Sen. Laura Chapman

Maddy summarySB 458 provides a $5,000 salary increase for all employees of the West Virginia Division of Highways, effective July 1, 2026. This direct pay raise applies to current road maintenance and highway workers employed by the state. The bill amends existing law to implement this specific salary adjustment without altering other existing provisions like scholarship programs. The change is effective immediately upon enactment for all eligible employees as of the specified date.

Maddy summarySB 421 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to implement a two-county pilot program starting October 1, 2027, equipping child protective services workers with mobile devices (like tablets) to conduct child abuse and neglect investigations. The bill mandates that these devices must create digital records in real time during investigations, automatically upload data daily to department servers, and meet specific technical requirements like interoperability with existing systems and 70% case usage in pilot counties. The pilot will last five years, with annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission detailing technology use and quality metrics for system improvement. This directly affects child welfare workers and the children involved in investigations by replacing manual data entry with digital workflows.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (SR 4) expressing the West Virginia Senate's support for law enforcement professionals. It does not create new laws or allocate funding; instead, it formally thanks officers for their service and acknowledges their role in community safety. The resolution directs copies to the West Virginia State Police Association, Sheriff’s Association, and Chiefs of Police Association. It is purely a gesture of recognition, with no concrete policy changes or direct impact on affected individuals or communities.

Maddy summarySB 416 bans political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and school districts) from using public funds to pay for lobbying activities starting July 1, 2026. It requires these entities to disclose lobbying contracts, costs, and related details to the West Virginia Ethics Commission and exempts law enforcement officers from the ban. Taxpayers or residents can sue to stop prohibited lobbying and recover attorney fees if they win the case. The law aims to prevent public money from being used to influence legislation by local governments.

Maddy summarySB 387 clarifies the definition of "farm" for tax purposes in West Virginia. It specifies that a "farm" includes land used primarily for seasonal farming (like growing crops or raising livestock) but excludes commercial forestry/timber land and the one acre surrounding a principal residence (which will be valued as a regular home site). The bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to certify qualifying land, helping county assessors determine farm status for tax assessments. This directly affects farmers, local tax assessors, and the state's tax administration process.

Maddy summarySB 159 adds "veteran status" to the list of protected classes under West Virginia's Human Rights Act. This means employers, labor organizations, and public accommodations (like businesses or service providers) cannot discriminate against individuals based on whether they are veterans. The law prohibits actions such as refusing employment, denying services, or using discriminatory advertising related to veteran status, aligning it with existing protections for categories like race, disability, and age. It does not create new benefits but extends current anti-discrimination safeguards to veterans.

Maddy summarySB 187 would establish a formal recall process for elected prosecutors in West Virginia under specific circumstances, directly affecting county prosecutors and voters seeking to remove them. The bill aims to amend existing law (§7-4-1 of the West Virginia Code) to create procedures for initiating and conducting such recalls. However, the provided bill text only includes the current duties of prosecutors (e.g., handling criminal cases, election day availability) and does not detail the proposed recall mechanisms, voter requirements, or triggering conditions. Without the actual recall provisions in the text, the specific key mechanisms cannot be summarized. The bill was introduced on January 14, 2026, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for West Virginia state senators and delegates. It would limit senators to three consecutive terms and delegates to six consecutive terms, applying only to terms beginning after the amendment is ratified by voters in the 2026 general election. Terms served before ratification are not counted toward the limit, but any partial term served after ratification counts as a full term. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect, as it requires constitutional change.

Maddy summarySJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces from property taxes on their primary residence and personal property in West Virginia. It would amend Article X, Section 1b of the state constitution to expand the existing homestead exemption - currently limited to seniors or disabled residents - to include veterans who are owners and residents of their primary home. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect. If passed, it would directly affect eligible veterans by eliminating property tax on their primary residence and personal property. This is a constitutional change, not a new law, and does not specify new administrative mechanisms or fiscal impacts beyond the tax exemption.

Maddy summarySB 75 exempts all pension benefits received by first responders (including police, firefighters, state police, and deputy sheriffs) from West Virginia's state income tax, regardless of the amount. This expands existing tax exemptions by removing the previous $2,000 annual limit on pension tax breaks for these workers. The bill applies to current and future retirees who qualify under West Virginia's police, fire, or state police retirement systems, including those who move to West Virginia after retiring. It directly affects first responders and their families by eliminating state income tax on their full retirement benefits. The change modifies West Virginia Code §11-21-12 to exclude all qualifying pension income from taxable income calculations.