(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Editor's Notes by Christina Myer)

If your attention is heightened at the start of “political season” like mine is, I hope you’ve perused the bills introduced so far in the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature.

It’s an eye-opening look at who cares about propelling West Virginia into a bright future with a better quality of life and uplifting everyone, and who is representing their own small, backward-looking agenda.

Here’s a little sampler of those introduced at the first chance, on Jan. 14:

* House Bill 4069: To remove the helmet law in West Virginia. (Phew, motorcyclists were just becoming too safe).

* HB 4079: Eliminate woke, anti-women words from state government. (Oh, Del. Kathie Crouse, R-Putnam, if you’re looking for ACTUAL anti-women policies in state government to attack, have I got news for you…)

* HB 4096: Preserving and protecting the right to keep and bear arms. (That would be the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.)

* HB 4100: Relating to human growth and development curriculum and HB 4104: American Civics and History Act. (Both from Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-Randolph, these seek to make sure teachers have their minds on the way lawmakers want them to shape our kids, rather than actually teaching.)

* Senate Bill 42: Authorizing over-the-counter sale of ivermectin and SB 43: REMOVING rape and incest exception to obtain abortion in WV (emphasis mine). (Lead sponsor for both is Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson. There is a very good reason ivermectin requires a prescription from a real doctor; and way too many horrible reasons rape and incest should remain as allowable reasons to obtain an abortion.)

There are more, but I have only so much space.

A few lawmakers still have their minds on the Ten Commandments and drag shows, vaccines and abortifacients.

But those who understand their job in Charleston have their minds on what matters to and will help Mountain State residents. If you want to find out what your representatives are up to this session, I encourage you to explore wvlegislature.gov. You can scroll through the bills by clicking on Bill Status. Or you can scroll through your members of the state Senate or House of Delegates by clicking on Senate or House, and then Senators or Delegates. When you do, you can click on a lawmaker and see what they’ve sponsored.

For example, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, has so far sponsored the Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act, Tourism Development Act Credit, Historic Rehab Building Credit Act, Faith Based Partnership, Enhancing Flood Resiliency Disbursements, Relating to Personal income Tax Reduction, Removing Full Time Requirement for Health Officers, Bring them Home Fund, CPS Allocation, Relating to Updating Corporate Net Income Tax definitions, Relating to Updating Personal Income Tax definitions, and Exempting certain employees from the classified civil service system.

Spot the difference?

No doubt bills that don’t deserve to see the light of day will quickly disappear as responsible lawmakers get to work for West Virginia.

Still, don’t let elected officials go unwatched. Use the tools available to you to keep an eye on whether they are prioritizing YOU or their own agendas.

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com