Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the distribution or prescription of "abortifacients" (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It directly affects licensed medical professionals (like doctors and pharmacists) and anyone distributing such drugs, with violations carrying felony penalties (3-10 years imprisonment) for non-professionals and potential license revocation for medical providers. Key provisions include banning the mailing, sale, or dissemination of abortifacients without a valid prescription, requiring medical professionals to attest to compliance, and creating a civil lawsuit option for affected parties. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies - defined as situations where an abortion is necessary to prevent serious risk of death or life-threatening impairment to the patient.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 36) formally recognizes the third week of July as "Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week" in West Virginia. It honors probation officers (who supervise over 12,000 adults and juveniles), parole officers (who supervise over 2,900 offenders), and pretrial supervision professionals for their work in public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community protection. The resolution has no policy or funding changes - it is a symbolic gesture to increase public awareness of these professionals' contributions and challenges. It was unanimously adopted by the Senate on February 13, 2026.
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Act, prevents state and local officials from enforcing firearm restrictions that rely solely on federal laws later repealed or declared unconstitutional.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 The law directly affects state/local law enforcement and residents who might face enforcement actions based on outdated federal regulations.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 summarySB 926, introduced in the West Virginia Senate on February 12, 2026, proposes to eliminate state capital gains tax on the sale or exchange of certain precious metal bullion. The bill would amend West Virginia's tax code to exclude gains from selling gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion from taxable adjusted gross income. This change would directly affect West Virginia residents who sell qualifying precious metals, reducing their state tax liability on those transactions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee and has not yet been enacted into law.
Maddy summarySB 930 amends West Virginia law to increase the amount of pension benefits subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments for municipal police, firefighters, and employees of waterworks, sewage, and combined water/sewage systems. The bill raises the threshold for calculating these adjustments from $15,000 to $45,000 of an annual pension benefit, meaning a larger portion of their retirement income will now be tied to inflation. This change applies to existing retirees and future beneficiaries under the pension system, without altering the 4% annual cap on adjustments or the two-year waiting period for new retirees. The policy directly affects these municipal workers by potentially increasing their annual pension increases based on inflation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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).
Maddy summaryThis bill increases compensation rates for panel attorneys who provide court-appointed legal services to eligible clients in West Virginia. It directly affects public defense attorneys by requiring updated payment rates and mandating detailed time-tracking records (in tenths of hours) for case work. Key provisions include setting 45-day payment timelines after voucher submission, establishing clear appeal processes for rejected or reduced payments, and requiring Public Defender Services to annually report legal services data to oversight bodies like the Legislative Oversight Commission and Supreme Court. The bill also adds new requirements for electronic voucher processing and court review of payment disputes.
Maddy summarySB 30 (West Virginia) removes the requirement for 18- to 20-year-olds to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The bill repeals prior restrictions that mandated permits for this age group and explicitly states that individuals aged 18-20 may carry concealed deadly weapons without a license, except when prohibited by other laws. Key exceptions remain in place, such as for carrying on personal property, transporting unloaded firearms from purchase to home, or during lawful hunting. The law clarifies that 18-20-year-olds are not subject to the "carrying without a license" crime under specific circumstances. This directly affects young adults in West Virginia who wish to carry concealed weapons without state-issued permits.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes a 10-absence limit for students participating in approved extracurricular and educational activities, such as SkillsUSA, FBLA, 4-H, or FFA programs. To qualify, activities must be pre-approved by a school principal, have parental consent, and be verified as educational by a teacher or sponsor. Students may miss school for these activities without the absence counting toward the yearly 10-absence cap, though they must still make up missed work without grade penalties. It directly affects students in recognized programs, parents, and school administrators who manage attendance policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a structured support system for West Virginia youth aging out of foster care (typically 18-21 years old). It requires the Department of Human Services to develop a three-phase living arrangement system (supervised independent living, scattered-site housing, and supportive independent living) plus mandatory life skills training in housing, employment, and education. Funding will use per diem rates designed to maximize federal reimbursement, include annual cost-of-living adjustments, and provide monthly stipends to youth for basic living costs. The system must incorporate input from former foster youth, providers, and community partners, with annual reporting on outcomes like housing stability and employment.