As your state senator, I am proud to provide a summary of the transformational legislation that passed earlier this year. Under the leadership of Gov. Patrick Morrisey and others, we passed an incredible array of bills that will make generational improvements for our Northern Panhandle families. We passed school security measures and protections for our most vulnerable children in foster care. The Legislature expanded economic development and exponentially increased the potential for high-paying employment. We passed legislation to unleash West Virginia energy and cut regulations and red tape. As Senate Health Chair, I championed and passed a slew of health-related bills through my committee that will provide greater access to healthcare at a lower cost and improve the health of West Virginians.

All of these fantastic laws come on the heels of two large income tax reductions in both 2023 and 2024, as well as the elimination of the Social Security tax (which I was a proud sponsor of every year). Finally, lower taxes are a reality and will give real relief to the people of the Northern Panhandle. We have plans to reduce even more taxes!

As a mother of two young children, I focus a lot on issues relating to children. I ran so that our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to remain in the best state in the nation. We are fortunate that we have not had tragedies in our schools like other states. However, it is unwise to think something terrible cannot happen in West Virginia. That is why after three years of championing school security measures, we passed the Guardian Act. This bill allows for retired trained law enforcement to sit in our schools and protect our children, staff, and teachers. We also funded school mapping technology where blueprints will be shared with our first responders in case of a fire or other situation needing immediate response. Our children, staff, and teachers deserve a safe environment, and these reforms make our schools safer.

One of the most impactful pieces of legislation we passed was comprehensive foster care reform. Unfortunately, we have failed our children in the past. Children have lost their lives due to abuse or neglect, children are housed in hotel rooms (although this practice is declining), and we ship children across state lines because we do not have adequate treatment and mental health facilities for children who need significant help. We provided solutions to these issues. We passed a law that requires more transparency from the Department of Human Services, more thorough investigations into fatalities and near-fatalities through a Critical Incident Review Team, more resources for families, and better intake procedures for reports of abuse. Every child deserves a safe and loving home, and this law will put children first.

We also focused on economic development and getting people the opportunities for meaningful, high-paying jobs. We passed the governor’s occupational licensing bill, which provides reciprocity with other states. Instead of waiting months for a license to work in a profession such as a plumber, teacher, healthcare worker, etc., a person can move to West Virginia and immediately get to work!

Speaking of getting people to work, we passed a microgrid bill that will provide the state with the ability to provide good high-paying jobs and to unleash our West Virginia energy. This law lays the foundation for enormous investment in our state, as we are the first in the nation to enact such reforms. The red tape is gone, and companies in other states are noticing. The microgrids will be powered by our own West Virginia energy, and so coal and gas jobs will be abundant. When the investment comes, all counties will receive funding, and we will be further ahead in the goal of reducing even more taxes!

We passed bold healthcare reforms to provide better access to healthcare at lower costs. Thanks to the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, citizens can go to the pharmacy and be tested for minor illnesses such as the flu and RSV. This will cut down on wait times for an appointment with the doctor and long wait times in the emergency room.

We also employed several healthy measures, including a statewide ban on harmful petroleum-based food dyes. These food dyes do nothing to affect the taste of our food, and studies have shown that they can cause cancer and hyperactivity in children. The ban takes effect for school lunches this fall but gives manufacturers time to find alternative ingredients. We were trailblazers on this front, and we have seen large companies such as General Mills and Pepsi announcing voluntary elimination!

There is always more work to be done, but this was the best legislative session in recent memory and will prove to set our wonderful state on a course of generational growth and economic improvement. Stay tuned because in due time, I will be announcing some transformational economic development projects that will boost the Northern Panhandle’s economy in ways that have not been seen in decades! The foundation has been poured, and we are building for our best days ahead!

Republican Laura Wakim Chapman represents Ohio, Brooke and Hancock counties in the West Virginia Senate.