CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A transmission tax for high-voltage power lines and changes in liquor-license bidding are among issues legislators could take up when they finish work on the state budget.

Gov. Joe Manchin has not yet released his agenda for the special session that will follow the Legislature's budget work. But according to a list given to lawmakers Wednesday, he is considering 17 bills.

Earlier this week, legislative leaders said they were working with the Governor's Office to trim down the agenda to a dozen or so items.

The list distributed to the Legislature on Wednesday includes four education-related bills from Manchin's original agenda: a plan to help struggling third- and eighth-graders; changes to teacher hiring; a bill to establish "school innovation zones" and a proposal to ensure 180 days of instruction for schoolchildren.

Other items include Manchin's alternative energy portfolio -- which was derailed by a technical error during the regular legislative session -- and a plan to increase pay rates for doctors, nurses and other staff at the state's two psychiatric hospitals.

Manchin spokesman Matt Turner emphasized that no final decisions have been made about what will be on the special-session agenda.

"There's not really a confirmed, final list yet," he said. "They continue to look at some of those issues."

The governor will announce an agenda within the next few days, but Turner said he couldn't specify a date because discussions are still continuing.

"He wants agreement from both houses," Turner said.

On Wednesday, Delegate Jonathan Miller, R-Berkeley, said legislators were told that three bills on the list of 17 have been removed. Those included changes to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act; legislation to make it easier for the School Building Authority to issue Qualified School Construction Bonds; and the creation of a senior-citizen hunting license.

Several others are "in limbo," Miller said. Those are the school calendar bill and a tax break for parents of children with autism.

Miller added that he is disappointed in the potential agenda, saying it doesn't reflect issues that are important to ordinary West Virginias.

Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A transmission tax for high-voltage power lines and changes in liquor-license bidding are among issues legislators could take up when they finish work on the state budget.

Gov. Joe Manchin has not yet released his agenda for the special session that will follow the Legislature's budget work. But according to a list given to lawmakers Wednesday, he is considering 17 bills.

Earlier this week, legislative leaders said they were working with the Governor's Office to trim down the agenda to a dozen or so items.

The list distributed to the Legislature on Wednesday includes four education-related bills from Manchin's original agenda: a plan to help struggling third- and eighth-graders; changes to teacher hiring; a bill to establish "school innovation zones" and a proposal to ensure 180 days of instruction for schoolchildren.

Other items include Manchin's alternative energy portfolio -- which was derailed by a technical error during the regular legislative session -- and a plan to increase pay rates for doctors, nurses and other staff at the state's two psychiatric hospitals.

Manchin spokesman Matt Turner emphasized that no final decisions have been made about what will be on the special-session agenda.

"There's not really a confirmed, final list yet," he said. "They continue to look at some of those issues."

The governor will announce an agenda within the next few days, but Turner said he couldn't specify a date because discussions are still continuing.

"He wants agreement from both houses," Turner said.

On Wednesday, Delegate Jonathan Miller, R-Berkeley, said legislators were told that three bills on the list of 17 have been removed. Those included changes to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act; legislation to make it easier for the School Building Authority to issue Qualified School Construction Bonds; and the creation of a senior-citizen hunting license.

Several others are "in limbo," Miller said. Those are the school calendar bill and a tax break for parents of children with autism.

Miller added that he is disappointed in the potential agenda, saying it doesn't reflect issues that are important to ordinary West Virginias.

Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.