By Delegate David Kelly
Phone: (304)-340-3226
Week one gaveled in on Wednesday, February 10. We are focused on making certain that we carry out the necessary business of the state while every effort is made to keep everyone safe from Cornoavirus. It is a daunting task.
Because of Cornoavirus concerns and the fact that if there was an outbreak it could end the 60 day session, our major issues are being taken care of early on.
“We are laser focused on quickly advancing legislation that will make West Virginia the easiest choice for families and for businesses,” said House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay. “We have a strong leadership team ready to roll up their sleeves and put in the work to accomplish big things in a short amount of time.”
The major House Committees have already begun the hard work this week working on bills that promote new jobs and economic growth. The goal is to continue making West Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
The first bill introduced in the House is intended to create the nation’s first Jumpstart Savings Plan. It is a bill designed by State Treasurer Riley Moore. The purpose is to help West Virginians who want to enter a vocation or a trade by offering a tax advantaged savings account. This would help cover the costs incurred when entering a vocational trade.
“Treasurer Moore saw firsthand as a young man entering the welding trade how expensive it was to buy your own equipment and get certified to start working,” Hanshaw said. “He experienced a barrier to entering the workforce and has come up with something creative to help us put get more people working. This is exactly the kind of real-world, commonsense legislation we need to advance.”
There is arguably no other issue that affects all of us more than broadband due to the increased reliance on telehealth and remote classroom learning. We have also seen over the past few months the necessity of working remotely. When the state was locked down, we quickly realized that we needed to act fast in a effort to find ways of providing broadband access to as many West Virginians as possible. This broadband bill aims to remove any remaining regulatory hurdles