Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summarySB 890 amends West Virginia's auctioneer licensing laws to update regulations for licensed auctioneers and auction firms. It raises the required bond amount for auctioneers, mandates that fees be set by legislative rule, and extends the period an apprentice auctioneer may operate after a license expires. The bill also clarifies that complaint investigations and hearing procedures must follow specific steps, removes the licensing board's authority to screen applicants using records, and directs civil penalties to the Department of Agriculture. These changes directly affect licensed auctioneers, auction firms, and the Department of Agriculture's enforcement processes.

Maddy summarySB 707 increases payments by 25% for therapists and other contracted professionals providing in-person early intervention services to children with developmental delays through West Virginia's Birth-to-Three program. It directly affects non-state-employee therapists and professionals working under contract with the program. The bill amends the Birth-to-Three Fund provisions to require this higher payment rate for in-person services starting July 1, 2025. This is a concrete payment adjustment, not a change to program eligibility or service delivery methods.

Maddy summarySJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to at least $25,000 for qualifying homeowners. The amendment would affect homeowners aged 65 or older, or those who are permanently and totally disabled, who own and occupy their homes as primary residences. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would change the constitutional language governing homestead exemptions while allowing the Legislature to make further modifications to the exemption through regular legislation after January 1, 2027. The amendment is currently pending voter approval as a proposed constitutional change.

Maddy summarySB 690 allows West Virginia county commissions to increase pay for elected county officials - including county commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, assessors, and prosecutors - when property valuations rise significantly, justifying new duties. The bill requires two key steps: county auditors must certify improved fiscal health (including sufficient funds for salary increases and taxes), and officials must submit written requests for higher pay. It bases increases on property valuation changes, noting that higher valuations correlate with expanded responsibilities like public safety and economic development. The law ensures compliance with state constitutional limits on salary adjustments. This affects all counties and directly impacts the compensation of 12 specific elected county roles.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 27, 2025, as "Local Food and Farm Day" to honor West Virginia farmers and food entrepreneurs. It recognizes their contributions to the state's economy, community well-being, and food systems - including supporting programs like SNAP Stretch, which provided $3.3 million to farmers and rural grocers. The resolution has no new policy requirements; it simply observes the day to acknowledge agricultural efforts.

Maddy summarySB 570 requires state agencies to include a detailed economic impact statement when submitting proposed legislative rules to the Legislative Rule-Making Committee. The statement must analyze specific factors like regulatory costs, business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and compliance costs calculated at $60 per hour (adjusted for inflation). This bill directly affects state agencies that draft rules, mandating they assess economic impacts before submission. The Legislative Rule-Making Committee will then review these statements as part of its evaluation process. The law aims to ensure rules are economically transparent before adoption.

Maddy summarySB 705 requires the West Virginia State Board of Education to submit newly created or amended rules to the Legislature's Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee for review. The Legislature has 15 months to approve, amend, or reject each rule; if it does not act within that timeframe, the rule becomes effective automatically. This directly affects the State Board of Education (which must submit rules) and the Legislature (which must review them within the specified period). The bill adjusts existing processes to clarify that the Legislature retains ultimate authority over education rules, as established by state constitutional provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows hunters in West Virginia to use drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) or leashed dogs to track deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear that were mortally wounded but not yet killed during a hunt. It requires drone operators to hold a valid hunting license, mandates commercial drone tracking services to be licensed as outfitters/guides, and requires non-property-based drone operators to comply with FAA regulations. The state must publish an annual list of licensed outfitters/guides offering dog or drone tracking services by September 1 each year. The law applies directly to hunters, commercial service providers, and wildlife officials managing tracking activities.

Maddy summarySB 899 (West Virginia Senate Bill 899) requires carbon storage operators to protect coal and gas mineral rights when seeking permits for carbon capture projects. The bill mandates that permit applicants must verify if valuable minerals exist in the storage area and obtain written agreements with mineral owners to ensure projects won’t harm their interests. Operators must design storage to isolate mineral production from CO2 plumes and secure consent from at least 75% of mineral owners before permits can be issued. This directly affects coal/gas mineral owners, carbon storage companies, and the state’s regulatory secretary, adding specific consent and design requirements to carbon storage permits under West Virginia law.

Maddy summarySB 737 creates a pilot program to train students at West Virginia career/technical schools, high schools, or community colleges to repair farm equipment locally. It allows schools to partner with farm equipment businesses (like manufacturers or dealers) to develop training programs, with the Agriculture Commissioner authorizing up to five statewide pilot programs. The bill prohibits requiring businesses to share proprietary tools or software to participate and mandates collaboration between schools, businesses, and the Agriculture Commissioner to create implementation plans. The goal is to provide farmers with more accessible, local repair options while building a trained workforce, without affecting warranty agreements or dealership operations.