SB 231 & 801 By Rachel Coffman
Over the last five years , the discussion around energy diversification in West Virginia has evolved significantly , primarily driven by the imperative for numerous industrial users to mitigate carbon emissions . It is important to understand that diversification doesn ’ t pit renewables against coal-fired generation but rather emphasizes the importance of having multiple energy sources .
Many of the state ’ s manufacturers have incorporated solar and wind either through establishing their own solar arrays , power purchase offset agreements or by way of other agreements to achieve their goals of carbon neutrality .
SB 231 and SB 801 represent steps in the opposite direction . SB 231 aims to remove the salvage valuation of personal property tax for wind turbines , posing additional financial challenges for wind operations . SB 801 proposes imposing a $ 3 tax per megawatt hour on solar and wind production beginning after three years of operation , with the proceeds intended to support volunteer fire departments across all 55 counties . These costs would have been hundreds of thousands of dollars per year .
As a result of opposition and apprehensions about costs , neither bill progressed through the Senate . It ’ s crucial to convey that promoting a diversified energy portfolio doesn ’ t entail eliminating coal-fired generation but rather offers users a large range of options .
SB 841
By Kenzie Dye
SENATE : 24-7 � HOUSE : 66-31
Both the Senate and House approved SB 841 and sent the bipartisan bill to the governor . When it goes into effect on July 1 , 2024 , the legislation will implement several changes to the state ’ s unemployment system , which include raising the amount of money employers pay into the trust fund and capping the maximum unemployment benefit . People will now see a larger initial weekly unemployment benefit , which reduces over time .
The bill also requires individuals to engage in at least four work search activities a week such as registering with the state ’ s labor exchange system or taking a civil service exam while providing the option of finding part-time work without jeopardizing eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits . SB 841 freezes the weekly maximum unemployment benefit at $ 662 and freezes the wages that are taxable to employers at the approximate current amount of $ 9,500 . It keeps the duration of benefits at the current maximum level of 26 weeks .
Proponents of SB 841 argue that the legislation strikes a balance between supporting unemployed individuals , incentivizing workforce participation and ensuring the long-term financial stability of the unemployment insurance fund . West Virginia labor organizations arguing that it penalizes workers who lose their jobs by locking in benefits — even if wages go up overall — until the Legislature acts again .
Photo by Perry Bennett , WV Legislative Photography .
HB 5338 By Azeem Khan and Christopher Ramezan , Ph . D .
SENATE : 27-6 � HOUSE : 91-6
HB 5338 , which was ultimately vetoed , would have provided businesses that create , maintain and comply with a comprehensive cybersecurity program , aligned to industry and federally recognized cybersecurity frameworks and standards , with an affirmative defense in the event of a data breach or a cyber incident .
Cybercriminals and nation-state advanced persistent threats do not discriminate in their targets . Data breaches and cyber incidents occur daily across the globe . West Virginia businesses must do everything they can to keep the personal data of residents out of the hands of cyber criminals . HB 5338 is key to that fight , encouraging and supporting hardworking West Virginia business owners who choose to place an importance on the security and privacy of our citizens and consumers ’ data . West Virginia is the sixth state in the nation to pass such a law , further advancing efforts to transform the state into a national leader in cybersecurity .
The impetus behind this legislation was to provide additional incentives for businesses to safeguard the personal data of West Virginia residents and consumers . As implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity program may be complex and cost-prohibitive for small and medium-sized businesses , a unique opportunity exists for West Virginia ’ s institutions of higher education to step in and assist . In keeping with its land-grant mission , West Virginia University ( WVU ) is leading several industry outreach and support efforts to assist small and medium-sized businesses with developing robust cybersecurity programs and enhancing organizational cybersecurity posture through leveraging faculty expertise and student talent through cutting-edge experiential learning projects . These projects put cybersecurity students ’ knowledge and skills into action through helping to safeguard West Virginia businesses ’, residents ’ and consumers ’ personal data . WVU in collaboration with fellow West Virginia higher education institutions is seeking to expand industry outreach and support efforts to businesses statewide , furthering the effort of transforming West Virginia into a national leader in cybersecurity and cybersecurity education .
Ultimately , HB 5338 would have incentivized businesses to proactively invest in cybersecurity , place better safeguards on the personal data of West Virginians and contribute toward the national security of the United States of America .
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