Sen. Ryan Weld

Maddy summarySenate Bill 517 clarifies the deadline for providing autopsy reports to prosecutors and law enforcement in West Virginia. The bill requires that copies of autopsy reports, including related death investigation reports, be furnished to the prosecuting attorney or the county where the injury occurred within 24 hours of the report's completion. This applies to all autopsies conducted by the chief medical examiner or designated pathologists, directly affecting medical examiners, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies. The clarification aims to ensure timely access to critical information for criminal investigations without altering the 24-hour timeframe.

Maddy summarySB 199 waives hunting, trapping, and fishing license fees for emergency responders in West Virginia who are certified as totally disabled due to injuries sustained while performing their duties. It directly affects eligible emergency responders (as defined in state law) who would otherwise pay these fees. To qualify, applicants must submit an affidavit from their department or agency head confirming the disability occurred in the line of duty, along with any additional information required by the Division of Natural Resources. The bill establishes a formal process for requesting the waiver but does not create new financial obligations for the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain non-grantor trusts from West Virginia's personal income tax if they are administered within the state. Specifically, it removes income tax liability for non-grantor trusts (trusts not treated as grantor trusts under federal law) that are created under West Virginia law or have their legal situs in the state, and are managed by a West Virginia resident trustee or a licensed private trust company with a physical presence in the state. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2027, and affects trust administrators and beneficiaries of qualifying trusts. This is a direct tax policy change that alters which entities owe state income tax, without altering tax rates for individuals or other entities.

Maddy summarySB 203 requires county school boards, county superintendents, school employees, and the Public Employees' Grievance Board to follow the West Virginia State Superintendent's written interpretations of school laws and State Board of Education rules. The State Superintendent must provide these interpretations upon written request from citizens, teachers, or school officials. This requirement applies unless a state or federal court has already ruled on the same law or rule. The bill aims to create consistent application of school laws across West Virginia by prioritizing the Superintendent's official interpretations.

Maddy summarySB 191 requires city governments in West Virginia to collect signatures from qualified voters on a petition before resubmitting a charter amendment that was previously rejected by voters in a municipal election. It modifies Section 8-4-8 of the West Virginia Code to explicitly mandate this petition process as a prerequisite for reconsidering defeated amendments, directly affecting how municipalities handle future local charter changes. The bill clarifies that defeated amendments cannot be reintroduced without such voter support, ensuring municipal charters undergo renewed voter approval rather than automatic resubmission.

Maddy summarySB 198 would exempt municipal volunteer firefighters from paying license fees for hunting, fishing, and trapping in West Virginia. To qualify, applicants must submit an affidavit signed by their fire chief confirming their volunteer firefighter status. The exemption does not replace other license requirements, such as providing necessary information or complying with existing wildlife regulations. The natural resources director may establish application procedures through rule-making.

Maddy summarySB 204 amends West Virginia's Military Incentive Program to extend eligibility to all veterans (not just Vietnam/Korean conflict veterans or specific disabled veterans) and updates program definitions. It designates WorkForce West Virginia as the sole agency administering the program and establishes rulemaking authority. The bill updates key terms like "economically disadvantaged" to align with current federal poverty standards and removes era-specific restrictions. These changes aim to simplify access to the program, which provides tax credits to private employers hiring eligible veterans.

Maddy summarySB 195 would increase the minimum prison sentence for second-degree murder in West Virginia from 10 years to 15 years. It also requires individuals convicted under this law to serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole, or the longer period specified in another law (§62-12-13), whichever applies. This bill directly affects people convicted of second-degree murder in West Virginia, changing their mandatory minimum sentence and parole eligibility. The key provision raises the minimum term and modifies parole rules without altering the maximum 40-year sentence. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee after being introduced on January 14, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 190 strengthens penalties for assaulting specific public safety and service workers in West Virginia. It clarifies that intentionally causing injury to law-enforcement officers, correctional employees, emergency medical personnel, health care workers, or utility workers while they are performing official duties constitutes a felony. The bill establishes three penalty tiers: malicious assault (3-15 years imprisonment), unlawful assault (2-5 years), and battery (misdemeanor with up to 1 year jail or $500 fine). It directly affects anyone who targets these workers during their duties, with the law requiring the perpetrator to know the victim was acting officially. The bill amends existing criminal code sections to define these protections and specify the enhanced penalties.

Maddy summarySB 192 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly harming or recklessly interfering with service animals in West Virginia. It prohibits actions like causing physical harm, taunting, or obstructing service animals while they assist people who are blind, deaf, or have mobility impairments. Violators face misdemeanor penalties of up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, or both, plus requirements to pay veterinary costs, equipment damage, or replacement costs for the service animal. The law applies only when the offender knows or should know the animal is a service animal. This directly affects service animal handlers with disabilities and those who target these animals.