CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice issued his call Saturday night for a special session of the legislature to start Monday.
The call, Justice’s list of items to be considered, begins with a bill calling for “up to” a 5% cut in personal income tax rates.
It appears the bill will be introduced without any agreement on the table with lawmakers.
“As I call this Special Session, the goal is clear that we need to help the hardworking people of West Virginia. I’m hopeful that we can get another personal income tax cut across the finish line,” Justice said in a Saturday night news release. “I’ve said it time and again: nothing will help our population grow, create new opportunities, and drive economic progress in West Virginia like eliminating our personal income tax. We’re on the right track, but we need to keep pushing forward.”
MORE read governor’s call here
The bill creating a child care tax credit is on the agenda.
“We also need to do something to help hardworking families afford childcare. Right now, families across the country are struggling with extreme childcare costs, and we can’t sit on the sidelines and watch it happen in West Virginia,” Justice said. “We need to step in and help. That’s why I’m again asking for a childcare tax credit to lower costs for families. This will make things a lot better for working families.”
Justice is proposing 27 bills in all with most of them, 21, being supplemental funding bills from surplus funds. The bills total approximately $464 million.
The supplemental funding bills include $100 million in matching funds for water and sewer projects, $87 million for PEIA, $40 million for rural hospitals, $17 million for a nurses training program and $5 million for EMS and fire.
Also on the agenda, a bill that would allow for certain research activities to develop an opioid treatment program, a bill to create the Radiation Control Act and a bill that would allow public charter schools to apply for construction funds through the state School Building Authority.
Justice said he intends to end his administration in strong fashion.
“We all know my time as your Governor is coming to an end. But I promised you that I would run across the finish line, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Justice said.