CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A full complement of laws passed by the state Legislature will go into effect in the coming days.
Besides the higher gasoline taxes and DMV fees that have been the subject of recent attention, there are plenty more new laws that could affect the lives of West Virginians.
A bill allowing for special “In God We Trust” license plates for vehicles goes into effect Monday, which is July 3.
The West Virginia Medical Cannibis Act becomes law July 5, but its effects will take shape over more than a year. The board to oversee the law was named this week, and a full roll-out is to take place by July 1, 2019.
Starting July 5 is a law specifying that the state Division of Highways has to use the Attorney General’s office for legal services. That law was inspired by lawsuits over the price of asphalt.
A bill doubling the penalty for child abuse causing death goes into effect July 6. The bill, known as Emmaleigh’s Law, was named in remembrance of Emmaleigh Barringer, a 10-month-old child who was sexually assaulted and slain in Jackson County last fall.
A bill that establishes the crime of nonconsensual distribution of sexual images goes into law July 7.
A law goes into effect July 7 allowing people who have served out nonviolent felony convictions to petition for reduction of the felony to misdemeanor status. The bill was known as the “Second Chance for Employment Act.”
A couple of under-the-radar highways bills with practical implications become law July 7. One eliminates the financial limitations on using the design-build program for highway construction. The other removes the cost limitation on public-private projects completed by the Division of Highways.
The law abolishing the long-embattled Regional Education Service Agencies goes into effect July 7. The deadline to actually dissolve them, though, is July 1, 2018.
A bill reorganizing the state Division of Tourism goes into effect July 7.
A newly-constituted committee to oversee West Virginia’s flood-prevention planning officially goes into effect July 7. Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding have been named and are likely to start meeting in August.
A bill meant to help broadband service expand in rural West Virginia is set to go into effect July 7. That bill has several facets, including loan insurance for the cost of expanding broadband to unserved or underserved areas and greater powers for the Broadband Enhancement Council.
A bill spelling out when unemancipated minors must tell their parents if they’re getting an abortion goes into effect July 7.
Several bills about drug-dealing penalties go into effect July 7.
One increases the penalties for transporting controlled substances. Another classifies additional drugs to Schedules I, II, IV and V of controlled substance. Yet another prohibits the production, manufacture or possession of fentanyl. And still another would Increase the felony criminal penalties for exposing children to methamphetamine manufacturing.
Also going into effect July 7 is a bill requiring instruction in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The instruction is supposed to take place during “Celebrate Freedom Week,” which falls each year the week of Sept. 11.
A bill prohibiting the use of tanning devices by anyone under age 18 goes into effect July 7.