Sen. Darren Thorne

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies West Virginia's Right to Farm Act to specifically protect residential beekeeping operations, ensuring honey beekeeping on private property is recognized as a permitted agricultural activity. It creates special vehicle registration plates for organizations promoting pollinators, with fees collected from these plates ($25 initial fee, $15 annual) deposited into the State Road Fund to fund highway beautification projects that support pollinator habitats. The bill also updates definitions to include "tropilaelaps mites" as a honey bee pest under the Apiary Act. These changes directly affect beekeepers, pollinator conservation groups, and state highway maintenance programs, while reinforcing the state's focus on protecting pollinators critical to agriculture.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 88 defines community air monitoring programs as systems run by community groups (not government agencies or polluters) to collect air quality data. It prohibits the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection from using this data for fines, enforcement actions, permit decisions, or regulatory rulemaking under the Clean Air Act. The bill requires that any data offered for investigation must meet scientific standards, including proper equipment calibration and documentation. It ensures community-collected air quality data cannot directly impact regulatory actions against polluting facilities.

Maddy summarySB 81 allows West Virginia State Tax Division investigators to carry concealed firearms while performing official duties, solely for self-defense or protecting others. To qualify, investigators must obtain Tax Commissioner approval, hold a valid concealed handgun license, complete firearms training equivalent to law enforcement standards, and pass annual requalification. The bill also shields the state and its employees from personal liability when investigators act in good faith during official duties. This policy change directly affects tax investigators conducting field work, not the general public. The measure focuses on safety protocols for a specific state workforce, not broader gun policy.

Maddy summarySB 171 creates the West Virginia Released Time Education Act, allowing students to be excused from school for religious instruction courses. School districts must adopt policies permitting excusal for up to five hours weekly (with parental written consent), requiring sponsoring religious entities to handle transportation, liability, and attendance records without using school funds. Schools must award academic credit for these courses based solely on secular criteria like class hours, syllabus content, and instructor qualifications - excluding religious content. The bill specifies that excused time counts toward school attendance for funding and attendance requirements, and it provides legal remedies for violations.

Maddy summarySB 184 prohibits camping in public places like sidewalks, streets, parks, or under bridges without permission from the managing authority, except for recreation or emergency shelter during disasters. It defines "camp" as temporarily residing with shelter (including tents or makeshift structures) and sets penalties for violations as a misdemeanor, with fines of $100-$1,000, community service, or for a first offense, a free one-way bus ticket to one of six major cities. Officers must attempt to provide alternatives - such as information on services - before issuing a citation, unless an immediate safety threat exists. The bill does not override stricter local ordinances on public camping.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 172 would create a state-issued digital currency backed by physical gold stored in the West Virginia Bullion Depository. Residents could purchase units of this currency, with each unit representing a specific fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust. The currency can be redeemed either for cash (based on current gold value) or for physical gold, with fees applied to transactions. All funds from purchases and gold sales would be held in a dedicated trust fund, separate from regular state appropriations, managed by the State Treasurer.

Maddy summarySB 37 clarifies existing rules for obtaining concealed carry permits in West Virginia, affecting applicants seeking permits for pistols or revolvers. It specifies that permits are limited to these weapons, requires applicants to verify citizenship/residency, age (21+), and absence of certain criminal convictions or mental health restrictions, and mandates a national background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The bill also details fee structures ($50 for residents, $100 for non-residents) and clarifies that $25 of the fee funds the State Police while $25 goes to a concealed weapons license administration fund. It does not create new restrictions but makes the application process and eligibility criteria clearer.

Maddy summarySB 18 protects West Virginia employees who use reasonable force (including deadly force under specific conditions) to defend themselves or others during an attack at work. The bill explicitly prohibits employers from terminating or taking adverse employment action against an employee solely for using such force, provided the employee reasonably believed they or others faced imminent danger of death or serious harm. This applies when the attack is by someone who is not a co-worker or fellow employee, such as an intruder. The law does not change the standards for justified self-defense but adds a clear employment protection to prevent retaliation for lawful defensive actions in the workplace.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 80 requires all new West Virginia EBT cards issued after June 1, 2026, to include a photograph of the cardholder. This applies directly to individuals receiving food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill mandates this photo requirement to help prevent fraud by verifying cardholder identity, as stated in the bill's purpose. It does not change eligibility rules but adds a visual authentication step for EBT cardholders.

Maddy summarySB 183 amends West Virginia law to remove bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from exemptions that previously protected them from criminal prosecution when distributing or displaying obscene material to minors. Under the current law, these entities were exempt if material was part of curriculum (schools), displayed with a parent present (libraries/museums), or met other specific conditions. The bill eliminates these specific exemptions, meaning schools, libraries, and museums would no longer automatically qualify for protection under this provision. This change would directly affect those institutions by subjecting them to the same criminal liability as other entities distributing obscene material to minors, unless they meet other existing exemptions (e.g., reasonable age verification). The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee after being introduced on January 14, 2026.