| Opening Note
The Well is where conversations happen at the Capitol — where legislators, lobbyists, and staff compare notes, test the mood, and figure out what matters. This briefing is built the same way: a fast, disciplined read on what is moving in West Virginia government before the day begins.
ROTUNDA ROUNDUP
West Virginia’s short-lived pursuit of a federal nuclear campus has ended, at least under the current federal program. The state notified the U.S. Department of Energy that it could not execute the required hosting agreement after several days of controversy over whether participation could involve spent nuclear fuel. The decision is a significant reversal from the Morrisey administration’s Sept. 8 announcement that West Virginia had been selected as one of six states to move forward. Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission has locked in a weeklong evidentiary hearing schedule for the proposed MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission project, and Appalachian Power told regulators it is still not ready to provide a timetable for potentially acquiring troubled Black Diamond Power. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Utility and fiscal policy generated several additional developments. The Board of Public Works began reviewing tentative public-service business property assessments totaling $17.4 billion for 2027, up $1.2 billion from 2026, with much of the growth tied to electric utility investment. State revenues also remained above forecast through the first quarter, with General Revenue Fund collections $62 million ahead of estimate. The PSC separately set Oct. 7 procedural deadlines in purchased-gas-cost proceedings involving Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas and Canaan Valley Gas. WV MetroNews
Human services remains active. Janie Cole, commissioner of the Bureau for Family Assistance, is retiring, creating another senior vacancy in the Morrisey administration shortly after Office of Drug Control Policy Director Stephen Loyd’s resignation. New reporting on the $4.4 million Sissonville child-abuse settlement also adds a legislative dimension: Del. Hollis Lewis says he intends to renew legislation aimed at preventing abuse involving homeschooled children. Separately, new details from the state’s Rural Health Transformation awards show money flowing into telehealth, mobile health services, rural apprenticeships and AI-assisted clinical documentation. West Virginia Watch
Election activity is beginning to accelerate ahead of Nov. 3. Voters will decide a constitutional amendment that would explicitly bar noncitizens from voting in West Virginia elections, even though current state law already requires U.S. citizenship for registration. The ACLU of West Virginia has launched a statewide advertising campaign promoting its election-protection hotline, while the Secretary of State’s sample-ballot lookup remains available as registration and early-voting deadlines approach. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
In Washington, Rep. Riley Moore is co-leading bipartisan legislation to expand safe disposal of unused opioids and announced a $246,000 FEMA grant for Fairmont firefighters. A federal judge has also ordered the Bureau of Prisons to restore collective-bargaining agreements for federal prison employees, directly affecting workers at Hazelton. State forestry restrictions on outdoor burning took effect Oct. 1, and Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $300,000 state grant for Green Acres Regional Center in Cabell County. Representative Riley Moore
WHAT MATTERS TODAY
West Virginia withdraws from federal nuclear-campus initiative after refusing hosting agreement.
West Virginia notified the U.S. Department of Energy that it could not execute the required hosting agreement for the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus program, ending its participation under the current process. The move came after several days of controversy over language contemplating spent-fuel handling, which Gov. Patrick Morrisey had said should not be part of West Virginia’s proposed sites. WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: The withdrawal reverses one of the administration’s most prominent recent energy-development initiatives and separates West Virginia, for now, from a federal program covering multiple parts of the nuclear fuel cycle.
What to Watch: Whether the administration pursues a narrower nuclear-generation or manufacturing strategy outside the federal campus program.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — W.Va. Nuclear Initiative With Feds Off — Read the story
Additional Source: WV MetroNews — After ambitious pursuit of nuclear hub, West Virginia splits — Read the additional reporting
PSC sets the witness schedule for a six-day MARL evidentiary hearing.
The Public Service Commission adopted hearing procedures and a witness schedule for NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic’s proposed MARL transmission line. Hearings are scheduled for Oct. 26-30 and Nov. 2, with the project’s West Virginia segment crossing Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties. Parties must identify intervenor witnesses they expect to cross-examine by Oct. 5. West Virginia CAD
Why it Matters: The proceeding is moving into its decisive evidentiary phase after months of public opposition, technical filings and a PSC staff recommendation against approval.
