Latest news with #HouseBill3016
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Morrisey signs bills into law to suppress voting and put school children in danger
Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law Senate Bill 154, which states that if a student asks to be referred to by pronouns different from their biological sex or to be referred to by a different name, that the teacher must tell the student's parent, even if the teacher believes the student may be in danger if they do so. (Getty Images) Now that Gov. Patrick Morrisey has finished his actions on all of the bills passed during the legislative session, we can finally say it's officially over. On Wednesday, he vetoed six bills — because of 'financial reasons' — and signed some of the most controversial bills from the session into law. Morrisey was so proud of signing a voter ID bill into law, he held a news conference at the Capitol. He even had a little sign on his lectern that said 'ELECTION INTEGRITY.' (Memo to self: Put in a public records request to find out how much is this administration spending on these signs for every event? Talk about financial waste.) House Bill 3016 will require that voters provide some sort of photo identification when they vote at the polls. Even the governor said during his ceremonial signing of the bill that he and other legislators acknowledge that voter fraud is not widespread in West Virginia. Voter fraud is extremely rare. Not only that, but voter impersonation is 'virtually nonexistent.' Research has found that many instances of fraud are actually clerical errors or bad data matching practices. Voter ID laws only prevent in-person voter impersonation, which according to the Brennan Center, is extremely low at 0.00004.% The report noted that it's more likely that a voter would be struck by lightning than impersonating someone else at the polls. What voter ID laws actually do is suppress voting access for older people, low-income individuals and people of color — who tend to lean more Democratic than Republican. In another blow to marginalized groups, Morrisey also signed his legislation to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in West Virginia. This was one of his first executive orders he made on his second day in office. The only thing surprising about this is that he didn't sign it sooner. Possibly the most dangerous bill signed into law was Senate Bill 154, which prohibits instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This bill states that if a student asks to be referred to by pronouns different from their biological sex or to be referred to by a different name, that the teacher must tell the student's parents. Even if the teacher believes the student may be in danger if they do so, they are still required to report it or the parents can bring legal action against the school. It's disappointing that this bill was sponsored by a public school teacher. Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, has introduced several bills to help teachers and students, but this legislation will put children in danger. 'In cases like these, a teacher would be faced with choosing between following this new law or putting their student's life at risk,' said Andrew Schneider, executive director of the LGBTQ civil rights organization Fairness WV. Teachers know better than anyone that not all parents are accepting of their children and that school may be the only safe space for them, or a teacher could be the only safe adult they can talk to. Transgender people are much more likely to be abused by their immediate family and kicked out of the home, leading to depression, increased risk of suicide and substance abuse, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Trans youth, despite being a small percentage of the population, are overrepresented in the foster care system, juvenile detention centers and homeless shelters. Is it really worth telling a child's parents they want to go by a different pronoun or name when doing so can result in that child becoming homeless or dead? About 54% of transgender and nonbinary children found their school to be gender-affirming, and reported lower rates of attempting suicide, according to the Trevor Project's 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People. The survey also found that LGBTQ+ children who said they lived in accepting communities attempted suicide at less than half the rate as those who said their communities were very unaccepting. A child cannot learn if they don't feel safe or respected. Accepting a child's preferred name, nickname or pronoun is a great way to create a supportive learning place. While it's true that lawmakers took up — and even — passed other measures, that this was a priority in a session where much more needed to be done to help West Virginians, is ridiculous. For instance, they did nothing to fix health insurance for public employees, which has been a mess for years. No, thousands more of taxpayers money will be used for Morrisey's special session to address that issue. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Morrisey signs bill requiring photo ID to vote
charleston – In a move which he said would increase election integrity, West Virginia's governor signed into law Thursday a bill which will require the state's voters to show a photo ID when they go to the polls. During a media conference in Charleston, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 3016, an action which he said would move West Virginia forward in securing elections and protecting voters' rights. 'Democratic elections are only as strong as the trust placed in them by the voters,' Morrisey said. 'This commonsense legislation secures West Virginia's elections and instills faith in the voting process.' Morrisey said House Bill 3016 would move the state forward when it comes to securing elections, protecting the right to vote and insuring that every resident who is eligible to vote can do so easily. 'I think we're here today because we want to make the laws as simple as possible in West Virginia. No photo ID, no vote,' Morrisey said. ' Let me say this again. No photo ID, no vote.' House Bill 3016 requires voters to show poll clerks a valid identifying document. These documents include: – A valid West Virginia driver's license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. – A valid driver's license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia. – A valid United States passport or passport card. – A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority or other political subdivision of West Virginia. – A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia by a West Virginia high school. – A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote. – A valid voter registration card that includes the voter's photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State. Secretary of State Kris Warner later said that if voters do not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may qualify for one of the limited exemptions, and those who cannot obtain a driver's license or state-issued ID can apply for a free photo voter ID from their county clerk or the Secretary of State's office. The new law also permits registered voters 65 and older to use an expired photo ID if the document was not expired on the voter's 65th birthday. The law goes into effect on July 11, so it will not affect the 100-plus municipal elections taking place this upcoming June, Warner said. Heading into the 2026 Federal Election cycle, the Secretary of State's Office will develop and publish educational materials for voters and election officials to make the changes as seamless as possible, he said. Voters who cannot present a valid identifying document can cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity, according to a statement the govenror's office issued later. The provisional ballot may be counted once the election authority verifies the identity of the individual through signature verification and determines that the individual was otherwise eligible to cast a ballot. Warner said that he applauded seeing House Bill 3016 get signed into law. 