Sen. Jay Taylor

Maddy summaryThis bill adopts the Uniform Protected Series Act for West Virginia, creating "protected series" within series limited liability companies (LLCs). It allows a single LLC to form separate, legally distinct compartments (protected series) that hold specific assets and liabilities, shielding each series from the debts or claims of other series within the same LLC. Key provisions include rules for naming series, managing assets, limiting liability between series, requiring annual reports, and establishing procedures for dissolving or merging series. The law directly affects businesses operating as series LLCs in West Virginia, as well as foreign LLCs with protected series structures operating in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies oversight requirements for West Virginia's Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, requiring state health and human services departments to create annual performance plans and submit regular progress reports. The legislation mandates that these departments establish measurable performance goals for their programs and track results against state and national benchmarks, with reports due annually to the commission starting in 2027. Departments must explain any unmet goals and include evaluation findings in their reports, while the commission will submit an annual legislative report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance summarizing major activities and recommendations. The changes apply specifically to the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Health Facilities, and the Office of the Inspector General.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects vulnerable adults from financial exploitation by giving banks new tools to intervene. It applies to adults 65+ or 18+ with significant mental/functional impairments that interfere with financial decisions, as known to their bank. Banks may delay or block suspicious transactions (like large withdrawals to another account), must report suspected exploitation to state agencies (like the Department of Human Services), and are exempt from certain privacy laws when acting in good faith. The law explicitly states banks aren't required to override a customer's valid instructions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new adjunct teaching permit in West Virginia that allows individuals without full teaching certification to fill vacant teaching positions, offer new programs, or supplement existing ones when certified teachers are unavailable. The permit is valid for one year and requires county school boards to repost the position annually, with renewal contingent on meeting basic performance standards. Key provisions include requiring mentor assignment, completion of specific training, prohibition on special education instruction, and flexible employment terms where compensation and benefits are mutually agreed upon between the school board and teacher.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia county commissions to lease or permit the use of county-owned wireless towers to private entities, provided those entities meet specific security and compliance requirements. The legislation mandates that any lessee must not be associated with foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, or entities linked to countries supporting terrorism, and must use secure cellular and cyber defense measures that do not threaten critical infrastructure like voting systems. County commissions are required to conduct due diligence before approving any tower use and are granted immunity from liability if they perform this review in good faith. Additionally, the bill prohibits counties from charging fees for tower use by public safety agencies, state departments of transportation, and other state agencies, though counties may recover actual costs for installation and maintenance.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 558 strengthens penalties for drivers who pass a stopped school bus with activated stop arms and red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It creates new aggravated offenses: causing serious injury becomes a felony with 1-3 years in jail and $2,000-$5,000 fines, while causing death becomes a felony with 1-10 years in jail and $5,000-$10,000 fines. Repeat violations now trigger mandatory jail time (48 hours for third offenses), longer license suspensions (up to one year), and require completion of a driver safety course. The bill also allows civil stop-arm camera enforcement, holds vehicle owners liable for violations, and dedicates collected fines to school bus safety initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the dedicated public service of Honorable Michael Andrew Woelfel, a former West Virginia State Senator. The bill honors his career as a prosecutor, juvenile court referee, university professor, and legislator who served three consecutive terms in the Senate. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for his contributions to West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Woelfel. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the dedicated public service of Honorable Charles Houston Clements, a former West Virginia state senator. The bill honors Clements for his legislative career, including his service as Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his decision not to seek reelection in 2026. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for his commitment to serving West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Clements.

Maddy summarySB 927 clarifies that West Virginia's Commissioner of Agriculture has exclusive authority to regulate bees, bee equipment, and apiaries statewide, removing potential conflicts with local governments. The bill defines key terms like "apiary" (a location where bees are kept), "bee equipment" (hives, tools, etc.), and "honey bee pests" (diseases like Varroa mite) to create a uniform regulatory framework. It directly affects beekeepers, agricultural operations relying on pollination, and landowners with apiaries by standardizing rules for inspections, disease control, and equipment management. The bill aims to strengthen pollinator protection and support beekeeping's economic role in agriculture through clear, statewide rules.

Maddy summarySJR 9 proposes amending West Virginia's constitution to require all voters to be U.S. citizens. It would change the voting eligibility rule to state: "Only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States shall be entitled to vote at all elections." This would affect all voters in West Virginia elections by eliminating current exceptions allowing non-citizen residents to vote in certain local elections. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.