What to Watch: Oct. 5 witness filings and the Oct. 26 start of testimony.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — Weeklong Hearing Scheduled For Proposed Transmission Line — Read the story
Official Source: Public Service Commission — Sept. 30 scheduling order, Case No. 26-0075-E-CN. West Virginia CAD
Appalachian Power says a timetable for acquiring Black Diamond Power still is not practicable.
Appalachian Power told the PSC Thursday that it has a draft asset-purchase agreement but is still conducting due diligence and cannot yet propose a transaction schedule. Black Diamond owes Appalachian Power more than $3 million and serves about 4,900 customers in Clay, Raleigh and Wyoming counties; Black Diamond had not filed its portion of the requested update by 5 p.m. Thursday. WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: Thursday was the deadline regulators had set for an acquisition-process update, making this a material new step in a case closely watched over reliability, billing and possible rate consequences.
What to Watch: Black Diamond’s filing and whether the PSC imposes a new timetable or other requirements.
Source: WV MetroNews — Appalachian Power submits update to PSC on possible deal with Black Diamond Power — Read the story
Tentative utility property assessments rise $1.2 billion as electric investment grows.
The Board of Public Works began reviewing tentative 2027 assessments totaling $17.4 billion for public-service business property, up approximately $1.2 billion, or 7.45%, from 2026. State Tax Commissioner Matt Irby said the latest increases are being driven more heavily by electric infrastructure investment than the natural-gas pipeline investment that drove prior increases. WV MetroNews
Potomac Edison’s tentative assessment increased 20%, Wheeling Power 13%, Appalachian Power 12%, Mon Power 11% and Appalachian Power-related properties 5.9% in the figures presented Thursday. Utilities will have an opportunity to appeal before final values are approved. WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: The assessments translate investment in West Virginia’s energy system into a larger property-tax base affecting state and local revenues.
What to Watch: Utility appeals and the Board of Public Works’ final assessment approvals.
Source: WV MetroNews — Proposed $1.2 billion increase in utility property tax assessments; Board of Public Works begins consideration — Read the story
West Virginia finishes the first quarter $62 million ahead of its General Revenue estimate.
General Revenue Fund collections reached $1.41 billion through September, $62 million, or 4.6%, above the state’s year-to-date estimate. September collections alone totaled $570 million, nearly $16 million above forecast, with personal income, consumer sales, corporate net income and severance taxes among the major contributors. WV MetroNews
Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson said officials remain cautious about inflation and interest rates despite the positive collections.
Why it Matters: Revenue performance will help shape the administration’s FY 2028 budget decisions and the debate over future tax reductions, spending and reserves.
What to Watch: October collections and the administration’s developing revenue estimate for the next budget cycle.
Source: WV MetroNews — West Virginia again comes out ahead on monthly revenue projections, eyes inflation — Read the story
PSC sets Oct. 7 deadlines in purchased-gas-cost cases.
The PSC issued procedural orders Thursday establishing Oct. 7 deadlines for responses or objections to staff interim-rate recommendations in purchased-gas-cost proceedings involving Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas and Canaan Valley Gas. WV Public Service Commission
Why it Matters: Purchased-gas proceedings help determine the commodity portion of customer gas bills heading into the winter heating season.
What to Watch: Whether the utilities, Consumer Advocate Division or other parties challenge the staff recommendations by Oct. 7.
Official Source: West Virginia Public Service Commission — October 2026 orders in Cases 26-0703-G-30C, 26-0705-G-30C and 26-0713-G-30C. WV Public Service Commission
Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner Janie Cole is retiring.
Cole, who has led the bureau since 2023, is expected to leave this week, according to the Governor’s Office. Her bureau administers programs including food assistance, utility assistance and child-care subsidies and has overseen programs that have been under review by the Morrisey administration as TANF resources tighten. West Virginia Watch
Her departure follows the resignation of Office of Drug Control Policy Director Stephen Loyd.
Why it Matters: The Bureau for Family Assistance sits at the center of several high-profile questions involving child care, TANF spending and assistance to low-income families.
What to Watch: Morrisey’s choice for new leadership and whether the personnel change coincides with additional policy or funding changes.
Source: West Virginia Watch — Bureau for Family Assistance commissioner latest to exit Morrisey administration — Read the story
Sissonville child-abuse settlement produces new legislative follow-up.
