Sen. Jack Woodrum

Maddy summarySR 42 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Walter Dolph Helmick, a former West Virginia state legislator and public servant. It memorializes his life and career, noting his service as a coal miner, teacher, businessman, Mason, West Virginia House of Delegates member, Senate member (1989-2013), and Commissioner of Agriculture. The resolution formally recognizes his contributions to West Virginia and extends condolences to his family following his death in 2025. As a non-binding memorial resolution, it has no policy impact or effect on legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for West Virginia manufacturers that transform locally harvested wood into finished "value-added" products like plywood, wood pellets, or engineered lumber. It provides tiered credits ($1.25-$3 per ton) based on the volume of West Virginia-sourced wood processed, with higher rates for new facilities or expansions ($2.50-$6 per ton) for five years. To qualify, manufacturers must meet a "minimum transformation standard" (e.g., altering wood’s structure), avoid basic handling like debarking, and self-report production data. Credits are capped at $1.25 million annually per facility and apply to corporate or personal income tax. The law aims to incentivize local processing of forest resources while preventing credits for raw log handling.

Maddy summarySB 930 amends West Virginia law to increase the amount of pension benefits subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments for municipal police, firefighters, and employees of waterworks, sewage, and combined water/sewage systems. The bill raises the threshold for calculating these adjustments from $15,000 to $45,000 of an annual pension benefit, meaning a larger portion of their retirement income will now be tied to inflation. This change applies to existing retirees and future beneficiaries under the pension system, without altering the 4% annual cap on adjustments or the two-year waiting period for new retirees. The policy directly affects these municipal workers by potentially increasing their annual pension increases based on inflation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Maddy summarySB 708 requires the West Virginia Division of Highways to evaluate and potentially create public river access facilities during bridge projects over navigable waterways. It prohibits using eminent domain for access points but allows voluntary property acquisition (through purchase or donation) to improve safety for recreational users like fishermen and boaters. The law mandates that any new access facilities must prioritize public safety, avoid interfering with traffic, and be limited in size to address documented hazards. It applies directly to the Division of Highways, recreational users, and property owners near river crossings.

Maddy summarySB 633 modernizes West Virginia's Commission on Holocaust Education by updating its membership structure and governance. The bill replaces outdated provisions relying on Holocaust survivors (many now deceased) with a new framework allowing commission-appointed voting members and non-voting student advisory members, while explicitly requiring Holocaust education to remain the commission's sole purpose. It strengthens safeguards to protect historical accuracy and ensures the commission continues providing centralized educational resources for schools, churches, and communities studying the Holocaust. These changes aim to maintain the commission's mission as a permanent statewide resource for Holocaust education amid evolving circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes time limits for workers to file or modify claims related to progressive massive fibrosis, a lung disease often linked to occupational exposure (like mining). It directly affects workers who develop this condition, allowing them to pursue or adjust compensation claims without being barred by past deadlines. The bill amends West Virginia's workers' compensation code to eliminate statute of limitations barriers specifically for these claims and adds a new impairment rating for progressive massive fibrosis. This change ensures affected workers can access benefits regardless of when symptoms first appeared or worsened.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the responsibilities of a public service district's board when dissolving or selling its water, sewer, stormwater, or gas systems. It requires the board to cooperate with the county commission during asset sales, eliminating the need for new hearings if the county commission and Public Service Commission have already approved the dissolution. Proceeds from sales must first cover district debts, then be distributed equally to contributors who paid for system construction (up to their original contribution amount), with any remaining funds going to the county commission. The bill directly affects public service districts, county commissions, and the Public Service Commission in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 892 would allow medical cannabis to be dispensed in edible forms (like gummies or lozenges) in West Virginia, expanding current options for patients. It directly affects patients, caregivers, and dispensaries by adding edibles to permitted forms, while requiring strict safety rules: edibles must be specific shapes (e.g., square, circle), limited to 10mg THC per serving with a 15% variance, and produced only as lozenges or gelatins. Processors must get bureau approval for each edible product, including submitting packaging images with a universal symbol. The bill also bans color additives in edibles and mandates new reporting to the state’s cannabis monitoring database. This would be the first time edibles are permitted under West Virginia’s medical cannabis program.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies forestry equipment (such as skidders, forwarders, and processing machinery) as "Class I property" for tax purposes, aligning it with agricultural equipment. It exempts the sale of such equipment from West Virginia's consumers sales and service tax, directly benefiting forestry businesses engaged in harvesting, processing, or transporting forest products. The law also explicitly defines forestry as part of agriculture, recognizing its economic importance to the state. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definitions and requirements for certified public accountants in West Virginia, affecting individuals seeking CPA certification, accounting firms, and the state Board of Accountancy. It clarifies key terms like "firm," "attestation services," and "affiliated entity" to align with current accounting standards and modernizes education, examination, and experience requirements for certification. The legislation also modifies the Board's rule-making authority and revises provisions regarding practice privileges for out-of-state practitioners, while updating rules on unlawful acts and disciplinary measures for licensees and firms.