Public Comments

I went to high-school and cheered with Baylea. What happened to her is an awful tragedy, but to know that the responsible person may only get 3 to 15 years of their life altered is a slap in the face. Baylea’s family and friends will be affected by this for the rest of their lives. The punishment should fit the crime.

Justice for Bailey!

DUI is murder. It deserves the same penalty for it.

Baylea was a great person. Her life was ended too soon due to someone else mistake. Let’s now allow slaps on the wrist for lives that have been taken.

Pass Baylee's law.

HB 4674 defines "abortifacient" so broadly it could ensnare common contraceptives that prevent implantation, chilling access to basic reproductive health tools. It violates women's bodily autonomy and privacy rights enshrined in our state constitution and wastes taxpayer resources on intrusive enforcement. Those funds are much better spent on maternal health, prenatal care, or family support programs our rural communities desperately need. Private civil bounties of $10,000 per case will only fuel vigilante lawsuits, not protect anyone.

West Virginia should expand health care access and support women making deeply personal decisions with their doctors—not police them with felonies and penalties. Prioritize actual public health over ideological overreach and scrap this bill.

I oppose HB 4185, which repeals West Virginia’s machine gun ban and makes it lawful to possess fully automatic weapons. The right to own firearms does not erase the public’s right to live, work, and learn without constant fear of gun violence. When the state removes basic limits on the most lethal weapons, it minimizes responsible gun ownership while increasing kids, teachers, health workers, and bystanders risk of gun violence.

I oppose HB 4143, the so‑called “Women’s Bill of Rights.” As a woman and a voter, I see this bill not as a protection, but as a weaponization of my identity to target transgender and nonbinary people and to narrow who “counts” as a woman in West Virginia.

West Virginia is struggling with serious problems: poor educational outcomes, high burdens of chronic disease, and persistent economic hardship for families. Yet another culture war bill just wasted legislative time and taxpayer money rather than solving these real crises. It's actually an insult to the women this bill claims to honor. We deserve policies that expand our rights and opportunities, not bills that erase our neighbors and divide our communities.

If the WV legislature is serious about the issues that affect women on a daily basis, how about addressing equal pay, improving maternal health care, protecting women from violence, or improving women's economic security? That would give women real rights and dignity!

I urge you to reject HB 4143 and commit to legislation that materially improves the lives of all women and gender‑diverse people in our state.

I oppose HB 4079 which aims to ban so-called “woke words” from government communications. As a woman, I find this bill deeply misguided for several reasons.

First, implies that women’s worth depends on motherhood, which erases the many women who contribute to West Virginia’s communities in other ways. Real respect for women means seeing and valuing us all.

Second, our state ranks 45th nationally in education and struggles with some of the highest rates of chronic disease and cardiovascular illness in the nation. It is absurd to spend taxpayer money and waste legislative time on policing words when you have much more serious challenges to address. Legislators should be focused on boosting literacy, keeping schools and hospitals strong, and addressing preventable disease rather than dictating which medically accurate or inclusive terms are “acceptable.”

Finally, as a public health professional, I know that inclusive language costs nothing, helps everyone feel respected and seen, which leads to more health-seeking behaviors and better health outcomes.

Instead of wasting limited public resources on a culture-war bill, we should invest in improving education, health, and opportunity in West Virginia. Tackle real problems head-on; don't distract us with word bans.

