Latest news with #AnitraHamilton
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morgantown delegates discuss outcomes of 2025 legislative session
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — The Morgantown Area Partnership hosted its annual Legislative Wrap-Up on Thursday, where members of the partnership and local business owners were invited to hear about delegates' ventures in the most recent legislative session and ask questions about it. All legislators relative to Monongalia County were invited, and delegates Anitra Hamilton (D-Monongalia), Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia), Joe Statler (R-Monongalia) and John Williams (D), alongside senators Joey Garcia (D-Marion) and Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia) were in attendance. At the start of the meeting, each delegate was allowed three minutes to summarize their opinions on what was accomplished within the legislative session, to which many agreed was not much. RFK Jr seeks dismissal of lawsuit against NIOSH cuts 'I've seen a number of different sessions over time and this is probably the worst that I've ever seen as far as how little we got done and how much we focused on things that don't matter—or to the extent that they matter, they matter to the purpose of driving people apart instead of trying to really solve the problem,' Sen. Garcia said. After every delegate spoke, audience members wrote out questions that varied from 'what can be done on their level?' As well as 'what can be done through the legislative process to better suit the citizens of Monongalia County and its surrounding areas?' 12 News spoke with Russ Rogerson, President and CEO of Morgantown Area Partnership, on the significance of hosting events like this one. 'We're able to kind of pull these folks together, take time out of their busy schedule. You know, being in government is not an 'in-session thing, it's ongoing and somewhat 24/7 and likewise on business, being able to take time out of their busy days and come here and be able to have this open conversation,' Rogerson said. Morgantown Area Partnership hosts sessions like this one annually and a few more before the legislative session to help better prepare delegates on how to better serve their regions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Micro-hospital Certificate of Need bill dies in committee
Mar. 27—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — A bill to exempt micro-hospitals from the Certificate of Need process died in the House Health Committee on Thursday. The original HB 3487 aimed to eliminate CON requirements for construction or acquisition of a small format or micro-hospital owned by a system with one or more existing licensed hospitals in the state. The version the committee took up and killed opened it up to anyone wishing to build a micro-hospital. The new facility would have to be located to increase care capacity without jeopardizing any nearby critical access hospitals. It could include up to 25 inpatient beds, up to 25 emergency room beds, a CT scanner, an MRI scanner and other services. The cost could not exceed $100 million. Committee counsel pointed out micro-hospitals are not defined in current code — the bill would set aside a new exception for small-format hospitals that are subject to CON. Lead sponsor Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson, said again that the Eastern Panhandle lacks access to care. He added that micro-hospitals tend to be built in high-density suburban areas like the panhandle, rather than rural areas. "We're going to give our citizens more access to healthcare, " he said. Delegate Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, opposed the bill, agreeing that all West Virginians need better access to healthcare. But Mon Health System built a small-format hospital in Marion and is breaking ground on one in Harrison, and went through CON for both. A major problem, she said, is inability to recruit staff. But there is a process in place and noting hinders a health system from applying. As we reported following the initial committee hearing on the bill, Mon Health System /Vandalia North and the West Virginia Hospital Association both opposed the bill. A voice vote followed the debate, with a few votes for the bill and the louder majority against it.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House committee ponders two foster care bills: vaccines and LGBTQ issues
Feb. 21—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — The full House Health and Human Resources Committee got a first look at two foster care bills — one regarding LGBTQ issues and one regarding vaccines. The Human Services subcommittee advanced both of them. HB 2033 says a foster or adoptive family's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs on sexual orientation or gender identity may not serve as a condition for eligibility to foster or adopt. The Department of Human services may not deny a current or prospective family eligibility based on those beliefs. The state may not use the family's beliefs that a particular placement is not in the best interests of the child. And the bill allows for a cause of action for a family alleging illegal treatment to sue for an injunction, damages and fees. Delegate Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, offered an amendment to allow a child to be removed from a placement if the child didn't wish to stay or be placed there. DHS Bureau for Social Services interim Commissioner Lorie Bragg Lawrence answered some questions regarding the amendment. She said there is no policy in place preventing a parent from saying they don't want a specific child. But the child may also opt out of a placement by speaking with their case worker ; children meet with their case workers at least monthly. Lawrence said DHS does not do placements, except for blood relative placements. Case workers make referrals to placement agencies. And a child may discuss sexual orientation and gender identity issues regarding any placement. The amendment failed in a voice vote. Bill sponsor Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, pointed out during amendment debate and discussion before the final vote that West Virginia has no regulations discriminating against foster and adoptive families. "And I'm thankful for that." But other states do, he said, and families have filed suits to defend their rights. Just because a particular child may not be the right placement for a family doesn't mean the family should not be allowed to foster or adopt, he said. The subcommittee advanced the bill in a voice vote. HB 2376 is a single sentence. It says DHS may not require a foster child to be immunized if the foster family objects to immunization based on religious or moral convictions. Under questioning, Lawrence told members that immunization policy is spelled out in legislative agency rules and DHS is in discussions with the governor's office to update the rule pending passage of the bill. The committee advanced this bill in a voice vote without debate.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New bill could broaden medical marijuana eligibility in West Virginia
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — A proposed amendment to West Virginia's medical cannabis law could broaden the number of 'serious medical conditions' eligible to be treated with medical marijuana. House Bill 2765, which was introduced Friday morning, looks to change the definition of a 'serious medical condition' as it pertains to the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. Currently, the definition of a 'serious medical condition' names 15 different medical conditions that qualify for treatment with medical marijuana. This amendment would remove those conditions and replace the definition to mean 'a medical condition that a medical doctor, in his or her professional judgment, would benefit from the use of cannabis.' This would mean that, regardless of the condition, if a doctor believed medical cannabis would help treatment, it could qualify for medical marijuana treatment. Bill to remove abortion exemptions for rape, incest introduced for second time in West Virginia legislative session Delegate Mike Pushkin (D – Kanawha, 054) is the lead sponsor of the bill and is joined by four others, two of which are from north central West Virginia: Anitra Hamilton (D – Monongalia, 081) Evan Hansen (D – Monongalia, 079) Sean Hornbuckle (D – Cabell, 025) Hollis Lewis (D – Kanawha, 057) You can read the full bill below or online; you can also track the progress of House Bill 2765 on the West Virginia Legislature website. hb2765-intrDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