'Requiring photo ID to vote strengthens election integrity and protects against fraud,' said Warner, who serves as West Virginia's chief election official. 'I am proud of the effort between my office and the Legislature to pass this critical piece of legislation.' West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said he believed the first portion of voter identification legislation was passed in 2013. With House Bill 3016, only West Virginians can vote in a state election. Some election results have hinged on only a few votes, so making sure only eligible citizens vote in state elections is important, he said. 'People will know that their vote was not washed out by somebody else who was not eligible,' McCluskey said, adding that he hoped the new legislation will increase voter turnout because residents will know that their votes are secure. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voter ID bill signed into law by Governor Morrisey
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Governor Morrisey signed a voter ID bill into law as a way to help stop voter fraud in the Mountain State. According to a press release, House Bill 3016 was signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey on Thursday, May 1, 2025, requiring a photo ID to be showed for voters to be able to vote. Governor Morrisey signs bills banning cell phones in classrooms and requiring U.S. Motto displayed in schools Democratic elections are only as strong as the trust placed in them by the voters. This commonsense legislation secures West Virginia's elections and instills faith in the voting process. Governor Morrisey The press release stated that the bill will require people to show a valid identifying document if they wish to vote, and valid documents can include: A valid West Virginia driver's license or valid West Virginia ID card given by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. A valid driver's license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia. A valid United States passport or passport card. A valid employee ID with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of West Virginia. A valid student ID card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia by a West Virginia high school. A valid military ID card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote. A valid voter registration card that includes the voter's photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State. REAL-ID will be required for West Virginia residents to board flights According to the press release, those who cannot show a valid ID can cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit confirming their identity if they wish to vote. Provisional ballots can be counted once a person's identity is confirmed using signature verification and is found to be eligible to cast a ballot by the election authority. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WV Gov. Morrisey signs voter photo ID requirement, DEI ban and more while issuing 6 vetoes
Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a news conference on Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Charleston, to announce he signed a voter ID bill into law. (West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey | Courtesy photo) While Wednesday marked the deadline for Gov. Patrick Morrisey to officially sign bills passed this legislative session into law, the governor held a ceremonial bill signing at the state capitol Thursday morning for legislation requiring photo identification for anyone voting in West Virginia. House Bill 3016, meant to address voter fraud and bolster secure elections, would require a photo ID — typically a driver's license, passport or a resident identification card — to vote in-person. It eliminated several options previously accepted at polling places to validate identity, including a Medicaid card and utility bill, among others. Citizens can request a voter registration card with a photograph from either their county clerk or the Secretary of State, per the code, however the process for doing so is not specified in the bill text. Any cards requested will be given free of charge. No funds were allocated through this bill for the creation or distribution of such cards. Anyone who is unable to provide a valid photo ID at the ballot box will still be able to cast a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit confirming their identity. Once election officials verify their identity, the provisional ballot should be counted as long as the person is an eligible voter. A valid West Virginia driver's license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. A valid driver's license issued by a state other than the state of West Virginia. A valid United States passport or passport card. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by the United States government or of the state of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of West Virginia. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia by a West Virginia high school. A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote. A valid voter registration card that includes the voter's photograph issued by a county clerk in the state of West Virginia or the Secretary of State. In comments Thursday, Morrisey and other legislative leaders acknowledged that voter fraud is not widespread in West Virginia, but alleged that making HB 3016 into law will ensure that remains true. Nationwide, however, studies have found that photo ID requirements for voting can restrict ballot box access for millions of people — namely older people, low-income residents and already marginalized groups. There is little evidence showing that such laws limit voter fraud, which is incredibly rare. West Virginia already has abysmal voter turnout. Opponents of HB 3016 voiced concerns during session that the bill will make it difficult — particularly for older West Virginians and those who don't drive or lack access to the internet — to vote in the state. The legislation was one of several priorities listed by Secretary of State Kris Warner before the beginning of the 2025 session. On Thursday, Morrisey called the measure 'commonsense.' 