Sen. Jay Taylor

Maddy summarySenate Bill 925 modifies West Virginia's school attendance law to exempt Future Farmers of America (FFA)-sanctioned activities from the 10-day annual limit on excused absences. It directly affects West Virginia students participating in FFA events, ensuring these absences are counted as excused without reducing their annual excused absence allowance. The bill requires schools to mark students present for FFA activities (like they would for field trips), mandates documentation from FFA, and requires students to make up missed work without grade penalties. It aligns FFA with existing exemptions for 4-H, SkillsUSA, and similar programs under the same attendance rules.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 23 (SB 23) clarifies that wind power projects in West Virginia are not classified as "pollution control facilities" for tax purposes and instead must be taxed as real property. This change directly affects wind energy developers and local tax assessors, as it removes the previous allowance for wind turbines and towers to be treated as personal property with reduced valuation. The bill specifies that wind turbines and their towers (including foundations) will be taxed as real property if permanently affixed to the ground, ending prior tax treatment that allowed them to be considered pollution control facilities. This adjustment aligns wind power projects with standard real property taxation, eliminating a prior distinction that impacted how these facilities were valued for local taxes.

Maddy summarySB 1021 establishes a streamlined procedure for West Virginia municipalities to adopt specific, limited charter amendments without public hearings or voter referendums. This applies only to changes required to conform to two existing state laws (§8-5-5 and §3-1-31), such as updating election rules or administrative procedures. Under the new process, cities must still publish notice and hold a hearing, but if no objections are filed, the amendment takes effect 10 days later without a public vote. This directly affects cities needing to align their charters with these specific legal requirements, reducing administrative burden while maintaining transparency.

Maddy summarySB 887 updates West Virginia's licensing rules for money transmission services to include virtual currency kiosks. It requires businesses operating these kiosks to obtain a money transmission license, sets disclosure requirements for customers using them, and clarifies that kiosks operate as delegates of licensed money transmitters. The bill directly affects businesses offering virtual currency services through kiosks in the state. Key provisions define "virtual currency kiosks" under money transmission regulations, establish a licensure start date for kiosks, and address conflicts between state and federal law on money transmission.

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.

Maddy summarySB 662 creates a pilot program to provide free colorectal cancer screening and treatment in West Virginia for "unserved populations" - individuals with inadequate access to care due to financial constraints. The program, administered by the Bureau for Public Health, awards grants to approved organizations (like clinics or hospitals) to deliver screenings, diagnostic colonoscopies, and treatment at no cost to patients. Covered services include pre-visit consultations, colonoscopy procedures, polyp removal, and pathology, with treatment initiated if cancer is detected. Organizations must meet quality standards, and the program requires annual reporting on metrics like screenings performed, costs, and outcomes to the Legislative Oversight Commission.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 43) designates February 17, 2026, as "Local Food and Farm Day" at the West Virginia Capitol. It commemorates West Virginia farmers and food entrepreneurs for their contributions to the state's agriculture, economy, and community health. The resolution specifically acknowledges their role in producing local food, supporting programs like SNAP Stretch, and fostering initiatives such as "Grow This!" and "Food is Medicine." It has no policy or funding impact - it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of the agricultural community's value.

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 summaryWest Virginia's SB 478, the Second Amendment Reaffirmation and Protection Act, prevents state and local officials from enforcing firearm restrictions that rely solely on federal laws later repealed or declared unconstitutional. The bill automatically makes such state or local provisions unenforceable once the federal law is invalidated, unless the state passes new independent laws. It also allows individuals to sue officials who knowingly enforce these invalidated federal rules for damages. The law directly affects state/local law enforcement and residents who might face enforcement actions based on outdated federal regulations.

Maddy summarySB 923, the "GRANITE Act," creates a legal cause of action for West Virginia residents and businesses in digital communication, blockchain, and internet services to sue foreign governments or international organizations that enforce censorship laws conflicting with U.S. or West Virginia constitutional protections. It allows lawsuits against foreign entities for imposing penalties (like fines or platform shutdowns) for speech protected under the First Amendment and West Virginia’s Constitution, shifting the burden of proof to the foreign entity to justify such laws. The bill prohibits West Virginia from recognizing or enforcing foreign judgments that compel censorship or criminalize protected U.S. speech, and it establishes civil penalties for violations. This directly affects West Virginia’s digital innovation sector by aiming to shield it from extraterritorial censorship efforts, such as those seen in the UK’s Online Safety Act enforcement against 4chan or Brazil’s court orders against X. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee (introduced February 12, 2026).