CHARLESTON – With his first year as governor of West Virginia in the rear-view mirror, Patrick Morrisey used his second State of the State address Wednesday night to lay out a vision for doubling down on what he called “West Virginia’s comeback.”

Morrisey addressed a joint session of the West Virginia Legislature, which gaveled in at noon Wednesday to begin its regular 60-day session.

There were 316 House bills introduced Wednesday, and 249 bills introduced in the state Senate, with committee meetings for each body scheduled to begin today.

First Lady Denise Morrisey, members of state’s Board of Public Works, state Board of Education members, justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, cabinet officials, and other invited guests were also in attendance for Morrisey’s State of the State address.

Morrisey, who recently welcomed a new granddaughter into the family, said he was committed to building a better West Virginia for all West Virginians.

“The future of West Virginia belongs to our kids and our grandkids. And I’m going to fight like hell to make sure that future is bright,” Morrisey said. “I am 100% committed to delivering, for Lucille and every child in our state, a West Virginia we can be proud of. A shining state in the mountains.”

Focusing on affordability issues, Morrisey said he is aware that some West Virginians continue to struggle with inflation and the higher costs of goods and services, such as higher electric rates, putting the blame on former Democratic president Joe Biden.

“Many West Virginians are still struggling to make ends meet,” Morrisey said. “Our state is still hurting from the disastrous Biden economy, where we experienced sky-rocketing grocery bills, crushing health care costs, and out-of-control energy bills. I’ve traveled all across West Virginia and I’ve listened to these concerns. I hear you. And together, we are going to fix them.

“Last year, I stood before you and talked about hard truths,” Morrisey continued. “Budget pressures. Obstacles to economic development. Poor health care and educational rankings. Tonight, I can report that we are making real progress. The Mountain State comeback is underway.”

Morrisey presented House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and state Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, with a balanced general revenue budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 beginning in July, though provided few details about the budget in his State of the State address beyond saying it was “flat.”

Morrisey proposed a 10% personal income tax cut, though last week he called for an income tax cut of between 5% and 10%. Morrisey said the cut was justified by a $128 million budget surplus halfway through the current fiscal year.

“To kickstart economic growth and return money back to the people, I am asking the Legislature to pass a 10% income tax cut,” Morrisey said. “Here’s why this matters – it will keep more money in the pockets of West Virginians and make life more affordable. We need tax relief now. Members of the House and Senate, we can afford this tax cut. Let’s get it done.”

Morrisey’s budget includes an average 3% pay raise for teachers, school service personnel, West Virginia State Police employees, and executive branch employees paid through the general revenue fund.

The budget fully funds the Hope Scholarship educational voucher program – which goes into effect for all eligible public, private, and home school students beginning in fiscal year 2027. The State Treasurer’s Office estimates the cost of Hope for the next fiscal year at $230.1 million, which is up from $110 million from the current fiscal year but down from previous estimates of $300 million.

The Morrisey administration’s economic strategy is centered on attracting large-scale investment through regulatory reform, site development, and last year’s landmark data center/microgrids, which Morrisey believes could generate tens of billions of dollars. This is complemented by Morrisey’s “50 by 50” energy plan, which aims to triple the state’s power generation by 2050 by leveraging coal, natural gas, and nuclear power.

“This plan isn’t just about generating electricity,” Morrisey said. “It’s generating opportunity, creating high-paying jobs, strengthening our economy, and charts a bold path forward that lifts up our people.”

Morrisey said he wants to follow up on investments made by his administration last year, such as water and sewer infrastructure, road and bridge repair, and industrial site development. Morrisey also promoted efforts by his administration to streamline permitting processes and other regulatory reforms.

Morrisey proposed a Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act that will encourage micro-credentialing, make portable benefits available for West Virginia workers, and accelerate the ability of military personnel to enter the workforce. Morrisey also called for additional higher education funding for workforce training and readiness.

“Our state will likely need at least 15,000 to 20,000 new construction workers alone over the next few years,” Morrisey said. “That means more electricians. More plumbers. More skilled trade professionals who can power our growth. That requires investing in the schools that train our workforce. By investing in higher education and technical training, we are ensuring that good-paying jobs are available for all West Virginians.”

West Virginia was recently awarded more than $199 million for the federal Rural Health Transformation program for year one, with the possibility of $1 billion in federal funding over a five-year lifespan of the program. Morrisey said he plans to use this funding to “break the cycle” where poor health fuels economic decline in the state.

“For generations, poor health has fueled an economic decline, which has in turn, worsened our state’s health outcomes,” Morrisey said. “We’re going to break that cycle and replace it with a new, more virtuous one, a cycle where better health strengthens the workforce and improves productivity. This, in turn, will lift up our standard of living and grow our economy, which will once again improve health outcomes.”

Key initiatives Morrisey plans to use the Rural Health Transformation funding for include connecting healthier residents to job opportunities, promoting prevention and wellness through better nutrition and lifestyle choices, training physicians in nutrition and educating the public on new dietary guidelines, and reinstating the Presidential Fitness test.

Morrisey also talked about child welfare reforms, including $6 million for a revolving fund to rehabilitate in-state foster care facilities to bring foster children in out-of-state facilities back to West Virginia. He also plans to re-start the Star Academy program for at-risk children, partnering with faith-based groups, and a focus on truancy diversion.

In education, Morrisey is pushing for a new reading and literacy program modeled after Mississippi, a digital literacy program to better connect school children with technology. In tourism, Morrisey asked the Legislature for $20 million for improvements at state parks. For flood mitigation, Morrisey wants $10 million for a pilot project for better sensors to identify and warn residents about potential flooding. He also recognized the West Virginia National Guard for its role in disaster recovery and its recent work helping law enforcement in Washington, D.C. The families of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and the late Spec. Sarah Beckstrom – both of whom were shot while on patrol in D.C. last November, were recognized.

“This day and every day, the Guard serves with distinction,” Morrisey said. “At the heart of our state’s story is the courage of those who serve, even in the face of unthinkable danger.”

In closing, Morrisey said in order to continue West Virginia’s comeback, more work would be needed. He urged lawmakers and the public to help him as he works to strengthen the state’s foundations.

“The future we are shaping is one where families can thrive, workers can succeed, and businesses can grow … Where our kids and our grandkids have the opportunity to achieve big dreams, right here in West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “The state of our state is getting stronger. We are building a better West Virginia.”

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