Sen. Robbie Morris

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 916) amends West Virginia law to require that accounting corporations formed on or after July 1, 2001, include either "accounting corporation" or the abbreviation "A.C." in their official name. It prohibits using terms like "company," "corporation," or "incorporated" in their name. The law directly affects new accounting corporations registered in West Virginia, ensuring their names clearly identify their purpose. The key provision standardizes naming requirements to distinguish accounting corporations from other business entities.

Maddy summarySB 982 creates a state program to fund improvements to public roads connecting residential neighborhoods and subdivisions to existing state roads. It establishes a special fund for projects serving at least 20 residential units (single or multifamily), with a $750,000 annual cap per project. The program excludes private roads, driveways, routine maintenance, and commercial areas, and requires annual reporting to the Legislature. The program expires after 10 years unless renewed by the Legislature.

Maddy summarySB 897 establishes licensing and certification requirements for alcohol and drug counselors in West Virginia. It defines key terms like "substance use disorder" and "practice of alcohol and drug counseling," which includes evaluating addiction issues, developing treatment plans, and providing trauma-informed care. The bill sets eligibility criteria, application fees, renewal fees, and grandfathering provisions for existing counselors based on education or experience. It also creates disciplinary actions for violations and specifies exceptions for healthcare providers, state employees, and self-help groups. This bill directly affects counselors seeking to provide substance use disorder treatment services in the state.

Maddy summarySB 755 removes a requirement for West Virginia state agencies to submit annual reports on their procurement of goods and services from small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. This bill directly affects state agencies (such as departments and boards) that previously had to report progress to the Department of Administration. The key change eliminates the annual reporting obligation, though existing certification rules for these businesses remain in place. The bill focuses solely on reducing administrative paperwork for state agencies, without altering business certification standards or procurement practices.

Maddy summarySB 862 repeals three outdated sections (§62-15A-1, §62-15A-2, and §62-15A-3) of West Virginia’s code that previously established an Addiction Treatment Pilot Program. The bill formally removes these provisions because the pilot program no longer exists, as stated in the bill’s purpose. It does not create new policy or affect current services, as the referenced program was discontinued years ago. This is a procedural cleanup of the legal code, with no direct impact on patients, providers, or state funding. The bill passed quickly through both chambers in early March 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 1038) increases salaries by 15% for three specific positions at the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review: Chief Administrative Law Judge, Administrative Law Judge 1, and Administrative Law Judge 2. The adjustment applies to salary levels effective when the bill takes effect and is separate from other 2026 budget salary changes. The stated purpose is to help ensure unemployment compensation hearings occur in a timely manner. The funding for this increase is exempt from standard budget constraints, and the law explicitly states it creates no legal liability for implementation.

Maddy summarySB 970 exempts volunteer fire departments and part-time volunteer fire departments from state regulations governing vehicle raffles, both in-person and online. The bill amends West Virginia Code sections related to motor vehicle licensing (§17A-6-1, §17A-6-1a) and fire department operations (§47-21A-2, §47-21A-8) to remove these departments from licensing and reporting requirements. This change allows volunteer fire departments to conduct vehicle raffles for fundraising without needing to comply with standard raffle regulations. The bill directly affects volunteer fire departments by reducing administrative barriers to fundraising activities.

Maddy summarySB 852 would increase fees for delivering court documents by certified mail, including associated shipping and handling costs. This change would directly affect defendants in legal cases served via certified mail, requiring them to pay higher fees for this service. The bill also includes an exemption for foreign veteran-owned businesses, meaning these businesses would not be subject to the increased fees. The bill does not alter existing fee structures for business entity filings, which were included in the provided text but are unrelated to this specific service of process fee adjustment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases salaries for West Virginia judges and certain judicial staff starting July 1, 2026. It raises the annual salary for Supreme Court justices to $154,600 (from $149,600), circuit court judges to $143,600 (from $138,600), and family court judges to $113,950 (from $103,950). It also adjusts pay for family court secretary-clerks and case coordinators, with secretary-clerks receiving $44,876 annually and case coordinators capped at $56,876. The bill suspends employer contributions to the judicial retirement system until specific conditions are met.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 sets new salary amounts for West Virginia county commissioners and other elected county officials, effective July 1, 2026, based on their county's population class (e.g., Class I commissioners will earn $53,731 annually, up from $45,535). To receive the increase, county officials must submit a written request to their county clerk, and the county auditor must certify sufficient fiscal health to cover the raise and related taxes. The bill applies directly to all elected county officials (including sheriffs, clerks, and assessors) across West Virginia's 55 counties, with salary tiers determined by county classification. It does not automatically increase pay; officials must actively request the raise, and counties must meet fiscal certification requirements before implementation.