The West Virginia Business & Industry Council's annual Pre-Legislative Conference will take place this Monday - January 9 - at the West Virginia Culture Center. Bring your clients and members! Learn about the policy initiatives under consideration this Session and engage with legislative and administrative decision makers.The event will take place in the Culture Center Great Hall. The conference portion of the event will begin at 3pm. A legislative reception will begin at 5:30pm.

To register, click here.

The agenda is coming together and will include:

• Opening Remarks & 2023 Policy Platform
• Governor Jim Justice 
• Senate President Craig Blair + Senate Leadership Team 
• House Speaker Roger Hanshaw + House Leadership Team 
• New Legislator Introductions
• State Budget Overview & Discussion
• Legislative Reception 

The cost to attend is $50 per person.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Business & Industry Council (BIC), representing West Virginia trade associations and businesses accounting for hundreds of thousands of employees across the state, announces its opposition to HB 2007, legislation which would provide state occupational licensure designations to potentially unqualified out-of-state workers.

“The West Virginia Business & Industry Council is opposed to HB 2007 because it places West Virginians at a huge disadvantage,” said Mike Clowser, Chairman of BIC.  “We are concerned the bill will result in a loss of jobs and opportunities for our business community and encourage the State Senate to defeat this legislation.”

BIC supports legislation to provide business liability protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits. 

• Businesses struggling to stay open or reopen in the midst of the pandemic potentially face coronavirus-related liability from a number of different sources, including their own employees and customers. This legislation should provide business liability protection from COVID-19-related lawsuits.

BIC supports efforts to amend the West Virginia constitution to address regressive tax policy, like the business inventory and machinery tax.

• If there is not legislation eliminating the business inventory tax, the Legislature should consider legislation to allow a referendum vote on changing the state constitution to deal with such issues.  

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Business & Industry Council (BIC), representing numerous West Virginia trade associations and businesses accounting for hundreds of thousands of employees across the state, announces its full support for House Bill 2001, the West Virginia Jumpstart Savings Program.

“This important legislation will prepare the next generation to enter the workforce and equip them with the funding to obtain necessary certifications, training and tools,” said Mike Clowser, chairman of the West Virginia Business & Industry Council. “We commend State Treasurer Riley Moore for having the foresight to develop this program and we encourage the House of Delegates to pass the bill when it comes to the floor this week.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Business & Industry Council (BIC) announced today that Mike Clowser has been elected Chairman of the organization.  He succeeds Chris Hamilton, Senior Vice President of the West Virginia Coal Association, who has served in the position since 2012.

“I’m honored to be chosen by my business trade association and government relations peers to serve as Chairman of the West Virginia Business & Industry Council,” said Clowser.  “This organization has a long and successful history of helping improve our state’s business climate. I look forward to working with our members and policy leaders to build on that success as we work to grow West Virginia’s economy.”