• The new section §16-11A-1 makes it a felony “to attend any public-school function or attend or participate in public school or athletic events in any capacity, regardless of participation by offender’s own children” for those required to register on the WV “sex offender registry.”
  • It is restrictive and inclusive to registrants on the “sex offender registry” only, while allowing all other “Central Abuse Registry” registrants with misdemeanor or felony offenses constituting child abuse or neglect, free to attend school events, as well as all other persons with past convictions for murder, assault, etc.
  • It is broad in its language, prohibiting a total ban for said registrants without any exceptions, such as parent-teacher conferences, expulsion hearings, and reviews.
  • It is not based on any current disruptive behavior but rather past behavior/convictions that, in many cases, are decades old.
  • As written, it violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Plaintiff has a right to due process in any proceedings initiated by a governmental authority. ( in Supp. 4, ECF No. 7) In this case, no due process rights are afforded to registrants before they are banned from school property.
    • In Cole v. Montague Bd. of Educ., 145 Fed.Appx. 760, 762-63 (3d Cir. 2005) (citing Lovern, 190 F.3d at 648), the court “held that parent’s claim that prohibiting him from entering school property without a hearing violated due process.”
    • McNett v. Jefferson-Morgan Sch. Dist., 2:21-cv-01064-RJC, 12 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 23, 2021)established that plaintiffs have a due process claim on the basis that a school board defendant had violated their due process rights by banning the parents from a public school without a hearing and by refusing to accept a petition for a hearing. Again, no due process will be incorporated if HB 5020 is passed as written.
• Restricting persons from school property.
  • “School officials have the authority to control students and school personnel on school property, and also have the authority and responsibility for assuring that parents and third parties conduct themselves appropriately while on school property.” Lovern v. Edwards, 190 F.3d 648, 655 (4th Cir. 1999) (citing Carey v. Brown, 447 U.S. 455, 470-71 (1980); Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 582-83 (1975)).
  • “School officials are well within constitutional bounds in limiting access to school property where it is necessary to maintain tranquility.” Cunningham v. Lenape Reg'l High Dist. Bd. of Educ., 492 F.Supp.2d 439, 448-49(D.N.J. 2007).
• Requiring parent-teacher conferences to be off-school property
  • It is restrictive and inclusive to registrants on the “sex offender registry” only, while allowing all other “Central Abuse Registry” registrants with misdemeanor or felony offenses constituting child abuse or neglect, free to have parent-teacher conferences on school property.
  • It is overbroad and includes all “sex offender registry” registrants regardless of whether said registrant has a conviction for a minor-related offense, so why would they need to be restricted from school property?
  • It’s unnecessarily burdensome and inconvenient for teachers.
• Considering the above, it’s clear that HB 5020, written as a blanket ban without justification, reasoning, and, most notably, due process, is or will be found unconstitutional if passed.

I am the mother of a female high school senior on the wrestling team in Gilmer County. She is the sole female athlete on the team and has been wrestling since her Freshman year. While this bill will not benefit her before graduation, I feel that it is important for me to share this information with you all for future girls with her determination.

With the growing recognition of women in wrestling, West Virginia has the opportunity to be at the forefront of supporting female athletes, creating a space for them to shine and grow. Female wrestling in West Virginia offers a variety of benefits for participants and the broader community. Here are some key advantages:

1. Empowerment & Confidence Building

• Wrestling helps females build self-esteem and confidence by pushing physical and mental boundaries. The sport encourages perseverance, resilience, and the ability to overcome challenges, which are crucial life skills. My daughter has become a stronger athlete mentally since beginning her wrestling career. She sees that success comes from her strength and her perseverence rather than just from a team.

2. Physical Fitness & Health

• Wrestling is an intense full-body workout that improves strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health, and coordination. It encourages healthy habits and discipline, as athletes need to maintain fitness for competition. This has peaked my daughter's interest in the athletic training career field and is shaping the professional she will become after graduation.

3. Equality in Sports

• As female wrestling continues to grow, it offers an important platform for gender equality in sports. By having more opportunities for women to compete at a high level, it challenges traditional gender roles and promotes inclusivity.

4. Scholarship Opportunities

• Female athletes in wrestling may gain access to college scholarships, which can help further their education and future careers. Many WV colleges and universities, or nearby states, are expanding opportunities for female athletes in wrestling, and some even offer full-ride scholarships for top competitors. This is a huge opportunity for our youth, however not having full support from the state and WVSSAC will prohibit girls from rising to their full potentional and having access to those scholarships.

5. Community Engagement

• Women's sports help bring people together. As female wrestling grows in WV, it can create a sense of community, where families, friends, and local supporters rally around the athletes. This fosters stronger local ties and promotes support for women in sports.

6. Improved Mental Toughness

• Wrestling is not only physically demanding but also mentally challenging. Athletes must strategize, stay focused under pressure, and keep a positive mindset even when faced with adversity. These mental skills can be applied to many areas of life. My daughter has learned to have a better attitude both on and off of the mat because she is the one facing scrutiny, not a team of people. She has learned that it is tough to lose but how to remain humble and support her other female opponents.

7. Role Models for Future Generations

• As more women enter the wrestling world, they can become role models for young girls in the state who may not have considered wrestling as an option. Seeing strong, successful women in wrestling can inspire the next generation to pursue their own passions, regardless of gender.

