meddle in religious doctrine is problematic for the people of that religion; allowing religion to meddle in the government is problematic for all others.

Public Comment in Opposition to HB 4080

To the Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates:

I am writing to express my opposition to House Bill 4080, which would mandate partisan elections for all municipal offices in West Virginia.

Local municipalities, including cities and towns, are best positioned to determine what electoral system serves their communities. Municipal elections should remain under local control, allowing each community to decide whether partisan or non-partisan elections work best for selecting their mayors and city council members. The state legislature should not interfere with local elections, which are best managed at the local level where they serve.

Municipal governance is fundamentally different from state or federal government. Mayors and city council members deal with practical, non-ideological issues like water systems, sewage infrastructure, road maintenance, zoning decisions, and local budgets. These are community concerns that transcend party politics. Forcing partisan labels onto these local offices would inject unnecessary division into communities and shift the focus away from competence, experience, and commitment to local problem-solving.

Additionally, HB 4080 would impose significant burdens on municipalities. Many would be forced to amend their charters, a complex process that may require special elections or ballot measures. If voters choose to maintain non-partisan elections but the charter cannot be successfully amended, municipalities could find themselves in violation of state code through no fault of their own.

West Virginia should trust local communities to govern themselves. I urge you to vote NO on HB 4080 and preserve local control over municipal elections.

Respectfully submitted,

Renee K. Nicholson

Morgantown, West Virginia

As the Chief Human Resources Officer for one of West Virginia’s six Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), I can speak directly to the real and ongoing workforce challenges created by the current WV CARES process.

West Virginia rightly wants to encourage workforce participation while also protecting vulnerable populations. WV CARES can support both goals; however, the current timelines create significant barriers for both employers and qualified candidates. With up to 30 days for a candidate to submit a complete packet and up to 60 days for WV CARES to render a decision, the total process can take as long as 90 days. In today’s workforce environment, many candidates—and employers—simply cannot wait that long. As a result, we lose otherwise qualified staff before they ever have the opportunity to serve our communities.

Additionally, employers are often unable to absorb the financial burden of supervising provisional employees during this extended review period. Requiring two staff to perform the work of one—solely to meet supervision requirements—adds substantial cost and strain to already limited behavioral health resources. Reducing review timelines would immediately decrease supervision costs and prevent candidates from being lost due to delays outside of their control.

The portability provision included in this bill is one of its most promising and impactful components. Allowing WV CARES eligibility to be tied to the individual rather than the worksite would significantly reduce application time, administrative burden, and duplication of effort—benefiting providers, the state, and workers alike.

Equally important is the provision that would prevent long-standing employees from having to take a leave of absence or return to supervision while awaiting renewal variances related to historical charges. For many dedicated staff, this process forces them to repeatedly relive embarrassment and trauma every five years simply to continue serving in roles they have faithfully held for years. These are professionals who work tirelessly for West Virginians with the greatest needs, and this provision recognizes both their service and their dignity.

House Bill 4599 represents a meaningful opportunity to modernize WV CARES in a way that protects clients, supports the workforce, and strengthens access to behavioral health services across our state.

Is it not bad enough that we live in a partisan nation already??? WE DON'T WANT YOUR "US VS THEM" RHETORIC IN OUR TOWNS. You're going to do it anyway. Who cares how many of us poor people die when a civil war breaks out because the trash in office right? We're just the peasants.

This is a no brainer, of course girls wrestling should be a sanctioned sport in WV High Schools! Girls wrestling is the fastest growing girls sport in the US since 2021.

West Virginia’s current licensure reciprocity structure for school psychologists seeking to practice independently creates unnecessary barriers that ultimately limit student access to essential mental health and evaluation services. While licensure standards are intended to protect the public, the existing process is often overly restrictive compared to neighboring states and does not reflect the realities of today’s school psychology workforce.

School psychologists across the United States are trained under nationally aligned standards through NASP-approved programs, accredited university preparation, supervised internships, and standardized credentialing processes such as the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. These benchmarks already ensure high-quality preparation. Yet experienced, fully licensed school psychologists in other states frequently face duplicative hurdles when attempting to serve West Virginia students in private or independent practice settings.

This has several serious consequences:

1. Reduced Access to Services for Children and Families
West Virginia continues to face shortages in child mental health providers, especially in rural regions. School psychologists in private practice help fill critical gaps by providing psychoeducational evaluations, risk assessments, counseling, and consultation services that schools often lack capacity to deliver in a timely manner. Lengthy or uncertain reciprocity processes delay or prevent qualified professionals from serving children who are already waiting months for evaluations and supports.

2. Outdated Barriers in a Modern Service Delivery Era
The profession has evolved. Telehealth, remote assessment models, and cross-state consultation are now standard practice. Many surrounding states have adapted licensure pathways to reflect workforce mobility and the need for interstate collaboration. West Virginia risks falling behind if its policies do not align with contemporary service models and regional workforce patterns.

3. Duplication of Already-Verified Competency
Professionals seeking reciprocity are often already licensed as independent school psychologists or psychologists elsewhere, have years of experience, carry malpractice coverage, and may hold national credentials such as NCSP. Requiring redundant documentation, additional examinations, or prolonged approval timelines does not meaningfully enhance public safety — it simply restricts workforce supply.

4. Impact on Schools and Special Education Compliance
Schools depend on timely evaluations to meet IDEA timelines and provide Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). When external evaluators are scarce, districts struggle with compliance, and students experience delays in identification, intervention, and services. Expanding access to qualified reciprocal providers directly supports school systems in meeting federal mandates.

Recommended Modernizations

West Virginia could maintain strong professional standards while improving access through:

• Streamlined reciprocity for professionals licensed in states with comparable standards

• Recognition of NCSP as evidence of meeting training and competency requirements

• Reduced duplicative documentation where credentials are already verified

• Temporary or provisional licensure pathways while full review is completed

• Alignment with interstate licensure mobility efforts seen in other health professions

Bottom Line

Modernizing reciprocity is not about lowering standards — it is about removing unnecessary barriers that prevent qualified professionals from serving children. West Virginia’s students, families, and schools benefit when licensure systems are rigorous and responsive to workforce realities. Updating reciprocity policies would strengthen service access, reduce evaluation backlogs, and support the state’s commitment to child mental health and educational equity.

I support the sanctioning of a women's wrestling division in which only biological, XX, females participate.