Gov. Jim Justice held a celebration for Roads to Prosperity outside the Capitol on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, while lawmakers met inside for the special session called by the governor. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice | Courtesy photo)
Gov. Jim Justice on Monday issued an amendment to the ongoing special session, adding eight new bills and one concurrent resolution to the call, as well as amending his ask for a 5% cut to the state’s personal income tax down to a 2% cut.
Monday’s amendment to the proclamation is so far the second to come during this special session — which started last Monday before lawmakers adjourned until Sunday — and brings the total number of items on the call to 40.
The amended call contains several new appropriation bills, including one to give supplemental funding to higher education institutions, one giving $5 million to the Department of Health for EMS support and another that would give $175,000 to the Department of Homeland Security to fund repairs on helicopters for the West Virginia State Police.
Other bills on the call include putting the state treasurer in charge of the Municipal Bond Commission, increasing funding for broadband expansion in the state and transferring funds to address deferred maintenance costs at colleges and universities, among several other items.
The concurrent resolution on the call, if approved, would honor World War II veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams as one of the two West Virginians represented in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Williams was a Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient who died in 2022 at the age of 98.
Arguably the most pressing matter on the call is the reduction in the personal income tax cut, which was the first item on the initial proclamation issued by Justice for this special session.
Justice has been pushing for months now to see an additional 5% personal income tax cut in the state, but reaching a consensus with legislative leaders has been difficult. Finance leaders at the capitol — including Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam and Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, both chairs of their bodies’ finance committees — have voiced support generally for tax cuts but have also expressed concerns that a 5% cut could be too much given uncertainty around the state’s decreased revenue collections and recently passed tax cuts that have just started to take effect.
With a 2% proposed cut, it could be more likely that a consensus there could be reached.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, six bills introduced for the special session — all appropriations that had overwhelming support by the Republican supermajority — have passed both chambers of the Legislature and been sent to the governor’s desk for a signature.
This is a developing story. Be sure to check West Virginia Watch later Monday evening to see how the third day of the special session unfolds and how legislators act on the bills in front of them.
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