State

State

Jack Reger Enters Republican Primary for District 11 Senate Race

January 29, 2026 WV Statewire

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CLARKSBURG — Buckhannon City Councilman and former Upshur County Schools Assistant Superintendent Jack Reger has filed to run for the West Virginia State Senate in District 11. He submitted his paperwork Wednesday at the Secretary of State’s office in Clarksburg. Reger will face incumbent Sen. Bill Hamilton and former Sen. Robert Karnes in the Republican […]

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State

John Overington, Fixture of West Virginia Conservative Politics, Dies at 79

January 28, 2026 WV Statewire

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MARTINSBURG — John Overington, a pillar of West Virginia’s conservative movement and the state’s longest-serving lawmaker in the House of Delegates, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2026. He was 79. Overington devoted 34 years to representing Berkeley County, leaving a legacy of legislative reform and grassroots engagement. A Republican known for his principled approach, he […]

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State

House Bill Would Make Mayoral, City Council Elections Partisan Statewide

January 28, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — A West Virginia lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require all city council and mayoral elections to be partisan and prevent mayors from being appointed except in the case of vacancies. Willis House Bill 4080, filed by Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, would amend the state code to ensure that, beginning July 1, 2032, […]

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State

Army Veteran Joe Earley Launches GOP Primary Challenge Against Senator Ben Queen

January 27, 2026 WV Statewire

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BRIDGEPORT — Retired Army First Sgt. Joe Earley officially launched his campaign Thursday for the West Virginia Senate in District 12, pledging to bring “true conservative leadership” to Charleston and challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Ben Queen in the May 12 primary. Speaking at Brickside in Bridgeport, Earley emphasized his military and professional background, including two […]

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State

Army Veteran Joe Earley Launches GOP Primary Challenge Against Senator Ben Queen

January 27, 2026 WV Statewire

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BRIDGEPORT — Retired Army First Sgt. Joe Earley officially launched his campaign Thursday for the West Virginia Senate in District 12, pledging to bring “true conservative leadership” to Charleston and challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Ben Queen in the May 12 primary. Speaking at Brickside in Bridgeport, Earley emphasized his military and professional background, including two […]

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State

Legal Experts Say West Virginia Anti-Photoshop Bill Copies Unconstitutional California Law

January 22, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Legislation introduced by Del. Bill Flanigan (R-Ohio, 4) would impose sweeping regulations on artificial intelligence-generated, satirical memes, and digitally altered images, a proposal legal experts say is unconstitutional and modeled after a California law already struck down by a federal court. Flanigan House Bill 4496, sponsored by Del. Flanigan, would require individuals, media […]

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State

Controversial House Bill Shifts Prosecutorial Power From Counties to State

January 22, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Del. Gary Howell and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw have introduced legislation that would significantly restructure prosecutorial authority in West Virginia, a move critics say would erode local control, weaken voter authority and centralize power in state offices. House Bill 4496 (2026), sponsored by Howell (R-Mineral, 87) co-sponsored by Hanshaw (R-Clay, 62), would allow […]

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State

Senator Tarr Proposal Raises Concerns Over Limits on Toxic Exposure Lawsuits

January 19, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Legislation introduced by Sen. Eric Tarr (R-Putnam, 4) would significantly limit when plaintiffs can recover damages for future medical monitoring in civil lawsuits, drawing criticism from consumer and labor advocates who say it could restrict access to early disease detection. Senate Bill 93 (2026) would bar courts from awarding damages for increased risk […]

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State

Del. Scot Heckert Introduces Bill Restoring Voting Rights to Convicted Felons

January 19, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Del. Scot Heckert (R-Wood, 13) has introduced legislation that would explicitly restore voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies once they are released from incarceration. Del. Heckert introduced House Bill 4406 (2026), which would amend state law to clarify that people become eligible to register to vote and cast a ballot upon release […]

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State

Senator Rucker Introduces Bill to Recognize Gold and Silver as Legal Tender

January 19, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Sen. Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson, 16) has introduced legislation that would recognize gold and silver as legal tender in the state and establish a framework for their use in private and public transactions. Sen. Rucker introduced Senate Bill 413 (2026) titled the Transactional Gold and Silver Act, would allow gold and silver specie to […]

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