WV Legislative Update + Urgent Call on ICE Funding

The 2026 WV Legislative Session is underway, and we are at the Capitol tracking bills, sitting in hearings, and watching the floor.

Before we dive into the WV Legislature, we want to address the ICE and border patrol violence in Minnesota.

ICE violence is escalating, and Congress is about to vote on a funding bill that would increase ICE’s budget.

Call Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice right now and tell them we want ICE out of Minnesota and no more funds for this violent, out-of-control agency. We can stop them if we act together.

The bare minimum that lawmakers should be calling for & committing to:

• ICE out of MN and our communities & a moratorium on ICE activity around the country
• Voting NO on the Homeland Security bill

Here’s the hard truth: a lot of us don’t expect WV’s senators to suddenly do the right thing. And we get why people feel like calling is pointless.

We must affirm our values and refuse to be silent. Flood the lines and show that West Virginians are watching.

Call now:

• Sen. Capito: (202) 224-6472 (DC) or (304) 347-5372 (Charleston)
• Sen. Justice: (202) 224-3954 (DC) or (304) 342-5855 (Charleston)

Make the call! Quick script:

“Hi, my name is ___ and I’m calling from ___. I’m urging the Senator to vote NO on any bill that increases ICE’s budget. We need less violence and more accountability, not more money for ICE. Trump must pull ICE & border patrol out of Minnesota NOW.”

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Back in West Virginia, things are starting to move at the legislature. 

Visit our legislative resource page to help you follow bills, hearings, and daily updates. Here are the priorities we’re focused on this session:

Climate & Energy

We are pushing for a Ratepayer Bill of Rights, community solar, investments in flood prevention and protection, clean drinking water, and stronger protections for the Elk River tank law. 

We are ready to stop bills that would limit citizen air monitoring or weaken storage tank rules. We also oppose efforts to expand and incentivize data center development and want to ensure water and energy resources are protected for communities. We want to amend last year’s Data Center Bill, HB 2014, to stop the worst parts of the bill so communities can keep control and receive greater benefits. Lawmakers have already proposed HB 4013, which would provide additional tax cuts and incentives to support data center development. We are keeping an eye on ‘false solutions’ like advanced recycling, hydrogen, and CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage).

The Legislative Rule-Making Committee will be considering the newly proposed data center rules on Wednesday, January 28, at 5:30 pm.

Healthcare

We are working to ensure Medicaid and PEIA receive full funding. We support bills that hold insurers accountable, such as bills that require insurers to report claim denials and limit prior authorization. We will fight against any cuts to Medicaid, restrictions on gender affirming care, or additional SNAP work requirements.

Democracy

We support more public hearings, better ways for people to take part in WV Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) permitting, and a nonpartisan, democratically elected Public Service Commission (PSC). We will stand against any efforts to limit voting, increase government overreach, or give more power to political leaders.

Catch up with our latest Capital Eye Newsletter here. Lookout for action alerts in the coming week! Calling your lawmakers is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Advocacy during this session is about record, resistance, and accountability.

In solidarity,

WV Citizen Action Group

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