Sen. Vince Deeds

Maddy summarySB 631 expands the West Virginia Invests Grant Program to include associate degrees and certificates in emergency medical services (EMS) programs. This change allows students who already hold a post-secondary degree to qualify for the grant if they pursue an EMS-related associate degree or certificate, which was not previously covered under the program. The bill amends eligibility requirements to specifically list EMS programs as eligible, while keeping other grant rules unchanged, such as academic standards (e.g., 2.0 GPA), community service (8+ hours), and repayment terms for graduates who leave West Virginia within two years. The grant remains available for eligible EMS programs at participating West Virginia institutions.

Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a bill) that would eliminate West Virginia's tax on business inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for sale or manufacturing. This change would directly affect businesses (reducing their tax burden) and local governments (counties, municipalities, school districts), which would lose revenue from this tax. The amendment requires the state legislature to provide alternative funding to replace lost revenue for impacted communities, ensuring no net fiscal harm to local governments. It must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 121 creates a new felony offense for indecent exposure involving minors in West Virginia, specifically requiring exposure of genitals (penis, vagina, or anus) to children under 14. It mandates sex offender registration for convictions, increases penalties for repeat offenses (including fines and imprisonment), and removes the breastfeeding exemption due to clearer definitions. The bill amends West Virginia Code sections §61-8-9 and §61-11-18 to define the offense, establish registration requirements under the Sex Offender Registration Act (§15-12-2), and classify it as a qualifying offense for enhanced sentencing. This directly affects individuals convicted of exposing genitals to minors, with stricter consequences for multiple violations.

Maddy summarySB 735 establishes the West Virginia Broadband Development Program (WVBDP) to expand broadband infrastructure across the state. It creates a state board to oversee funding, construction, and operation of broadband systems, with a focus on serving rural and underserved communities, schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses. Key provisions include authorizing revenue bonds for financing, exempting state highways from placement restrictions, and requiring annual audits to ensure proper use of funds. The program aims to improve access to high-speed internet for all West Virginians, supporting economic growth, remote work, and educational opportunities.

Maddy summarySB 604 requires West Virginia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to automatically notify the Public Service Commission (PSC) when a person qualifies for utility bill discounts through programs like SSI, TANF, or SNAP. This eliminates the need for customers to apply separately, as the PSC must then order utilities to apply a 20% discount for eligible households during December through April billing months. The bill specifically limits eligibility to named beneficiaries of these programs and their spouses. It streamlines access to existing discounts by shifting the notification responsibility from individuals to DHS.

Maddy summarySB 20 requires the state to fund increased costs for volunteer fire departments and EMS units resulting from new state rules. It creates a new Fire Service Recruitment and Retention Fund, which will provide grants to help departments hire and retain volunteers. Funding for the program comes from increased insurance policy surcharges (raising the standard surcharge to 1% and surplus lines to 5%). The bill also updates rules governing how state funds can be used by volunteer departments, ensuring money covers specific needs like equipment, training, and operational costs.

Maddy summarySB 264 amends West Virginia law to allow the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally killing a law-enforcement officer or emergency responder while they are performing their official duties. The bill specifically adds this scenario as an aggravating circumstance that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, requiring direct evidence like witness testimony or DNA, not just circumstantial proof. It defines "emergency responder" to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel. This change applies only to first-degree murder cases where the victim was a qualified officer or responder on duty, and it mandates jury unanimity for death penalty sentencing while requiring consideration of mitigating factors. The bill does not change existing death penalty eligibility for other murder cases.

Maddy summarySB 727 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DHS) to hire an independent third party to conduct a comprehensive study of the state's child welfare system. The study must examine specific areas like court performance, foster care placement processes, family reunification efforts, and potential efficiency improvements, with findings due to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary by September 1, 2026. DHS will cover all costs of the study and must provide the third party with necessary information under confidentiality agreements. This bill mandates a neutral, evidence-based review to identify systemic issues and recommend improvements, without altering existing laws.

Maddy summarySB 284 updates training requirements for West Virginia county board of education members, requiring initial orientation within 30 days of swearing in (with make-up sessions for absences), increasing annual training hours, and modifying covered topics like fiscal management. It sets a standard compensation rate of $260 per meeting attended (allowing counties to set lower rates) and requires the State Superintendent to annually report training data to the Legislative Oversight Commission. The bill also removes the January 1 deadline for final-year training and adds non-voting ex officio members to the training oversight committee. These changes directly affect all county board members and aim to standardize training and compensation practices.