8. Increased Interest in Women's Sports

• Female wrestling in West Virginia can contribute to a broader cultural shift toward recognizing and celebrating women's sports. This can lead to better media coverage, more sponsorships, and increased visibility for women athletes, not just in wrestling but in other sports as well.

9. Teamwork and Social Skills

• Even though wrestling is an individual sport, it often involves training in teams, where athletes learn to work together, motivate one another, and build camaraderie. This fosters strong interpersonal relationships and the ability to collaborate.

10. Breaking Stereotypes

• Wrestling is often seen as a male-dominated sport, so when women break through in this area, it challenges outdated gender norms. Female wrestlers show that women can excel in any sport and that strength, toughness, and athleticism aren’t defined by gender.

WV has seen the rise of more local and state-level competitions specifically for female wrestlers. The West Virginia State Wrestling Tournament now includes female divisions, providing athletes with a platform to showcase their talent and compete for state titles. This is an important milestone for the sport, as it validates the hard work and dedication of female athletes, my daughter included, and gives them a chance to compete at the highest level in their state.

We would hope that you would consider passing this bill and celebrating the accomplishments of female wrestlers across the state. Wrestling is not a sport specifically for boys just as cheer or volleyball is not solely for females. We hope to see this assist girls in West Virginia to knowing that they are stronger than they think and that they can do anything that they put thier minds to!

Dear Members of the Higher Education Subcommittee,

The West Virginia EMS Coalition represents ambulance agencies and all levels of EMS personnel in in the Mountain State. Our membership provides emergency response services in 51 out of the 55 counties and we are responsible for over 80% of all EMS responses in WV.

I feel like if there were cameras in the classrooms, it would be a good thing, so that if there was fhights, you can see who started it and get the best opinion on who is in the wrong. I feel like if there is camras in t eh class rooms, it would help subs and teachers if there are a lot of disruptions in the class, or like if there if there is a old sub or teachere who needs some help with kids who are being disrespecful then you are abel too look back at the camras and see who whos doing stuff to mess with people or who is disrupting the class. I feel like it would help the teachers give the right punishment to the people who are doing bad stuff in the classrooms, and if the teachers leave the room and nobody is in the room, you need somebody in there to make sure nobody is doing stuff when the teacher is not in the room.

I strongly oppose House Bill 4797.

The First Amendment belongs to everyone. It should never be used as a political prop or tied in state law to a single contemporary partisan figure. HB 4797 does not protect free speech. It uses government power to elevate and mandate praise for one political activist, including directing public schools to participate in that narrative.

Charlie Kirk has a well-documented public record of statements widely condemned as misogynistic, hostile to LGBTQ Americans, and dismissive of marginalized communities. Enshrining such a figure in statute dishonors West Virginia and sends a message that divisive and demeaning rhetoric is acceptable when it serves a political agenda.

This bill will deepen political division, invite constitutional challenges, and misuse the Legislature’s authority for ideological messaging instead of governing. West Virginians deserve laws that unite us and protect real freedoms—not culture-war symbolism written into statute.

I urge the Legislature to reject HB 4797.

I am a constituent in Beckley, Raleigh County, and I support HB 4095.

I do not support no-knock warrants in any capacity. To be clear, however, I know this legislative body will never agree with that, and this might be as good as it gets. When law enforcement enters a home without warning, the risk of confusion, injury, and death rises sharply for everyone involved, including residents and officers. No-knock tactics undermine public trust.

HB 4095 is an important step toward accountability by limiting qualified immunity when officers serving no-knock warrants use clearly excessive force, knowingly violate the law, or act in plainly incompetent, reckless, or negligent ways that cause injury, death, or psychological trauma.

I also support the bill's requirement that courts review not only the officer’s actions but also the agency’s training, mentoring, and procedures, and that the agency be held responsible if it failed to adequately prepare officers. That matters because harm does not come only from “one bad decision” in the moment. It can also come from systems that tolerate poor training, good-old-boy networks, weak oversight, and a culture of impunity.

West Virginians deserve safety without fear. When force is excessive or conduct is reckless or negligent, the system should have meaningful recourse, and government actors should not be shielded from accountability. HB 4095 moves us closer to public safety rooted in restraint, transparency, and responsibility.

Please support HB 4095.

I am a West Virginia constituent in Beckley, Raleigh County, and I am writing in support of HB 4185. This bill repeals W. Va. Code §61-7-9, removing the section of state code that currently makes it unlawful to possess a machine gun (a fully automatic weapon).