'Democratic elections are only as strong as the trust placed in them by the voters,' Morrisey said 'This commonsense legislation secures West Virginia's elections and instills faith in the voting process.' As Wednesday's deadline for gubernatorial action came to a close, Gov. Morrisey signed several bills into law — including one to ban nearly all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the state. Senate Bill 474 was a priority for Morrisey. The bill bans the offering of specific services or opportunities to people based on their race, color, ethnicity, country of origin and, in some instances, sex. It applies to DEI policies and initiatives in state and local governments and schools, including institutions of higher education. On the final night of session, the bill almost didn't pass. Lawmakers in the House introduced and considered dozens of amendments that evening — mostly from Democrats — to slow the bill's progress. After nearly three hours of debate, the bill passed the House 87-12 with one member absent. When SB 474 was returned to the Senate for consideration with less than two hours remaining before sine die, Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, had a similar plan. Garcia filed 13 amendments that were to be considered on the bill before lawmakers voted on it. However, what he called 'dirty tricks' prevailed as Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, called for a rare suspension of Joint Rule 3, which stopped Garcia's amendments from being taken up. Garcia and Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, had their microphones silenced on the floor and the rest of the chamber — all Republicans — passed the bill without any discussion. Garcia questioned the legitimacy of the bill's passage. Now, with the bill signed into law, someone would need to challenge its standing in court to prove him right or wrong. Despite the bill being a priority for Morrisey and introduced at his request, he signed the bill into law quietly on Wednesday night. That evening, he also signed Senate Bill 154, a bill that requires teachers to tell parents when a child requests to be referred to by a different name or pronouns that are different from the student's biological sex. The bill also permits parents who aren't alerted about their child's gender-related requests to bring legal action against the public school. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, a public school teacher who sponsored an identical measure last year. Other Republicans who defended the measure said that parents' rights should always come before a child's privacy or educators' concerns. Fairness WV opposes the education measure. Andrew Scheider, executive director of the LGBTQ civil rights organization, told West Virginia Watch it would force teachers to out their students even if they have reason to believe doing so would result in students being abused at home. 'In cases like these, a teacher would be faced with choosing between following this new law or putting their student's life at risk,' he said. Out of the total 249 bills passed this legislative session, Morrisey vetoed just six. In social media posts just before midnight on Wednesday, Morrisey said those vetoes were 'due to unfunded mandates, questionable policy, or fiscal concerns. Vetoed bills include: SB 369, which would have promulgated legislative rules for multiple agencies and boards. In his comments regarding the veto, Morrisey voiced concerns with some inconsistencies in the legislation as well as technical issues. Substance wise, Morrisey said he disagreed with parts of the bill that would have changed regulatory processes for political action committees in the state. While his concerns laid with only parts of the legislation, he urged lawmakers to 'expeditiously work to modify and fix the technical flaws' he listed. SB 158, which would have limited members of the state Board of Education from serving in other political roles while holding a seat on the board. The bill would have banned sitting school board members from becoming a candidate for any other public office, serving as a delegate to a national political party convention or soliciting or receiving campaign contributions for any candidate for partisan office. Morrisey said he disagreed with such limits, as running for office is a 'fundamental right' and efforts to limit that were 'constitutionally concerning.' SB 531, which would have levied specific misdemeanor charges and fines against anyone who assaulted an athletic official or athlete in the state. Morrisey said that while he finds such offenses 'abhorrent,' he 'cannot justify a crime against a referee carrying a minimum sentence that is double that for assault on a police officer.' He urged lawmakers to work with his office to 'craft better legislation.' SB 722, which would have created the West Virginia Short Line Railroad Modernization Act by levying tax credits for short line rail companies in the state. Morrisey said the state 'cannot afford' the bill and voiced concerns regarding its approach to tax reform generally. HB 2120, which would have made changes to the makeup of the state's Ethics Commission and added new requirements to comply with its standards. Morrisey said his veto came at the request of the Ethics Commission. Members there, he said, voiced concerns that the changes would place 'considerable strain' on the Commission's already 'tight' budget and make it more difficult to find individuals willing to serve on it. HB 2351, which would have increased the hourly compensation rate for panel attorneys in the state. The rates proposed would have increased pay from from $60 to $70 for out-of-court work, and from $80 to $90 for in-court work. Morrisey said he was 'sympathetic' about the intent of the bill, however making it law would have created a 'shortfall in appropriations without any identified offsets.' Since the Legislature decreased funding for public defenders in the budget passed this session, Morrisey said, a veto was necessary since 'the math does not add up.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Recently passed legislation aims to secure WV elections
RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVNS) – Recently adopted legislation here in the Mountain State aims to strengthen election security and integrity. The West Virginia Legislature recently wrapped up a 60-day session which saw the passage of hundreds of bills. A few of these bills were introduced to address ballot security in West Virginia elections. Among the bills passed is House Bill 3016. This bill requires photo ID for those voting in state and local elections. Additionally, Senate Bill 486 states that only United States citizens are eligible to vote in West Virginia elections. Many of the bills emerged from initiatives presented by recently elected Secretary of State Kris Warner, who said his first session working with the West Virginia Legislature was a highly positive experience. 'We had a great session in the Legislature, we had supported several bills,' said Secretary Warner. 'The most important or critical job that we have as election officials is making sure that the people that are elected are done so fairly and in a secure fashion.' Members of the Raleigh Commission also voiced their support for additional election security measures, telling 59News that voters should be able to have confidence in the electoral process. 'I think one thing that's important is for people to have confidence that our elections are run fairly and that there's no cheating out there,' said Raleigh County Commissioner Daniel Hall. Several of these bills have already received approval from Governor Patrick Morrisey, with the remaining bills expected to gain approval in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
