John Williams

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Jobs & cost of living172 with · 2 against174 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    E-Verify Safe Harbor Act

    As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.

    Feb 10, 2026 · Passed 48–46 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Exempting certain employees from the classified civil service system

    On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Exempts new hires and promoted employees in the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services and Health from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures starting July 1, 2026. Secretaries may restore coverage where federal law requires; bars nepotism and favoritism in decisions.

    Mar 4, 2026 · Passed 51–38 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    To create the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program

    As passed by the House, creates a five-year Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program for Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties, with a council to coordinate existing state, local and university resources for economic development, annual reports, and outreach to businesses on existing tax credits.

    Feb 20, 2026 · Failed 48–48 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Rights & public safety95 with · 5 against100 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter

    On the version voted Mar 11, 2026: Lengthens prison terms for second-degree murder to 15 to 60 years and voluntary manslaughter to 5 to 25 years, sets minimum time served before parole for each, and raises minimum time before parole for life sentences.

    Mar 6, 2026 · Failed 45–47 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    E-Verify Safe Harbor Act

    As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.

    Feb 10, 2026 · Passed 48–46 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to exemptions from disclosure of certain records; and exempting the legislative branch if it adopts its own rules.

    As amended by the Senate, amends the state public records law to exempt private personal information and more internal and security records, extend the response deadline from 5 to 14 business days, allow search fees, and remove the presumption of access.

    Apr 2, 2025 · Passed 58–42 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Education & families90 with · 2 against92 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Repealing obsolete and outdated sections of the Education code.

    As first passed by the House, before Senate and later House amendments, repeals education code sections on teacher professional development, a behavior interventionist pilot program, use of school buildings as child care facilities, and the High School Graduation Improvement Act.

    Mar 14, 2026 · Failed 47–49 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Establishing Troops-to-Teachers Program

    Apr 12, 2025 · Passed 59–39 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to requirements for WVU and WVSU Board of Governors

    On the version voted Apr 12, 2025: Expands West Virginia University's Board of Governors to 15 governor-appointed members, including WVU Tech and Potomac State graduates, specifies that elected faculty, student and staff board members serve as nonvoting advisers, and requires an agriculture or forestry member on the WVU and West Virginia State University boards.

    Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 62–35 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Health & care76 with · 3 against79 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Relating to vaccine requirements

    As passed by the Senate, adds religious and philosophical exemptions to school and child care vaccine requirements, lets a doctor's, physician assistant's or nurse practitioner's note grant medical exemptions without state review, bars excluding exempt children from extracurriculars or school events, and allows lawsuits.

    Mar 21, 2025 · Passed 51–44 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to the assessment of interest on overpayments by the Bureau for Medical Services

    Charges interest on overpayments owed back to state Medicaid programs, at the state's court judgment interest rate, starting 31 days after an overpayment is finalized, with the interest kept by the fund that made the payment.

    Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 56–42 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Creating the Vape Safety Act

    On the version voted Mar 13, 2026: Creates the Vape Safety Act, requiring a state license ($1,200 annual fee) for vape or smoke shops. Sets applicant qualifications, requires shops to be at least 300 feet from churches, schools and daycares, regulates signs and sales, and sets criminal and administrative penalties.

    Feb 27, 2026 · Failed 29–61 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Climate & energy47 with · 3 against50 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Clarifying Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to regulate bees

    As introduced, makes the Agriculture Commissioner the sole regulator of beekeeping and apiaries, overriding local rules, and requires clear and convincing evidence of damage for lawsuits against nearby farm operations.

    Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 49–40 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating generally to aboveground storage tanks

    Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 58–34 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to indexing of license and stamp fees

    Removes the January 1, 2021 cutoff on indexing hunting and fishing license and stamp fees, so the Natural Resources director may keep proposing rule increases tied to the Consumer Price Index, rounded down to the nearest dollar.

    Mar 4, 2026 · Passed 61–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Transportation18 with · 7 against25 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Relating generally to traffic safety

    Apr 12, 2025 · Passed 74–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to motorcycle safety

    On the version voted Apr 10, 2025: Allows a person operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped to ride standing astride the vehicle with both feet on the footpegs or pedals, facing forward, instead of only sitting on the seat.