The state’s $4.4 million settlement with five children abused in the Sissonville case had already been reported, but West Virginia Watch’s latest account adds a legislative development: Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha, said he plans to renew legislation in 2027 aimed at strengthening safeguards involving homeschooled children. The settlement was paid through the Board of Risk and Insurance Management after allegations that CPS failed to adequately respond to repeated reports concerning the children. West Virginia Watch
Why it Matters: The case is shifting from litigation and agency accountability toward potential legislative changes in child-protection policy.
What to Watch: The language Lewis files for the 2027 session and whether legislative leaders pursue broader CPS or homeschooling oversight changes.
Source: West Virginia Watch — WV pays $4.4M in historic child abuse case after CPS didn’t rescue kids from slave-like conditions — Read the story
New details show rural-health money going to telehealth, mobile care, apprenticeships and AI documentation.
More than $4 million in Rural Health Transformation awards announced Wednesday will support telehealth equipment, a mobile medical unit serving Braxton, Clay and Pocahontas counties, health-care career advancement and apprenticeships, and a telemedicine hub at Broaddus Hospital. Five rural hospitals also are receiving $363,000 each for AI-assisted clinical listening technology designed to reduce documentation burdens. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Why it Matters: The awards show how West Virginia is beginning to convert its nearly $200 million federal Rural Health Transformation allocation into specific operating and workforce projects.
What to Watch: Additional awards as the state continues deploying money across the program’s seven initiatives.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — Telehealth, AI Technology Among Plans To Bump Rural Healthcare Access— Read the story
Voters will decide whether to put a citizenship requirement directly into the state Constitution.
A proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would expressly limit voting in West Virginia elections to U.S. citizens. Current West Virginia election law already requires citizenship to register, but the state Constitution does not contain the same explicit language. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Why it Matters: The amendment would move an existing statutory qualification into the Constitution, where future changes would require another constitutional amendment rather than ordinary legislation.
What to Watch: Voter education and campaign activity around the amendment as early voting approaches.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — Constitutional Amendment Would Bar Noncitizens From Voting — Read the story
ACLU-WV launches statewide campaign promoting its election-protection hotline.
The organization is putting up billboards, television commercials and digital advertising promoting a hotline staffed by attorneys and law students trained in election law. The campaign is part of a national ACLU investment in election-related legal assistance. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Why it Matters: Election administration and voting procedures are moving into the active pre-election phase, with outside organizations increasing voter-assistance operations.
What to Watch: Complaints or legal issues reported through the hotline as absentee voting and early voting increase.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — ACLU-WV Launches Awareness Campaign For Election Hotline — Read the story
Secretary of State’s sample-ballot lookup is live as election deadlines approach.
The online tool allows voters to view and print the races that will appear on their Nov. 3 ballot. Secretary of State Kris Warner’s office lists Oct. 13 as the registration deadline, with in-person early voting beginning Oct. 21 and continuing through Oct. 31. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Why it Matters: West Virginia is moving into the final administrative phase of the general election, with registration, absentee and early-voting deadlines now weeks away.
What to Watch: Campaign-finance filings, absentee-ballot activity and county election preparations.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting — Online Voter Resource Now Available — Read the story
Official Source: West Virginia Secretary of State — GoVoteWV election information
Riley Moore co-leads bipartisan opioid-disposal legislation.
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., are leading the Safe Disposal of Opioids Act. The proposal would establish grants for prescription-drug disposal sites, financed through a fee on opioid manufacturers, producers and importers, with at least 90% of the grant money directed toward pharmacies, hospitals, treatment programs, long-term care facilities and other authorized collectors. Representative Riley Moore
Why it Matters: Opioid policy remains a major West Virginia health and public-safety concern, and the legislation would create a new federal funding mechanism for disposal infrastructure.
What to Watch: Committee referral and whether the bill attracts enough bipartisan support to advance.
Official Source: Rep. Riley Moore — Congressman Riley M. Moore Co-Leads the Safe Disposal of Opioids Act to Help Prevent Opioid Abuse — View the release
Fairmont firefighters receive a $246,000 federal grant.
Moore announced that Fairmont received $246,000 through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for equipment, training and operational needs. Representative Riley Moore
Why it Matters: The award directs federal public-safety funding into a West Virginia municipal fire department.
What to Watch: Fairmont’s planned use of the grant and additional FEMA awards to West Virginia departments.
