Rotunda Roundup
West Virginia’s 2026 Regular Session is underway (January 14 through March 14), with lawmakers moving early-session bills while the state manages an extended winter-weather operational posture heading into Monday, January 26, 2026. In the most recent official House floor record posted (Friday, January 23, 2026), the House completed multiple bills on third reading and continued high-volume introductions and committee referrals. In the most recent official Senate floor record posted (Thursday, January 22, 2026), the Senate advanced measures on second reading (with amendments adopted on select items) and set bills on calendar for the next legislative day. Outside the Capitol, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration cited an active internal review tied to an 11-year-old’s death and state DHS oversight, while agencies and utilities continued storm response and restoration planning amid lingering ice and cold. Links verified as of January 25, 2026, 6:22 p.m. ET.
Legislature Info Desk
Day 13 ⌲ 47 to go
2026 Regular Session dates: January 14, 2026 to March 14, 2026.
Source: WV Legislature (Home)
Key calendar milestones (official):
First Day: January 14, 2026
20th Day: February 2, 2026 (Legislative Rule-Making Review bills due)
35th Day: February 17, 2026 (Last day to introduce bills in the House)
41st Day: February 23, 2026 (Last day to introduce bills in the Senate)
47th Day: March 1, 2026 (Bills due out of committees in house of origin to ensure three full days for readings)
50th Day: March 4, 2026 (Last day to consider bill on third reading in house of origin; excludes budget/supplementals)
60th Day: March 14, 2026 (Adjournment at midnight)
Source: 2026 Legislative Calendar (Bulletin Board)
Official Floor Record — House
House Journal (January 23, 2026) reflects bill passage and continued bill introductions/referrals. The House completed multiple measures on third reading and processed second-reading amendments on select bills, followed by first readings and committee references for additional introduced measures.
Source: House Daily Journal (PDF)
Official Floor Record — Senate
Senate Journal (January 22, 2026) reflects second-reading activity and amendments on select measures. The Senate took up bills on second reading (including committee substitutes on certain items), adopted amendments in some cases, and positioned measures for subsequent floor action consistent with Senate procedure.
Source: Senate Daily Journal (PDF)
Today — Official Daybook (Committee Schedule + Floor)
House convenes at 1:30 p.m.
Subcommittee on Government Administration (3:00 p.m., 215E)
Government Organization (4:00 p.m., 215E)
Energy and Public Works (4:00 p.m., 410M).
Source: House Committee Schedule
Senate convenes at 2:00 p.m.
No announced Senate committee meetings were listed on the Senate Committee Schedule page
Source: Senate Committee Schedule
West Virginia Government & Agencies
Morrisey says internal investigation underway after death of Taylor County girl
State DHS is conducting an internal investigation tied to the death of 11-year-old Miana Moran. Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the Department of Human Services opened an investigation and is reviewing case details amid criminal proceedings; the caregiver has been charged, and the child’s father was also charged after an indictment was unsealed.
Source: WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: The case is likely to intensify legislative and oversight scrutiny of CPS/DHS staffing, reporting, and accountability measures during session.
West Virginia’s Senate passed SB 137 to increase penalties for second-degree murder and voluntary (second-degree) manslaughter, aiming to keep offenders incarcerated longer and delay parole eligibility.
The bill would raise second-degree murder sentences from 10–40 years to 15–60 years, and raise voluntary manslaughter from 3–15 years to 5–25 years. Supporters—including Sen. Tom Willis (R-Berkeley) and Putnam County Prosecutor Kris Raynes—argued the change better aligns with surrounding states and reduces the likelihood families face parole hearings after only 10 years, noting the repeated parole process can be traumatic for victims’ families.
SB 137 passed the Senate 30–2 (one absent) and now moves to the House for consideration.
Kanawha County Commission focused on clean water projects in 2026
Kanawha County’s infrastructure push is centered on extending potable water to unserved areas. The commission described six active projects totaling about 40 miles of pipe across multiple communities (including Leatherwood, Upper Rambling Hills, Alcott, Dutch Ridge, Laurel Fork, and Brown’s Creek), highlighting the cost and community impact of extending service.
Source: WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: Water-line expansion intersects with state/federal infrastructure funding, local match capacity, and permitting timelines—prime terrain for stakeholder engagement.
Annual homeless count effort takes place this week
West Virginia communities will conduct the federally required Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on Wednesday–Thursday. The count is used by HUD to inform funding levels and program priorities, and local providers emphasized the statewide scope and resource-allocation consequences.
Source: WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: PIT Count outcomes can directly influence federal homelessness funding flows and program focus areas for WV providers.
Federal Watch
Capito meets with state restaurant workers about Working Families Tax Cut
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito promoted the “Working Families Tax Cut Act” and discussed hospitality-sector impacts in a Fairmont roundtable. The discussion highlighted “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime,” alongside ongoing inflation and labor-availability pressures for WV restaurants.
Source: WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: Federal tax policy changes can materially shift labor retention dynamics and wage structures for WV’s service-sector employers.
Business & Industry
Fairmont-based TMC Technologies was awarded a five-year, $84 million U.S. Navy contract to provide technical support and development for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (Virginia). The work centers on “Track Management”—tracking/classifying data for friendly and opposing surface forces to feed combat and command-and-control systems—and includes direct support, development, and upgrades tied to the Aegis Combat System.
CEO Jeff Edgell said the contract will be executed primarily through TMC’s Dahlgren operation (which TMC expanded through a 2018 acquisition), with Fairmont staffing additions also expected. He framed the award as a step-change: it moves TMC into the role of prime contractor with the Department of Defense and positions the company to pursue larger defense opportunities going forward.
The Grid (Energy/Utilities/Regulatory)
Ice and snow expected to keep West Virginia blanketed to start the week
Utility restoration risk remains elevated as ice loading and wind forecasts raise the probability of extended outages. MetroNews reported Appalachian Power logged approximately 16,000 outages between 2:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday, with expectations that continued precipitation, cold, and higher winds Monday could extend restoration into a multi-day effort.
Source: WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: Prolonged outages and hazardous travel can disrupt industrial loads, critical facilities staffing, and fuel/parts logistics across regions.
Committee times and agendas are subject to change |
