West Virginia lawmakers pass fewest bills in five years, sparking mixed reactions

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia lawmakers passed 247 bills over the course of 60 days at the Capitol. This is the least amount of bills in the past five years, but Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio doesn't necessarily see that as a lack of productivity.

"We still want to pass good measures that will help our citizens have better lives,” she said. “But on the other hand, we also don't need a bunch of silly legislation that doesn't really help our citizens live."

And Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha agrees, although for different reasons.

"This was the least productive session I can remember in the past 10 years,” he said. “However, that might not be such a bad thing, because most of the ideas that they had weren't very good ideas, they were bad ideas."

Gov. Patrick Morrisey released a statement praising those in the legislature for passing bills that were on his agenda:

"I’m grateful to our legislators in the house and senate for passing bills that grow our economy, streamline government, and uphold common sense. With more significant changes to our state yet to come, West Virginia has only just begun its comeback,” he said.

Those bills included the microgrid bill, the Riley Gaines act and universal licensing act. Chapman is pleased that those bills were passed as well.

"We've had some great common-sense measures to try to make our citizens lives better. The biggest one that we've had is of course the microgrid bill, which will allow for a ton of investment,” she said. “I'm very, very excited about that and where our state will be headed."

While he didn't necessarily find the session productive, Pushkin is enthusiastic about a bill he sponsored making it to the finish line.

One of the bigger issues that was not covered was funding for West Virginia's Public Employees' Insurance Agency, but Pushkin thinks this might happen soon.

"Our state workers are looking at another round of rate increases, which is in effect a pay cut and that needed to be addressed,” he said. “Now, I have heard rumblings of a special session. Hopefully it's not for the governor to pass through some of his bad ideas that didn't make it this session."