Charleston Report with Delegate Gary G. Howell

The Legislature reached an important milestone this week with the arrival of Crossover Day. Wednesday marked the deadline for bills to pass out of their house of origin. Any House bill that did not advance to the Senate, or Senate bill that did not move to the House, is effectively finished for the year.
As is always the case when that deadline approaches, the pace under the dome increased significantly. Committee meetings ran long, floor sessions stretched into the evening, and discussions continued throughout the Capitol as members worked to move legislation forward. Crossover Day serves as a natural turning point in the session, narrowing the focus to the bills that will continue through the process during the final weeks.

The week also began on a very personal note. Sunday morning, just before returning to Charleston from the weekend at home, I received the news that my friend and colleague, Delegate Larry Kump, had passed away. I had planned to visit him in the hospital later that day, and the message was a sobering reminder of how quickly plans can change. At the opening of the House session on Monday, members paused to adopt House Resolution 20 honoring Larry’s life and service. His wife, Cheryl, was present in the chamber, and I had the privilege of serving as part of the official escort accompanying her to the House floor. It was a meaningful moment for all who had the opportunity to serve alongside him. One line from the resolution captured his spirit well: “His presence on the House floor, marked by his mastery of catchphrases such as ‘Great Googly Moogly’ and ‘For sure and for certain’, as well as his tireless advocacy for his constituents, will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of serving alongside him.” Larry was truly one of a kind, and he will be missed. Moments like that are also reminders that life moves quickly. Make that visit. Make that phone call. You never know when you may not get another opportunity.

Among the legislation receiving significant attention this week was Committee Substitute for House Bill 5381, which directs the development of a comprehensive statewide energy policy through the Office of Energy. During floor consideration, a motion was made to end debate. I voted against that motion because I believe members should have the opportunity to fully discuss major policy issues. The motion prevailed, however, and debate was ended. The bill ultimately passed the House on Monday by a vote of 92 to 3.

Despite my opposition to ending debate, I supported the bill itself. HB 5381 represents an important step in establishing a coordinated long term energy strategy for West Virginia. By requiring a comprehensive planning process, the legislation helps align state agencies, utilities, and private investors around clear priorities and provides greater certainty for future investment in generation and transmission infrastructure.
The measure also reinforces West Virginia’s all of the above energy approach by recognizing the continued importance of coal and natural gas while allowing room for nuclear, hydrogen, and other emerging technologies. Maintaining that balance protects existing energy jobs while strengthening the state’s position as a reliable energy producing state.
The decision to end debate also had an interesting procedural effect on the next bill. Delegate Hansen objected to having the following bill simply explained on the floor. Under House rules, when a member objects to the explanation, the bill must instead be read in full. To accomplish that, the House computer system reads the entire bill aloud. It was his way of registering protest over the earlier decision to cut off debate.
Another measure drawing attention this week was House Bill 5453, which revises the state school aid funding formula. During debate it became clear that the proposed changes would immediately reduce funding for several counties. For Mineral County, the projected reduction was $866,642.
In response, I offered House Floor Amendment HFA Howell 3 2 Number 1, which establishes a funding floor to ensure counties do not receive less funding than the current year while the new formula is implemented. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 49 to 43. As a result, Mineral County schools were protected from the reduction, and approximately $5.5 million in funding across nine counties was preserved.
Protecting Mineral County remains my top priority, and this amendment was one of those moments where it was important to step in and make sure our local schools were not negatively impacted. Following adoption of the amendment, HB 5453 passed the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The House also approved House Joint Resolution 42, which would allow voters to consider an increase in the Homestead Exemption for senior citizens. The proposal would authorize the Legislature to raise the exemption from $20,000 to as much as $50,000.

The current exemption amount has not been increased since the 1980s. While property values and living costs have changed over the decades, the exemption has remained the same. Increasing the limit would provide meaningful tax relief for many seniors and help them remain in their homes.
Because the exemption amount is established in the state constitution, the Legislature cannot change it through regular legislation. That is why the proposal must be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.
With the Legislature now entering the final week of the regular session, attention will turn to completing action on the remaining legislation. As always, my focus remains on protecting Mineral County and supporting policies that strengthen West Virginia.

If you need help working with a state agency, have an idea that could improve how our state operates, or simply want to share your thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out. Hearing from the people I represent is an important part of this job. You can contact my office at gary.howell@wvhouse.gov or by phone at 304 340 3191. I am always glad to hear from you and will do my best to assist whenever I can.