Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summarySB 106 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Homeland Security to provide up to $25,000 in physical border security materials (like razor wire, cameras, and concrete) to support Texas border operations. The bill requires coordination with Texas officials, including the Governor's office and Border Patrol, to determine the most effective use of these resources. It directly affects West Virginia's state agency and Texas border authorities, focusing on tangible equipment rather than personnel or policy changes. The legislation cites a "crisis" at the southern border, referencing nearly one million encounters since October 2023, but does not address broader immigration policy. This is a limited, state-to-state aid provision with a strict financial cap.

Maddy summarySB 18 would allow West Virginia county commissions to impose a tax on admission to public entertainment venues (like theaters, concerts, or amusement parks) for private profit. The tax rate cannot exceed 2% of the admission price (or 1 cent minimum), excludes state-regulated lotteries, and must be collected by sellers and added to the ticket price. County ordinances would need to outline how the tax is collected and paid to the county. This would directly affect businesses charging admission fees and counties seeking new revenue sources, but would not apply in cities already taxing such activities under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools in West Virginia to notify a minor's parent or guardian before dispensing contraceptives to students under 18. It applies directly to public schools and parents of minors receiving contraceptive services. The key provision mandates written parental notification prior to dispensing any FDA-approved contraceptive drug or device intended to prevent pregnancy. The bill also defines "contraceptive" as any FDA-approved method for preventing pregnancy. This is a procedural requirement focused on notification, not on restricting access to contraceptives.

Maddy summarySB 97, the West Virginia Chemical Abortion Prohibition Act, prohibits healthcare providers from prescribing or dispensing abortion drugs unless specific requirements are met. It requires a physical exam before the procedure, the provider’s presence during administration, a follow-up visit within seven days, and provision of a medical waste kit for disposal. Violations could result in fines up to $1,000 or up to three years in prison, though exceptions exist for life-saving procedures. The bill also mandates that drug manufacturers cover cleanup costs if abortion drugs are found in wastewater, and defines key terms like "chemical abortion" and "abortion drug" to clarify prohibited actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that wind power projects in West Virginia are not classified as pollution control facilities for tax purposes. Instead, wind turbines and their towers will be taxed as regular real property (subject to standard property taxes), ending prior tax treatment that treated them as pollution control facilities. The bill specifically defines the scope of taxable components, including turbine blades, generators, nacelles, towers, and foundations. This change directly affects wind energy developers and landowners by shifting their tax obligations from a special category to standard property tax rules.

Maddy summarySB 49 prohibits all state and local government entities, departments, or agencies from mandating vaccinations for any purpose. The bill adds a new legal provision (§16-3-4d) stating that no vaccination requirement can be enforced by governmental officials or entities covered under West Virginia law. This directly affects public health policies, school requirements, workplace rules, and other mandates administered by state or local governments. The law creates a clear legal barrier against government-imposed vaccination requirements but does not address vaccine recommendations or private sector policies.

Maddy summarySB 69 requires physicians in West Virginia to notify a minor's parents before prescribing contraceptives. It directly affects minors under 18 who have not graduated high school and their parents, as defined in the bill. The key provision mandates that doctors provide parental notification for any FDA-approved contraceptive prescribed to these minors. The bill does not restrict access to contraceptives but creates a notification requirement before a prescription is given.

Maddy summarySB 244, the "West Virginia Women's Bill of Rights," defines key terms like "woman," "man," and "sex" based solely on biological sex at birth (e.g., a woman is an adult human of the female sex). It requires state agencies, schools, and public entities to replace the word "gender" with "sex" in laws and data collection, and mandates that data on biological sex be used for public health, anti-discrimination compliance, and statistics. The bill permits single-sex facilities (like locker rooms, shelters, and sports teams) without violating anti-discrimination laws, citing biological differences as justification for separate environments. It also states there are only two sexes, excludes "gender identity" from sex definitions, and specifies that intersex individuals are not a third sex.

Maddy summarySB 17, the Fetal Heartbeat Act, bans most abortions in West Virginia once a fetal heartbeat is detected via ultrasound (typically around 6 weeks of pregnancy), affecting pregnant people seeking abortions and medical providers. The law applies only to intrauterine pregnancies and includes exceptions for medical emergencies that endanger a patient’s life or pose a serious risk of irreversible bodily harm. It defines "fetal heartbeat" as cardiac activity visible in the gestational sac and requires medical documentation of heartbeat detection. Violations could trigger criminal penalties or civil lawsuits, though the bill explicitly states it does not restrict existing laws beyond its specific provisions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 251 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to make their meetings fully accessible to the public. It mandates that meetings be broadcast live via internet on the board's website and that both audio and video recordings be available online. The bill also requires county boards to post detailed minutes within two business days, including each member's vote on every substantive decision, with approved minutes remaining online for at least one year. This applies to all regular and special meetings, except executive sessions, and allows meetings to continue briefly during minor technical interruptions in the live stream.