Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summarySB 516 provides additional state funding to West Virginia school districts for students attending "extremely remote schools," defined as schools in counties with a student population density below five students per square mile. The bill increases the funding calculation by counting each student in such schools as 2.5 students instead of one for state aid purposes. County school boards receiving this extra funding are prohibited from closing an extremely remote school during the fiscal year they receive the aid. The bill also requires school districts to submit specific documentation and meet reporting requirements to qualify for the additional funding.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 28 designates March 14, 2025, as West Virginia State University Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution recognizes the university’s history as a public historically Black college (HBCU) founded in 1891, its role as a land-grant institution, and its contributions to education and economic development across West Virginia. As a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes, it serves only to formally acknowledge the university’s legacy and impact on the state.

Maddy summarySB 21 requires operators of wind power projects in West Virginia to pay a wildlife impact fee if their wind turbines injure or kill protected birds (like eagles, hawks, and bats) or bats. The fee, paid to the Division of Natural Resources, funds the Wildlife Endowment Fund for conservation efforts such as habitat management and education. The bill explicitly states that such wildlife injuries or deaths do not constitute criminal violations under state law. It defines "wind turbine and tower and related components" broadly to cover all parts of wind projects posing collision risks to wildlife.

Maddy summarySB 521 changes how judicial and school board elections are conducted in West Virginia. It requires partisan ballots for judicial offices (including Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges, family court judges, and magistrates), meaning candidates' party affiliations will be listed on the ballot. For county school board elections, the bill mandates nonpartisan ballots, so party affiliations will not be included. These changes affect how ballots are printed and displayed for these specific elections, as outlined in amended sections of the West Virginia election code.

Maddy summarySB 618 changes how farm property is valued for West Virginia property taxes, allowing reduced tax assessments for qualifying farmland. It requires the Tax Commissioner to appraise farm property based on its value for farming use (considering expected rental income) rather than its potential non-farming value. This applies to farmers and corporate landowners who annually produce at least $20,000 in agricultural products, regardless of whether farming is their primary business. The bill directly affects property owners who meet this threshold, potentially lowering their tax burden by aligning assessments with agricultural productivity.

Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a bill) that would eliminate West Virginia's tax on business inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for sale or manufacturing. This change would directly affect businesses (reducing their tax burden) and local governments (counties, municipalities, school districts), which would lose revenue from this tax. The amendment requires the state legislature to provide alternative funding to replace lost revenue for impacted communities, ensuring no net fiscal harm to local governments. It must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 614 would allow West Virginia pharmacists to sell Ivermectin for human use without a prescription once the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it for over-the-counter sale. The bill requires pharmacists to provide the FDA-approved patient information sheet at the time of sale and eliminates the need for a pharmacist consultation. It also protects pharmacists and healthcare providers from liability or disciplinary action for dispensing or recommending Ivermectin under these conditions, provided they act in good faith and follow applicable laws. This change would directly affect patients seeking Ivermectin and pharmacists operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits West Virginia state agencies, local governments, and their employees from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any federal law, rule, or regulation related to coal, oil, gas, timber, or other extractive resources - unless that same federal requirement already exists under West Virginia law. It also bans the use of state funds or assets to support such federal enforcement efforts. The Attorney General must challenge federal actions deemed to violate state rights under the Tenth Amendment and publish guidance for state agencies on resisting federal mandates. The law directly affects state law enforcement, natural resource agencies, and local governments by restricting their ability to cooperate with federal environmental or resource regulations not mirrored in state law.

Maddy summarySB 610 would exempt overtime pay earned under West Virginia's existing overtime law from state personal income tax. Specifically, it adds a provision to the tax code stating that overtime compensation paid in accordance with §21-5C-3 (the state's overtime requirements) is not subject to income tax. This change directly affects workers who receive legally mandated overtime pay from their employers. The bill does not alter overtime work rules but changes how that specific income is taxed. It applies only to overtime covered by current state law, not all overtime earnings.