Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summarySenate Bill 23 (SB 23) clarifies that wind power projects in West Virginia are not classified as "pollution control facilities" for tax purposes and instead must be taxed as real property. This change directly affects wind energy developers and local tax assessors, as it removes the previous allowance for wind turbines and towers to be treated as personal property with reduced valuation. The bill specifies that wind turbines and their towers (including foundations) will be taxed as real property if permanently affixed to the ground, ending prior tax treatment that allowed them to be considered pollution control facilities. This adjustment aligns wind power projects with standard real property taxation, eliminating a prior distinction that impacted how these facilities were valued for local taxes.

Maddy summarySB 961 requires West Virginia executive agencies with rule-making authority to identify at least two existing regulations for elimination whenever they propose a new regulation. This rule-making policy amendment (amending Code §29A-3-20) directly affects all state agencies that create or maintain regulations. Key provisions include mandating agencies to review state rules against federal counterparts, provide public comment periods, and submit reports to legislative committees about stringent rules. The bill aims to reduce regulatory burden by ensuring new rules are balanced with the removal of older ones.

Maddy summarySB 549 would increase the daily payment for jurors in West Virginia from a current range of $15 to $40 per day to a new range of $40 to $100 per day. This change applies to both trial jurors (petit jurors) and grand jurors serving on court cases. The bill replaces the previous minimum of $15 with a new minimum of $40 and raises the maximum from $40 to $100. The reimbursement remains determined by the court and paid from the state treasury, but ensures jurors receive at least $40 per day.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia county school boards to obtain voter approval before closing or consolidating schools, except when a prior construction bond issue already included those schools in its scope. It mandates a public hearing process, including written impact statements detailing effects on student transportation, school finances, enrollment capacity, and staff, and requires the board to consider input from school improvement councils. The countywide referendum must be held during a regular election or special election, and the board cannot proceed unless a majority of voters approve the closure or consolidation. This adds a direct voter check on significant school restructuring decisions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 32) expresses the West Virginia Senate's commitment to protecting coal-dependent communities and energy infrastructure. It specifically requires coal-fired power plants to operate at a minimum 69% annual capacity factor to maintain grid reliability and protect over 10,000 coal jobs, while opposing actions that threaten mine closures or job losses. The resolution also pledges to prioritize local coal jobs over "out-of-state contracting" and prevent ratepayers from bearing higher costs due to reduced coal generation. As a non-binding resolution (adopted February 18, 2026), it does not create new law but formally commits the Senate to supporting coal through policy advocacy and oversight.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 43) designates February 17, 2026, as "Local Food and Farm Day" at the West Virginia Capitol. It commemorates West Virginia farmers and food entrepreneurs for their contributions to the state's agriculture, economy, and community health. The resolution specifically acknowledges their role in producing local food, supporting programs like SNAP Stretch, and fostering initiatives such as "Grow This!" and "Food is Medicine." It has no policy or funding impact - it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of the agricultural community's value.

Maddy summarySR 42 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Walter Dolph Helmick, a former West Virginia state legislator and public servant. It memorializes his life and career, noting his service as a coal miner, teacher, businessman, Mason, West Virginia House of Delegates member, Senate member (1989-2013), and Commissioner of Agriculture. The resolution formally recognizes his contributions to West Virginia and extends condolences to his family following his death in 2025. As a non-binding memorial resolution, it has no policy impact or effect on legislation.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 478, the Second Amendment Reaffirmation and Protection Act, prevents state and local officials from enforcing firearm restrictions that rely solely on federal laws later repealed or declared unconstitutional. The bill automatically makes such state or local provisions unenforceable once the federal law is invalidated, unless the state passes new independent laws. It also allows individuals to sue officials who knowingly enforce these invalidated federal rules for damages. The law directly affects state/local law enforcement and residents who might face enforcement actions based on outdated federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for West Virginia manufacturers that transform locally harvested wood into finished "value-added" products like plywood, wood pellets, or engineered lumber. It provides tiered credits ($1.25-$3 per ton) based on the volume of West Virginia-sourced wood processed, with higher rates for new facilities or expansions ($2.50-$6 per ton) for five years. To qualify, manufacturers must meet a "minimum transformation standard" (e.g., altering wood’s structure), avoid basic handling like debarking, and self-report production data. Credits are capped at $1.25 million annually per facility and apply to corporate or personal income tax. The law aims to incentivize local processing of forest resources while preventing credits for raw log handling.

Maddy summarySB 923, the "GRANITE Act," creates a legal cause of action for West Virginia residents and businesses in digital communication, blockchain, and internet services to sue foreign governments or international organizations that enforce censorship laws conflicting with U.S. or West Virginia constitutional protections. It allows lawsuits against foreign entities for imposing penalties (like fines or platform shutdowns) for speech protected under the First Amendment and West Virginia’s Constitution, shifting the burden of proof to the foreign entity to justify such laws. The bill prohibits West Virginia from recognizing or enforcing foreign judgments that compel censorship or criminalize protected U.S. speech, and it establishes civil penalties for violations. This directly affects West Virginia’s digital innovation sector by aiming to shield it from extraterritorial censorship efforts, such as those seen in the UK’s Online Safety Act enforcement against 4chan or Brazil’s court orders against X. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee (introduced February 12, 2026).