LWVWV members March 2026

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Make Some Noise (again) for Childcare
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 08 Mar '26

08 Mar '26

[image: image.png] 📣Make Some (More) Noise! 📣in support of good childcare policy! Some more good news about childcare! The House of Delegates has passed a committee substitute for HB 4191, but time is running out to pass childcare legislation this session. Status of the Bill: HB 4191 has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It is now up to Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Jason Barrett, to put the bill on the Committee Agenda. ACTIONS: Help get HB 4191 across the finish line. ✳️Please call Chairman Barrett’s office at (304) 357-7933 and urge him to put HB 4191 on the Finance Committee Agenda. ✳️Call or email members of the Senate Finance Committee and your Senators directly and ask them to support HB 4191. Find your Senators here: https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/ <https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAY…> Senate Finance Committee emails: jason.barrett(a)wvsenate.gov, charles.clements(a)wvsenate.gov, amy.grady(a)wvsenate.gov, bill.hamilton(a)wvsenate.gov, glenn.jeffries(a)wvsenate.gov, patrick.martin(a)wvsenate.gov, mark.maynard(a)wvsenate.gov, robbie.morris(a)wvsenate.gov, mike.oliverio(a)wvsenate.gov, rupie.phillips(a)wvsenate.gov, ben.queen(a)wvsenate.gov, rollan.roberts(a)wvsenate.gov, tom.takubo(a)wvsenate.gov, darren.thorne(a)wvsenate.gov, mike.woelfel(a)wvsenate.gov, jack.woodrum(a)wvsenate.gov ------------------------------ Background on HB 4191: The Legislature has decreased funding for childcare over the past decade, which has contributed to the loss of a significant number of available childcare slots, and many areas of the state becoming childcare deserts. Childcare workers are paid very low wages, families cannot afford the true cost of childcare, and many childcare businesses cannot cover their expenses to stay open. HB 4191 helps to #solvechildcare by taking a broad approach to help families, employers and childcare workers: - Adds tax incentives for businesses to sponsor or provide childcare for their workers [Helps employers!] - Requires that the state pay childcare subsidies based on the status of a child’s enrollment rather than a daily rate. This stabilizes the funding stream for childcare providers that serve lower income families . [Helps childcare providers!] - Ensures that the government is using an accurate model to determine cost of care (right now they are paying a very low amount that doesn't cover actual childcare costs,) when paying subsidies in the future. [Forward-looking stability!] - Gives power to the Department of Human Services which manages state childcare funding to reduce the cliff effect that families encounter when coming off of subsidized childcare [Helps families!] LWVWV Supports childcare as an early education tool that helps families ensure their children are cared for in a nurturing environment while also supporting a healthy workforce and economy. Childcare is also an economic development tool.

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Make Some Noise For Voting Rights! - OPPOSE SB 59
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 08 Mar '26

08 Mar '26

[image: lwv msn logo.png] 📣 Make Some Noise 📣 For Voting Rights! - OPPOSE SB 59 SB 59, House Judiciary Committee, Mon, Mar 9, 9 am On Agenda for Committee Hearing We Made Some Noise on HB 5219 and it stalled. However, a companion bill passed the Senate and is now before the House Judiciary Committee. SB 59 would establish new and complicated rules to determine residency to register and vote in WV. SB 59 adds a new definition of "legal resident" to voter registration requirements, specifying factors that may demonstrate domicile. However, it relies not just on current residence but intent to remain at that residence “indefinitely.” While framed as clarification, stricter definitions of residency will create barriers for mobile workers and others with complex residency situations, especially students. LWV opposes such restrictions on voter registration. A particular red flag for the LWV is how SB 59 attempts to define residency in terms of future intent, not just current fact. ACTIONS: ✳️ Read the Committee Substitute for SB 59 and submit a public comment here: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=59&year=2… ✳️ Contact your Delegate and members of the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to OPPOSE this unnecessary bill. House Judiciary Committee emails: jb.akers(a)wvhouse.gov, jim.butler(a)wvhouse.gov, dana.ferrell(a)wvhouse.gov, bill.flanigan(a)wvhouse.gov, shawn.fluharty(a)wvhouse.gov, joe.funkhouser(a)wvhouse.gov, evan.hansen(a)wvhouse.gov, scot.heckert(a)wvhouse.gov, rick.hillenbrand(a)wvhouse.gov, josh.holstein(a)wvhouse.gov, michael.hornby(a)wvhouse.gov, buck.jennings(a)wvhouse.gov, laura.kimble(a)wvhouse.gov, larry.kump(a)wvhouse.gov, phil.mallow(a)wvhouse.gov, keith.marple(a)wvhouse.gov, carl.martin(a)wvhouse.gov, jordan.maynor(a)wvhouse.gov, chris.phillips(a)wvhouse.gov, bill.ridenour(a)wvhouse.gov, bill.roop(a)wvhouse.gov, andy.shamblin(a)wvhouse.gov, bryan.ward(a)wvhouse.gov, mark.zatezalo(a)wvhouse.gov Find your Delegate here: https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/

