Debriefing the 2022 WV Regular Legislative Session — Elections


Brian Skinner Elections, Government & Policy, Legislation, Legislature

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. After the 2020 general election, many state legislatures have made election integrity a priority. Many states have enacted legislation that affects everything from voter registration timelines and absentee ballots to election crimes, ballot harvesting, and drop boxes. The West Virginia Legislature’s efforts during the second session of the 85th Legislature …Read More

Debriefing the 2022 WV Regular Legislative Session – Alcoholic Liquor and Beer


Brian Skinner Alcohol, Legislation, Legislature

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. Unlike recent legislative sessions, the 2nd session of the 85th West Virginia Legislature was not particularly interested in enacting legislation affecting nonintoxicating beer, wine, and liquor licenses. The Legislature appeared to be content to tweak legislation enacted in recent years. Only three bills received any consideration — Senate Bill 659, …Read More

Debriefing the 2022 WV Regular Legislative Session – Behavioral Health


Brian Skinner Behavioral Health, Health Care, Legislation, Legislature, Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. Four bills related to behavioral health were passed during the second session of the 85th West Virginia Legislature. Most significantly, House Bill 4369 updated the telepsychology compact. It added two additional criteria for a psychologist who holds a graduate degree in psychology, which is necessary for him or her to …Read More

Debriefing the 2022 WV Regular Legislative Session – Seniors


Brian Skinner Legislation, Legislature, Seniors

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. Although more than 20 bills would have affected seniors in one way or another, only Senate Bill 570 (establishing training for law enforcement in handling individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementias) reached the Governor’s desk. The bill authorizes that an Alzheimer’s and dementia law-enforcement training course and guidelines be developed in …Read More

Debriefing the 2022 WV Regular Legislative Session — Health Care


Brian Skinner Health Care, Legislation, Legislature, Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders, Public Health

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. During its Second Session, the 85th West Virginia Legislature passed several bills related to health care. As always, because it is an election year, abortion was on the agenda. The Legislature passed a bill to prohibit abortion of a viable fetus because of the presence or presumption of a disability, …Read More

Legislature authorizes exemptions to employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates


Brian Skinner COVID-19, Employers, Government & Policy, Legislation, Workforce
COVID-19

By Brian Skinner, Esq. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of vaccines critical to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. After determining the vaccines met applicable statutory standards and the agency’s specific safety and efficacy standards, the FDA issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for the vaccines under Section …Read More