Maddy summarySB 114 creates a pilot program offering 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible West Virginia state employees during the birth or adoption of a child under age 12, covering July 2026 through July 2028. Employees receive 90% of their average weekly wage (capped at $1,000 weekly) and may combine this with unpaid leave for up to 18 weeks total per 12-month period. The program applies only to full-time state government employees who have worked 12 consecutive weeks, excluding part-time workers, elected officials, and certain vocational program participants. It requires employers to maintain health coverage during leave and mandates a Department of Labor report to the legislature on the pilot’s outcomes. This is a temporary initiative with a sunset date, not a permanent policy.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 151 exempts the first $25,000 of cash value in a life insurance policy from Medicaid eligibility calculations in West Virginia. This directly affects individuals applying for Medicaid who hold life insurance policies with accumulated cash value. The bill changes how Medicaid assesses assets by excluding this specific amount, rather than counting it toward the applicant's total resources. This policy adjustment aims to prevent applicants from losing Medicaid eligibility due to modest life insurance savings.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's Bureau for Social Services to officially file its entire policy manual - including all rules on Child Protective Services, foster care, youth services, licensing, and casework - as a legislative rule by July 1, 2026. Future updates to these policies must also be filed as amendments to this rule under state procedures. The law aims to make bureau policies transparent and subject to standard rulemaking processes, directly affecting how the agency operates. It does not change program eligibility or funding but ensures policies are formally documented and accessible.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 48 memorializes the late Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, a former West Virginia State Senator (1994-2006) and community leader, by formally honoring her life and public service. The resolution recognizes her roles as a philanthropist, founding president of the Tucker Community Foundation and West Virginia Grantmakers Association, and her decades of volunteer work across West Virginia. It extends the Senate’s condolences to her family and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her loved ones. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy or financial impact, solely commemorating her legacy.
Maddy summarySB 718 increases the annual salary for magistrates in West Virginia to $70,000, effective July 1, 2026. This bill amends West Virginia Code §50-1-3, which sets magistrate compensation, building on previous increases from $60,375 (2021) to $63,250 (2022). The measure directly affects all magistrates serving in West Virginia courts. The change is a straightforward salary adjustment with no additional mechanisms or eligibility requirements specified in the bill text.
Maddy summarySB 1080 requires West Virginia to redirect any reduction in state education funding from the previous fiscal year to support specific school districts. It targets the 10 lowest-enrollment county school districts with maximum local tax levies (excess levies), plus extremely remote schools within those districts. Funding is distributed proportionally based on kindergarten through fifth-grade student enrollment, with students counted twice in certain cases to ensure adequate support. This policy change ensures that state aid cuts directly benefit the most vulnerable school districts rather than reducing overall funding.
Maddy summarySB 893 creates a state tax credit equal to 10% of the federal carbon storage credit (under IRS Section 45Q) earned by businesses operating new biochar manufacturing facilities in West Virginia that began operations after July 1, 2025. It directly affects eligible businesses that qualify for the federal credit, allowing them to reduce their state corporation income tax by up to 50% of their tax liability for the year. The credit lasts up to 12 years and requires verification through IRS certification and documentation proving biochar production occurred in the state. Businesses must submit federal tax return copies and evidence of carbon sequestration meeting nationally recognized standards to claim the credit.
Maddy summarySB 549 would increase the daily payment for jurors in West Virginia from a current range of $15 to $40 per day to a new range of $40 to $100 per day. This change applies to both trial jurors (petit jurors) and grand jurors serving on court cases. The bill replaces the previous minimum of $15 with a new minimum of $40 and raises the maximum from $40 to $100. The reimbursement remains determined by the court and paid from the state treasury, but ensures jurors receive at least $40 per day.
Maddy summarySB 1014 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates for providers in West Virginia to address rising costs, as noted in a 2024 state report showing current rates fail to cover service expenses. It expands dental coverage for adults 21+ to include diagnostic, preventative, and restorative services (excluding cosmetic procedures), with a $2,000 annual spending limit per beneficiary. The bill requires the state to implement a dental care system with quality oversight and submit annual cost reports to legislators starting in 2027. A 20% fee increase for dental services must be enacted by December 2028 to align with federal matching requirements.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 32) expresses the West Virginia Senate's commitment to protecting coal-dependent communities and energy infrastructure. It specifically requires coal-fired power plants to operate at a minimum 69% annual capacity factor to maintain grid reliability and protect over 10,000 coal jobs, while opposing actions that threaten mine closures or job losses. The resolution also pledges to prioritize local coal jobs over "out-of-state contracting" and prevent ratepayers from bearing higher costs due to reduced coal generation. As a non-binding resolution (adopted February 18, 2026), it does not create new law but formally commits the Senate to supporting coal through policy advocacy and oversight.