Official Source: Rep. Riley Moore — Congressman Riley M. Moore Announces $246,000 Federal Grant for Fairmont Firefighters — View the release
Federal judge restores collective-bargaining rights for Bureau of Prisons workers, including Hazelton employees.
A federal judge in Connecticut ordered the Bureau of Prisons to restore its collective-bargaining agreement with the union representing federal prison workers. The ruling has direct implications for employees at the federal correctional complex at Hazelton in Preston County. WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: Hazelton is a major federal employer in northern West Virginia, and the order affects workplace representation and labor-management procedures there.
What to Watch: Whether the administration appeals or seeks a stay of the ruling.
Source: WV MetroNews — Federal judge restores collective bargaining rights for federal prison workers — Read the story
Morrisey awards $300,000 to Green Acres Regional Center in Cabell County.
The governor announced a one-time $300,000 state grant for Green Acres Regional Center during the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival. The organization’s LeSage Natural operation employs approximately 40 people with disabilities and distributes bottled water across the state. WV MetroNews
Why it Matters: The grant represents state capital support for an employer serving people with disabilities in an area where officials expect additional Route 2 economic development.
What to Watch: How Green Acres uses the money for its planned capital improvements.
Source: WV MetroNews — Morrisey announces grant to Cabell County nonprofit, celebrates opening day of 41st West Virginia Pumpkin Festival — Read the story
West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship debate reaches a U.S. Senate education forum.
WV News reported Thursday that Woodrow Wilson High School teacher John Quesenberry testified at a Sept. 22 Senate education forum about the effect of West Virginia’s expanded Hope Scholarship program on public schools and vulnerable students. The forum was focused on a new federal scholarship tax-credit program. No new West Virginia government action was announced. WV News
Why it Matters: West Virginia’s universal Hope Scholarship expansion is increasingly being cited in the broader federal debate over public funding, private education and school-choice policy.
What to Watch: Implementation of the new federal scholarship tax credit beginning in 2027 and how it interacts with West Virginia’s existing Hope Scholarship program.
Source: WV News — Hope Scholarship draws criticism from West Virginia teacher at U.S. Senate forum — Read the story
WHAT TO WATCH
· Black Diamond Power: Watch for Black Diamond’s own PSC filing and any commission response after Appalachian Power said it could not yet provide an acquisition timetable. WV MetroNews coverage
· MARL: Parties must identify intervenor witnesses they expect to cross-examine by Oct. 5; evidentiary hearings begin Oct. 26. West Virginia CAD
· Natural-gas rates: Responses or objections to PSC staff interim recommendations in the Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas and Canaan Valley Gas purchased-gas proceedings are due Oct. 7. WV Public Service Commission
· Nuclear policy: Watch for the Morrisey administration to clarify whether it intends to pursue nuclear generation or manufacturing outside DOE’s lifecycle-campus process. WVPB coverage
· Child welfare: Watch for additional leadership changes at Human Services and early drafting of the child-protection legislation Lewis says he will renew in 2027. West Virginia Watch coverage
· Campaign finance: West Virginia’s third-quarter campaign-finance reporting period runs through Oct. 7, covering activity from July 1-Sept. 30.
· State finances: September’s positive revenue report shifts attention to October collections and the Morrisey administration’s assumptions for the FY 2028 budget. WV MetroNews revenue report
DATES AHEAD
· Oct. 5: MARL parties must identify intervenor witnesses they anticipate cross-examining. West Virginia CAD
· Oct. 7: PSC deadline for responses or objections in Mountaineer Gas, Hope Gas and Canaan Valley Gas purchased-gas proceedings. WV Public Service Commission
· Oct. 13: Deadline to register to vote or update West Virginia voter registration for the Nov. 3 general election. Secretary of State election information
· Oct. 15: Additional WV VeriCheck background-check requirements begin for child-placing agencies, behavioral-health providers, child advocacy centers, CASA programs and residential, shelter and school-based providers. Bureau for Social Services
· Oct. 26-30 and Nov. 2: PSC evidentiary hearings on the MARL transmission project. West Virginia CAD
· Oct. 28: Deadline for absentee-ballot applications. WV Secretary of State
· Oct. 31: Final day of in-person early voting. WV Secretary of State
· Nov. 3: West Virginia general election.
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