In Morgantown, on Crossover Day, the House of Delegates forwarded several bills to the Senate, covering a range of topics including parenting rights, education, lab-grown meat, and election regulations.
One of the bills, HB 4313, known as the Parents Bill of Rights, safeguards parental authority in directing various aspects of their children’s upbringing, such as education, moral guidance, healthcare, and mental health. The bill specifies that any government intervention must be justified by a compelling state interest and must be the least restrictive means available. It also grants parents the right to legal recourse if their rights are infringed upon.
Delegate Larry Rowe expressed concerns about potential lawsuits arising from this bill, particularly affecting school volunteers and staff. Meanwhile, Delegate Evan Hansen criticized it as another battleground in the Republican cultural conflicts. Despite the opposition, the bill passed with a majority vote of 83-14.
Another bill, HB 4945, aims to update certain provisions of the Hope Scholarship program. The changes include basing funding on projected student numbers for the upcoming year to prevent underfunding, regulating service providers from exploiting funds, and allowing charter schools to charge for additional services. Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle highlighted the need for alternative funding sources due to the program’s financial strain on public schools. The bill received mixed support, passing with a vote of 76-21.
HB 5349, also known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act, mandates the labeling of food products derived from plants, insects, fungi, or cell-cultured sources. While Delegate Mike Pushkin criticized the bill as excessive government intervention, Delegate Mike Horby defended it as essential for consumer knowledge and choice. The bill passed with a vote of 86-11.
Additionally, HB 5373 addresses gubernatorial appointments to partisan state office vacancies, requiring appointees to align with the party of the elected official and have party membership for at least a year. Delegate Joey Garcia supported the bill for its fairness in the appointment process, emphasizing the importance of voter influence. The bill overwhelmingly passed with a vote of 95-1.
House Bills 4722, 4919, and 5077 were also passed; the former two would allow coal companies to deduct infrastructure improvement costs from severance taxes; the latter two would allow the reinstatement of a lost PROMISE Scholarship under certain conditions; and the former would require candidates for the United States House of Representatives to reside in the district they are seeking to represent for at least one year prior to the election. These bills were approved with significant bipartisan support, emphasizing various aspects of governance and public welfare.