Sen. Jack Woodrum

Maddy summarySB 319 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Health to implement a specific rule (64 CSR 03) governing public water systems. This rule, which was revised after addressing objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, establishes requirements for water system operations to protect public health. The bill does not create new standards but formally approves a rule that has already undergone regulatory review.

Maddy summarySB 329 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Health to implement a specific legislative rule (64 CSR 113) known as the "Safe Harbor Letter" for the state's Medical Cannabis Program. This rule directly affects medical cannabis program participants and healthcare providers by establishing legal protections against prosecution under certain circumstances. The key mechanism is the Safe Harbor Letter itself, which would shield qualified participants from criminal liability when following program guidelines. The bill is procedural - it does not create new policy but formally authorizes the existing rule filed in the State Register on August 29, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 489 establishes a standardized process for filing and handling election law violation complaints in West Virginia. It requires complaints to be written, notarized, sworn under penalty of perjury, and include specific details like the incident description, location, timing, and supporting evidence. The Secretary of State must review complaints for completeness, notify filers of deficiencies, and forward valid complaints to the State Election Commission for review. The Commission then decides whether to investigate formally, refer the case, or dismiss it if no probable cause exists, with all proceedings conducted confidentially until public announcement of the outcome.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 484 prohibits political campaigns from distributing AI-generated election content that falsely depicts individuals without consent within 90 days of an election, unless a clear disclaimer is included. The required disclaimer must be prominently displayed (matching font size for text, clearly spoken for audio), include technical metadata about the media's creation, and remain permanently visible. Exemptions cover bona fide news coverage that discloses authenticity concerns and paid broadcasts by media outlets. The law targets deceptive election tactics while preserving journalistic protections and platform responsibilities under federal law.

Maddy summarySB 234 increases the threshold requiring public auction sales of municipal property from $1,000 to $10,000. It also allows municipalities to negotiate direct sales of real property with adjacent property owners when the governing body determines this is the "highest and best use" of the land. The bill affects all West Virginia municipalities, municipal building commissions, and municipal development authorities. This change reduces the need for public auctions on lower-value properties and provides flexibility for adjacent landowner transactions.

Maddy summarySCR 13 (Senate Concurrent Resolution 13) requests the West Virginia Division of Highways to name a specific segment of WV Route 10 - the portion from the Hal Greer Boulevard exit (I-64) to the intersection with WV Route 19 - as the "Purple Heart Trail." This commemorative resolution directly affects the designated road segment and honors military service members who were killed or wounded in combat. The bill requires the Division of Highways to install signs at both ends of the named section. It is supported by military organizations, the City of Logan, and Lincoln County Commission, citing the need to memorialize veterans and recognize their service. (Note: This is a procedural resolution requesting a naming designation, not a binding law.)

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 602, the Closed Captioning Act, requires public places like restaurants, bars, hospitals, colleges, and government buildings to have at least half of their public-facing televisions with closed captioning activated during operating hours. It mandates that venues distribute captioned TVs so patrons can reasonably see them and prevent patrons from turning captions off. Exceptions apply only if no televisions are present or all TVs lack captioning capability. The law takes effect upon passage and defines key terms like "closed captioning" and "public area."

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 13) memorializes Wanda Porterfield Casto, a 34-year part-time Senate Secretary/Administrative Assistant who served the West Virginia Senate and dedicated her life to public service. The resolution formally honors her legacy as a wife, mother, grandmother, and public servant, extending the Senate's deepest sympathies to her family following her passing on May 20, 2024. It directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her family. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to recognize her contributions.

Maddy summarySB 599, the "Creating Sound Science in Regulations Act," requires West Virginia state agencies to base new environmental regulations on "best available science" before proposing or finalizing rules related to drinking water, air quality, hazardous waste, or chemical safety. It defines "best available science" as reliable, unbiased studies published in refereed journals with independent verification, excluding industry-funded research or non-peer-reviewed data. The law applies only to new state regulations stricter than federal standards or created without federal equivalents, exempting existing rules, federal compliance actions, and regulations mirroring federal standards. This bill directly affects state environmental agencies and their rulemaking processes for public health and environmental protection.

Maddy summarySB 381 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Dentistry to establish specific regulations for mobile dental facilities and portable dental units, as referenced in 5 CSR 14. This bill directly affects dental providers operating mobile services by requiring them to comply with future rules created under this authorization. The legislation does not specify the exact content of the rules but enables the Board to develop and implement them after public review. It is procedural, focusing solely on granting the Board the authority to create these regulations.