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[LLAW] Make Some Noise in support of a good childcare bill!
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 02 Mar '26

02 Mar '26

📣Make Some Noise! 📣in support of good childcare policy! Finally, some good news about childcare! The Finance Committee of the House of Delegates has passed a committee substitute for HB 4191 ------------------------------ Background on HB 4191: The legislature has decreased funding for childcare over the past decade, which has contributed to the loss of a significant number of available childcare slots, and many areas of the state becoming childcare deserts. Childcare workers are paid very low wages, families cannot afford the true cost of childcare, and many child care businesses cannot cover their expenses to stay open. HB 4191 helps to #solvechildcare by taking a broad approach to help families, employers and childcare workers: - Adds tax incentives for businesses to sponsor or provide childcare for their workers [Helps employers!] - Requires that the state pay childcare subsidies based on the status of a child’s enrollment rather than a daily rate. This stabilizes the funding stream for childcare providers that serve lower income families . [Helps childcare providers!] - Ensures that the government is using an accurate model to determine cost of care (right now they are paying a very low amount that doesn't cover actual childcare costs,) when paying subsidies in the future. [Forward-looking stability!] - Gives power to the Department of Human Services which manages state childcare funding to reduce the cliff effect that families encounter when coming off of subsidized childcare [Helps families!] LWVWV Supports childcare as an early education tool that helps families ensure their children are cared for in a nurturing environment while also supporting a healthy workforce and economy. Status of the bill: HB 4191 was on first reading in the House of Delegates Monday, 3/2, and will be up for amendment phase and passage just in time to meet the crossover deadline. Assuming it passes the House, it will need to quickly go through committee and passage in the Senate before the session ends. ACTION: ✳️ Call or email your Delegate directly and ask them to vote yes for HB 4191. Find your delegate here: https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/ <https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAY…>

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Huntington LWV February Newsletter
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 01 Mar '26

01 Mar '26

State Board, Local League Presidents and League Friends, Attached is the February Newsletter from the Huntington League of Women Voters, Enjoy! Beverly Murrell Patricia Keller

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📣Make Some Noise About the Budget📣- Support Funding for Essential Services
by League of Women Voters of West Virginia 01 Mar '26

01 Mar '26

[image: lwv msn logo.png] 📣Make Some Noise About the Budget📣 - Support Funding for Essential Services The League of Women Voters believes that government budgets reflect government values. We advocate for state and local budgets that cover essential services and protect our most vulnerable. We strongly disagree with the values expressed by the West Virginia Legislature in their various versions of the budget, which fail to adequately fund programs essential for the livelihood of the majority of West Virginians, while giving tax breaks to benefit the richest among us. The League’s legislative priorities <https://lwvwv.org/2026/01/18/2026-program-and-policy-priorities/> include Protecting Children and Families and Creating a Sustainable Future. Both have budget implications, including funding for Medicaid, child care, public education, SNAP, and infrastructure to provide clean water to the southern coalfields. “Flat” budgets and more tax cuts serve none of these. Without adequate funding, many of the critical challenges facing West Virginia families — issues like the ongoing childcare crisis, access to affordable health care, and protecting public health and our environment — all remain unresolved. Join LWVWV and partners in calling for Care Over Cuts <https://wvpolicy.org/education-health-care-organizations-call-for-care-over…>. Tell them West Virginians deserve investment in people, care, and public infrastructure, not reckless tax cuts that favor the wealthiest few. Find contact information for your legislators here: https://fastdemocracy.com/find-your-legislators/

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