The West Virginia Legislative session is over; here's some of what passed and what didn't

The West Virginia Legislature has concluded its 60-day session after passing nearly 300 bills. In the last hours of the session Saturday night, lawmakers advanced a bill aimed at President Joe Biden’s executive actions on gun control and another that will almost certainly close life-saving harm reduction programs in the state.

But one bill that Governor Jim Justice and some lawmakers had listed as a priority — the repeal of the state personal income tax — did not make it through.

On Friday, West Virginia delegates voted 100 to 0 to reject the Senate’s version of the bill, mainly in opposition to the corresponding tax increases it included.

Among other provisions, the Senate’s tax plan increased the sales tax; created new taxes, such as taxes on professional services, computers and broadcasters; and their budget bill cut 1.5% from state agencies and programs. The governor had called on the House of Delegates to take it up for a vote, despite widespread opposition in that legislative body.

Read more: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2021/04/11/the-west-virginia-legislative-session-is-over-heres-some-of-what-passed-and-what-didnt/