Sen. Jack Woodrum

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia Code §5-10-20(c) to clarify retirement eligibility for sheriffs who are members of the public retirement system. It specifies that sheriffs elected to office (and not in another retirement system) may retire at age 62 with eight or more years of actual, contributory service. The change confirms the existing policy without altering the age or service requirements for this specific group of public employees. It directly affects sheriffs in West Virginia’s public retirement system who meet these criteria.

Maddy summarySB 189 amends West Virginia law to allow spouses to testify for or against each other in criminal cases, removing the previous restriction that prevented one spouse from being compelled to testify against the other. The bill specifically permits spousal testimony in cases involving crimes committed by one spouse against a child, grandchild, or other close family members (like parents or siblings), as defined in the law. It also clarifies that a spouse’s decision not to testify cannot be used as evidence against the accused or commented on by the court or jury. This change directly affects spouses involved in criminal trials where family violence or harm to dependents is alleged.

Maddy summarySB 141 clarifies that the Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), not the "Department of Natural Resources," has the authority to enter written agreements with federal agencies managing lands within West Virginia (such as national parks, forests, and Corps of Engineers projects). These agreements would allow federal employees working on those lands to be appointed as "special natural resources police officers" to enforce state laws on federal property. The bill specifies that these officers would have the same powers as DNR police but only within federal lands or for mutual aid with state officers outside those areas. It also confirms such federal officers would not receive state compensation for these duties.

Maddy summarySB 236 creates a new County Fire Protection Fund in West Virginia's State Treasury to distribute state funds to volunteer fire departments. It directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to allocate these funds to counties with existing fire-related taxes or fees, based on each county's population proportion relative to all qualifying counties. The bill ensures these funds are used exclusively for fire protection or emergency services by distributing them through county commissions to local volunteer fire departments. This mechanism provides a structured, population-based approach to funding fire services in qualifying counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies when state boards (like licensing boards) can transfer excess funds to the state's General Revenue Fund. It sets two conditions for transfers: when a board's special fund balance exceeds twice its annual budget or $10,000 (whichever is greater), and limits annual transfers to $200,000 per board. The Legislative Auditor must review the board's fees if a transfer occurs to check if fees are generating excessive revenue. This directly affects all state boards that collect fees for licensing or regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Directors of the West Virginia Division of Forestry and Division of Natural Resources to contract private companies for managing state-owned and leased forests. The primary purpose is wildfire prevention, requiring competitive bidding with public notice in local newspapers and online before contracts are awarded. Proceeds from these contracts must be paid to the State Treasurer and used exclusively for forestry purposes. Exceptions allow direct contracting without bidding if the Commerce Secretary and Economic Development Secretary certify the contract supports an economic development project at market value.

Maddy summarySB 239, the Second Look Sentencing Act, would allow West Virginia courts to reconsider and potentially reduce prison sentences for individuals who were under 25 when they committed a crime and have served at least 10 years of a sentence exceeding 10 years. The court must hold a hearing, consider factors like rehabilitation, safety to the community, youth-related circumstances, and victim input, before deciding to reduce the sentence. If approved, the sentence is reduced and the person may remain under supervised release for up to five years. The bill requires written court reasoning for decisions and permits a second review after three years if the first motion is denied.

Maddy summarySB 52 amends West Virginia's property transfer tax exemptions to tighten rules for certain family and gift transfers. It removes existing exemptions for some gifts and quitclaim deeds (property transfers without payment), while adding a new exemption specifically for transfers between siblings. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents who transfer property through gifts, inheritances, or family arrangements, changing which transactions qualify for tax exemption. These changes aim to close perceived loopholes in the current tax code by clarifying which transfers are exempt from the excise tax.

Maddy summarySB 64 prohibits financial institutions (like banks and payment processors) from refusing services or terminating relationships with firearm businesses - such as manufacturers, retailers, shooting ranges, or qualifying trade associations - solely because of their involvement in the firearms industry. The bill creates civil remedies allowing affected businesses to sue for damages, attorney fees, or injunctions if discrimination occurs, and requires the state to terminate business with violators. It includes exceptions for institutions with written anti-discrimination policies or legitimate business reasons for service decisions. Violations could trigger state penalties up to $20,000 per incident, with lawsuits required to be filed within two years of discovery. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies when state boards (like licensing boards) must transfer surplus funds to the state's General Revenue Fund. It requires transfers when a board's special fund balance exceeds twice its annual budget or $10,000 (whichever is greater), with a maximum annual transfer of $200,000. The State Treasurer must notify the Legislative Auditor of each transfer, triggering an audit to review if the board's fees generate excessive revenue compared to its actual operating costs. The bill directly affects state boards that collect fees, ensuring surplus funds are returned to the general state treasury rather than remaining in board-specific accounts.