Sen. Jack Woodrum

Maddy summarySB 337 authorizes West Virginia's Division of Protective Services to implement a specific legislative rule (99 CSR 02) governing officer ranks and duties within the division. This procedural bill formally approves a rule filed in the State Register on August 28, 2024, which was already authorized under §15-2D-3 of the West Virginia Code. The bill does not create new policies but enables the division to adopt and enforce the existing rule regarding officer roles. It directly affects division officers by clarifying their rank structure and responsibilities under state law.

Maddy summarySB 335 authorizes West Virginia's Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction to create and implement a specific protocol for law enforcement response to child abuse and neglect cases. The bill formally approves the previously developed rule (149 CSR 08), which was modified to address legislative concerns and refiled in November 2024. This procedural measure directly affects law enforcement agencies by establishing standardized guidelines for handling child abuse and neglect reports. The rule, now officially authorized, outlines required steps for officers during such incidents. The bill does not change existing laws but enables the Committee to enforce these specific response protocols.

Maddy summarySB 523 requires candidates for municipal offices (like mayors or city council members) to file their campaign financial statements with their county clerk instead of the state. It mandates that all campaign finance reports for municipal offices be published online by the filing officer within 48 hours after the filing deadline closes. The bill applies specifically to candidates running for local government positions within a single municipality or county, not state or judicial offices. This change aims to increase transparency by making campaign finance data more accessible to the public faster.

Maddy summarySB 524 clarifies who may be present within 100 feet of a polling place entrance during elections for non-voting activities. It allows residents, business owners, and those conducting normal non-election activities (like delivery drivers) to remain near entrances, with specific exceptions for vehicles dropping off voters needing assistance (e.g., due to disability or age). The bill does not change existing voting room rules but explicitly states these provisions apply only to permitted non-voting activities, not electioneering. This affects voters, poll workers, and those transporting voters to polling locations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with legal effect) that formally commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program. It recognizes the program's history since 1950, which uses excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels to fund state fisheries conservation efforts through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The resolution honors anglers, the sportfishing industry, state agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their role in restoring fish populations. It does not create new laws, change funding, or affect any specific individuals or groups beyond acknowledging their historical contributions.

Maddy summarySB 495 requires political committees in West Virginia to include the chair's contact details - such as name, address, phone number, and email - in their official registration documents. It also mandates that committees acknowledge in their registration that they will comply with the state's campaign finance reporting rules. This applies to committees supporting candidates for offices larger than a county (like state or federal offices) and other political committees as defined by law. The bill adds these requirements to the existing statement of organization form, which already includes treasurer information, to improve transparency and accountability in campaign finance reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 491) lowers the spending thresholds requiring disclosure of independent election expenditures in West Virginia. It reduces the reporting threshold from $5,000 to $1,000 for spending on statewide, legislative, or multicounty judicial candidates, and from $10,000 to $2,500 for total aggregate spending. The bill also extends the reporting deadline from 15 to 30 days for certain filings and mandates written and spoken disclaimers on digital election ads. These changes directly affect individuals, groups, and political committees making election-related spending above the new thresholds.

Maddy summarySB 479 requires the West Virginia Ethics Commission to create and publish online all disclosure forms, statements, and reports needed for compliance with ethics laws. It updates lobbyist registration forms to include specific details like whether compensation depends on lobbying success and requires written employer authorization for each client. The bill also mandates that reports of grassroots campaign spending exceeding $5,000 must specify the exact media outlet used for advertising. These changes apply directly to lobbyists, campaign groups, and the Ethics Commission itself.

Maddy summarySB 480 allows licensed substitute and full-time teachers in West Virginia to serve as parent volunteers for school activities - like sports events or clubs - without needing a new background check. It directly affects teachers who have already undergone a background check for their teaching roles. The bill eliminates redundant checks by permitting these educators to use their existing clearance for volunteer work, saving time and cost. This change applies to all West Virginia public schools and addresses reported shortages of parent volunteers in some counties. The policy modifies existing background check requirements for school personnel.

Maddy summarySB 493 removes all existing contribution limits for political committees in West Virginia elections, effective July 1, 2025. It eliminates current caps such as the $2,800 maximum per election cycle for donations to candidate committees and the $10,000 annual limit for contributions to state party committees. After the effective date, donors can contribute any amount to political committees without restriction. The change applies only to contributions made for elections held after July 1, 2025, and does not affect contributions made before that date.