Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 15) is a formal statement opposing China's misuse of UN Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. It clarifies that the resolution's purpose was solely to determine China's UN representation, not Taiwan's political status, and rejects China's "One China Principle" as conflated with the UN resolution. The resolution calls on the UN to stop using Resolution 2758 to deny Taiwan participation in UN bodies and reaffirms that the U.S. "one China policy" does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. It directly affects Taiwan's ability to engage with international institutions, where it has been excluded since 1971 despite its population of 23.5 million.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits law enforcement officers from placing surveillance or game cameras on "private land" (defined as posted, cultivated, or fenced property) without the owner's consent or a search warrant. It directly affects landowners on such properties by requiring police to obtain permission or a warrant before installing cameras. The exception allows cameras in areas where officers lawfully stand and face public view (e.g., a public sidewalk facing a yard). The bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee after being introduced on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 841 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting, facilitating, or funding any discussions, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. The bill bans state funds for gender transition treatments (like hormone therapy or puberty blockers), restricts school materials discussing gender identity, and prohibits staff from engaging in related training or curriculum. Violations could result in employee termination, funding suspension, or lawsuits by West Virginia residents. This directly affects state-funded institutions and their educational, medical, and administrative activities.

Maddy summarySB 812 proposes to define "terrorist acts" and "terrorist groups" more precisely in West Virginia law, creating new felony offenses for committing such acts or being a member of a designated group. The bill mandates strict sentencing without probation or suspension for terrorism convictions, requires the Attorney General to identify terrorist entities, and mandates restitution for victims' economic harm (including lost wages and business shutdown costs). It specifically targets acts intended to intimidate civilians, influence government policy, or retaliate against government actions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee after its March 19, 2025, introduction.

Maddy summarySB 806 reorganizes West Virginia's bail statutes to clarify and update procedures for setting bail and pretrial release. It requires judicial officers to consider specific factors like offense severity, defendant’s criminal history, and health when determining bail, and mandates release on recognizance (without money deposit) for certain misdemeanors unless there’s good cause to deny it. The bill sets a maximum cash bail amount for misdemeanors, adds requirements for surety bonds (including net worth rules), and prohibits judges from suggesting relatives as sureties. These changes directly affect defendants facing criminal charges, courts, and bail bond providers by standardizing bail decisions and expanding pretrial release options for non-violent offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt private passenger automobiles that are 25 years old or older from West Virginia's personal property tax. It amends state tax code §11-3-9 to add these older vehicles to the list of property types already excluded from taxation. The change would directly affect owners of vintage and classic cars who currently pay this tax on their vehicles. The policy removes a specific tax burden for this category of personal property without altering other tax provisions.

Maddy summarySB 804 gives public charter schools direct control over all extracurricular activities for their students, replacing county board oversight. It allows charter schools to optionally delegate athletic and band activities to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), which would now be a state agency managing rules for competitive balance (including transfer counts) and handling disputes through its executive director. The bill removes a written permission requirement for homeschoolers, Hope Scholarship participants, and microschool students to join school activities, while modifying fees they pay. It also changes commission membership to include athletic directors (or their representatives) from schools that delegate authority, and shifts all commission funds to public funds.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 18, 2025, as "West Virginia Homeschool Day" at the state legislature. It recognizes homeschooling families, students, and educators for their contributions to education, citing studies about academic achievement and citizenship. The resolution has no binding policy impact - it is purely a commemorative gesture, directing the Senate Clerk to send a copy to the West Virginia Home Educator’s Association. It does not alter education laws, funding, or requirements for homeschooling families.

Maddy summarySB 678, the "Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act of 2025," directs West Virginia's Department of Economic Development to identify suitable sites for coal-fired electricity generation and coke production facilities. The bill aims to streamline state regulations and reduce delays for projects using West Virginia coal, specifically targeting sites near coal deposits, transmission infrastructure, and steel manufacturing facilities. It requires agencies to review and simplify permitting processes to support coal-based electricity and steel production, which the bill states will boost economic development and stabilize electricity prices. The legislation directly affects coal producers, steel manufacturers, and local communities near proposed facilities.

Maddy summarySB 796 requires all voter identification documents presented at polling places in West Virginia to include a photograph, with exceptions for Medicare and Social Security cards. The bill specifies that state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards without "NV" markings (indicating non-citizens) are acceptable, but non-citizen IDs marked "NV" are not valid for voting unless accompanied by proof of naturalization. This change affects voters who must show ID at polls and poll workers who verify identification, directly impacting how voter ID is validated during elections.