Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summarySB 581 modifies school attendance policies to include student participation in 4-H activities as valid school attendance. It directly affects students enrolled in 4-H programs and school districts that must now count such participation toward attendance requirements. The key provision allows schools to recognize 4-H meetings and activities as equivalent to in-person classroom time for attendance purposes. This law, approved by the Governor on April 24, 2025, and enacted as Chapter 86 of the 2025 Regular Session, creates a concrete policy change for student attendance tracking.

Maddy summarySB 8 expands safe surrender options for newborns by allowing parents to leave infants safely at additional locations like hospitals, fire stations, or designated facilities, and through new surrender devices (e.g., secure drop boxes). It directly affects parents seeking to surrender newborns without legal repercussions. The law adds specific sites and devices to existing safe surrender protocols, ensuring more accessible and anonymous options. Signed into law by the governor on March 26, 2025, it became effective August 8, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 496 changes the state's legal definition of "massage therapy" by removing reflexology and energy-based practices (like Reiki) from the category. This affects practitioners who previously provided these services under massage therapy licenses, requiring them to operate under separate licensing frameworks. The bill amends the state licensing code to clarify that these practices are no longer considered massage therapy. It became law after the governor signed it on April 24, 2025, and took effect on August 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 75 redirects $9 million annually from the state's excess lottery fund to the Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund for racetrack upgrades. It suspends all other planned distributions from the lottery fund (reducing them by 100%) for fiscal years starting July 1, 2014, and beyond, instead directing those funds to the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund. The bill specifies that debt payments from this fund must be made first, followed by pro-rata payments for other mandated distributions. It also includes provisions allowing the Governor to redirect lottery revenues to the General Revenue Fund under specific budget shortfall conditions. This bill directly affects how lottery revenue is allocated between racetracks, state debt obligations, and other state programs.

Maddy summarySB 299 prohibits medical professionals in West Virginia from prescribing or dispensing "gender altering medication" (including puberty blockers and supraphysiologic hormone therapy) to patients under 18 years old. This directly affects doctors, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses who provide care to minors. The bill requires telehealth regulations to include this prohibition and mandates that violations result in revocation of professional licenses. It amends existing health codes to define these prohibited practices and establishes enforcement through the Attorney General. The law takes effect July 11, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 573 prohibits local governments from banning or restricting the sale, purchase, or use of motor vehicles based on their power source (such as electric, hybrid, or gasoline). This directly affects vehicle buyers, sellers, and local governments that previously imposed such restrictions. The bill establishes a statewide standard, preventing cities or counties from enacting ordinances that target specific vehicle types. It took effect immediately upon the Governor's approval on April 24, 2025, as Chapter 232 of the 2025 Regular Session laws.

Maddy summarySB 270 declares that the sale and manufacture of firearms are essential businesses during any declared emergency. This directly affects firearm dealers, manufacturers, and distributors, ensuring they can continue operating when other non-essential businesses may be required to close. The bill requires emergency orders issued by the governor or local authorities to explicitly include firearm businesses as essential, preventing them from being shut down during crises like natural disasters or public health emergencies. It became law on April 25, 2025, as Chapter 241 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summarySB 617 defines "gang" as any group of three or more people engaging in specific crimes, and creates new criminal penalties for gang membership and recruitment. It makes joining a gang or assisting in gang-related crimes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $25,000 fine, separate from the underlying crimes. The bill also adds penalties for intimidating witnesses in gang-related cases, with up to 10 years in prison. This law directly affects individuals who join gangs or recruit others, targeting ongoing criminal activity under West Virginia's Anti-Organized Criminal Enterprise Act.

Maddy summarySB 722 creates a tax credit program for West Virginia short line railroads (Class II or III railroads or rail siding owners) to fund infrastructure improvements. Eligible companies can claim a 50% tax credit for qualified maintenance costs (capped at $5,000 per mile of track) or new infrastructure projects (capped at $2 million per project or $5 million annually). Credits can be used against state taxes, carried forward for up to five years, or transferred to other taxpayers. The bill directly affects rail operators in West Virginia seeking to modernize tracks, sidings, or safety infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 18) recognizes the West Virginia Legislature's intent to create the "West Virginia Coal Renaissance Act" but does not enact new law. It directs state agencies (like the Department of Commerce and Public Service Commission) to develop strategies for increasing coal usage in state power plants, including optimizing plant operations, preventing premature closures, and supporting coal production. The resolution specifically targets coal-fired electric utilities and plants, aiming to reverse years of declining coal use by aligning state policy with federal energy priorities under the Trump administration. It focuses on planning and coordination (e.g., quarterly progress reports) rather than mandating immediate policy changes.