I support the Second Amendment as a practical, meaningful right. I see HB 4185 as a step toward aligning our state law with constitutional principles and restoring rights unnecessarily restricted.

Repealing this corrects what I believe is an overreach by the state and returns lawful adults to the full scope of their 2A rights.

I support HB 4185 because I want West Virginia to affirm that constitutional rights apply in full, not in fragments. Please vote YES on HB 4185

As a West Virginia constituent in Beckley, Raleigh County, I support HB 4449.

In too many communities, vulnerable students and the staff trying to protect them can get trapped in systems where harm is minimized, buried, or handled through relationships and politics rather than transparent accountability. When there is a credible allegation of bullying, abuse, neglect, or misconduct, families deserve a process that does not rely only on competing narratives and closed-door decision-making.

This bill offers a practical tool: documentation. Recordings can reduce coverups, deter misconduct, and make it harder for “good old boy” networks to protect bad behavior. When something serious happens, evidence can help investigations move faster and more fairly, and it can protect both students and employees from false accusations.

I also appreciate that the bill includes guardrails like confidentiality requirements and limits on using recordings for teacher evaluations. Used properly, this is not about punishing educators. It is about safety, accountability, and clarity when an incident is alleged.

Please vote to pass HB 4449 and continue strengthening oversight so that recordings support real protection for students and staff, not institutional self-protection.

I am a West Virginia constituent in Beckley, Raleigh County, and I support HB 4527 because it reduces everyday administrative burden and helps residents stay legally registered without unnecessary stress.

This bill directs the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to create an opt-in system where vehicle owners can save billing information in a secure portal so registration renewals can occur automatically after the DMV receives confirmation that personal property taxes were paid. For working families, caregivers, rural residents, and people juggling multiple jobs or health issues, it’s easy to miss a deadline that has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with paperwork. This bill shrinks that gap.

The safeguards matter. The DMV must send notice two weeks before any charge, using the method the registrant chooses (text, email, or U.S. mail). Residents can change the billing date or payment method up to five days before the charge. That combination supports autonomy while still offering a smoother default path.

HB 4527 also improves coordination between counties and the DMV by requiring monthly reporting of paid personal property taxes and setting a timeline for the DMV to apply that information to accounts. And if a payment does not show up correctly, the bill requires a way to upload receipts or proof of payment (or bring them to a local office), which gives residents a practical correction route.

In short, HB 4527 modernizes a routine process, decreases accidental lapses, and respects residents’ time while keeping notice and control in the owner’s hands.

As a West Virginia constituent in Beckley, Raleigh County, I oppose HB 4583.

West Virginia schools and families are facing urgent, practical needs right now: staffing shortages, student mental health, attendance barriers, facility needs, and the everyday strain many households are carrying. This bill does not respond to those realities. Instead, it directs school time and state attention toward a symbolic political observance that is not rooted in West Virginia’s specific history or current priorities.

I support teaching accurate, evidence-based history, including the harms of authoritarian regimes across the world. But HB 4583 is not written as a balanced, academically grounded standard. It mandates a specific annual observance and a required lesson framed through a political lens, placing schools in the middle of culture-war messaging rather than education. When the Legislature tells educators what conclusions to emphasize, it risks turning learning into propaganda and undermining professional teaching standards.

Public education should build critical thinking skills, civic literacy, and the ability to evaluate power and policy using facts, context, and multiple perspectives. If the state is going to require additional instructional time, it should be for priorities that measurably benefit West Virginia students and strengthen public schools, not for a partisan signal that distracts from real work.

Please vote no on HB 4583 and focus legislative effort on policies that materially improve the lives, education, and well-being of West Virginians.

I am a West Virginian, and I am proud of my state and our values of independence, family, and community. I oppose this bill because it does not help anyone. It expands government power into private healthcare decisions, doing so with criminal penalties and lawsuits rather than real, tangible support.

This is government overreach, plain and simple. It will not solve the problems families are actually facing in West Virginia, such as access to health care led by health professionals (not legislators), transportation, childcare, and the cost of living. It will only add fear, confusion, and risk by pushing people into silence and delaying care.

West Virginians deserve practical solutions that strengthen families, not laws that punish people and invite more government control over personal medical decisions. I urge you to reject this bill.

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