    Mar 19, 2025 · Passed 80–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Modifying priority of insurance coverage for drivers of certain vehicles provided by entities

    Changes which insurance pays first for vehicles supplied by dealers, repair shops and rental or leasing companies. A driver's own coverage is primary for a permitted replacement vehicle with no separate charge; an employee's coverage is secondary when driving for work.

    Mar 11, 2026 · Passed 77–16 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Housing & rent13 with · 1 against14 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Camping ban on certain public property.

    Mar 3, 2026 · Passed 62–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Relating to duties of licensees under the West Virginia Real Estate License Act

    Mar 4, 2026 · Passed 80–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • No

    To make the posting of a summons in a conspicuous place on rental property acceptable service when a tenant is unavailable for personal service

    Feb 6, 2026 · Passed 84–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes
• ›Technology & privacy5 with · 0 against5 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Providing for conservation easements to allow for broadband through easements either directly or under a conservation plan

    Mar 21, 2025 · Passed 91–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    To permit the county commission of each county to lease, rent or to permit the use of a county owned wireless tower or any portion thereof, with exceptions

    Apr 2, 2025 · Passed 95–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Relating to the Consumer Data Protection Act

    Mar 26, 2025 · Passed 94–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense4 with · 0 against4 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Establishing Troops-to-Teachers Program

    Apr 12, 2025 · Passed 59–39 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Relating to creating a State Advisory Council on Establishing a Military College

    Apr 12, 2025 · Passed 94–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Relating to including the United States Space Force in the definition armed forces

    Feb 24, 2025 · Passed 97–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 19 of 237 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (5), Health & care (4), Transportation (4)

• Coal Co-tenancy Modernization and Miners Protection Act

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 82–2

  Mar 13, 2026Official record ↗

• Relating to changing the allocation of proceeds in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund.

  What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Directs $5 million of the medical cannabis fund to a court child protection pilot and $5 million to homelessness services in June 2026, sends the rest to general revenue, then splits…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–6, Republicans 45–40

  Mar 4, 2026Official record ↗

• Relating to driver’s licenses

  What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Directs the Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner to seek reciprocal agreements with Ireland and Japan so their lawfully present citizens may drive in West Virginia on valid home l…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 85–1

  Feb 20, 2026Official record ↗

• Relating to regulation of foods

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–5, Republicans 73–13

  Feb 17, 2026Official record ↗

• Providing for a program allowing election official trainees to be appointed as election officials

  What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Lets election-appointing bodies set up a program to appoint junior or senior students as election officials, with grade-average, approval and training requirements and only one parti…

  Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–5, Republicans 81–5

  Feb 16, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• Yes

  Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter

  With most of their party · Failed 45–47 · Yes 45–No 47 · Democrats 9–0, Republicans 36–47

  Mar 6, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  E-Verify Safe Harbor Act

  With most of their party · Passed 48–46 · Yes 48–No 46 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 48–37

  Feb 10, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Repealing obsolete and outdated sections of the Education code.

  With most of their party · Failed 47–49 · Yes 47–No 49 · Democrats 9–0, Republicans 38–49

  Mar 14, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  Relating to vaccine requirements

  With most of their party · Passed 51–44 · Yes 51–No 44 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 51–35

  Mar 21, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Clarifying Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to regulate bees

  With most of their party · Passed 49–40 · Yes 49–No 40 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 49–31

  Mar 12, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  Exempting certain employees from the classified civil service system

  With most of their party · Passed 51–38 · Yes 51–No 38 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 51–29

  Mar 4, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  Relating to the assessment of interest on overpayments by the Bureau for Medical Services

  With most of their party · Passed 56–42 · Yes 56–No 42 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 56–33

  Mar 31, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Relating to exemptions from disclosure of certain records; and exempting the legislative branch if it adopts its own rules.

  With most of their party · Passed 58–42 · Yes 58–No 42 · Democrats 0–9, Republicans 58–33

  Apr 2, 2025Official record ↗