Sen. Charles Clements

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Resolution (SR 7), not a bill with policy changes. It expresses the West Virginia Senate's support for H.R. 5966, a federal bill titled the "Ohio River Restoration Program Act." The resolution states that West Virginia (which has 277 miles of the Ohio River shoreline) will benefit from the proposed federal program. The resolution does not create any new laws or programs itself; it merely formally proposes approval of the federal H.R. 5966 bill, which aims to improve water quality, restore habitats, and enhance recreation along the Ohio River Basin. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the West Virginia Senate on January 20, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 516 sets a new state minimum salary of $50,000 for all West Virginia public school teachers beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, replacing the previous minimum schedule. It also provides a $2,000 annual base salary increase for every teacher and an additional $1,200 annual increase specifically for teachers providing math instruction or special education services. The bill amends the state salary schedule to reflect these changes, ensuring all teachers meet the new $50,000 minimum regardless of experience level or degree. This policy directly affects every public school teacher in West Virginia, with the changes taking effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies (lessees) that pay mineral royalty payments (e.g., for coal, oil, or gas) to nonresident owners (lessors) to withhold West Virginia income tax from those payments. Lessees must withhold tax on annual payments exceeding $1,000, remit the withheld amount to the state, and provide annual statements to the nonresident lessors. Nonresident owners will be credited for the withheld tax against their state tax liability and can receive refunds for overpayments. The law aims to ensure nonresident mineral rights owners pay taxes on income earned from West Virginia resources, closing a revenue gap identified by the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 242 requires West Virginia's Division of Labor to create separate licensing rules for plumbers working in residential homes versus commercial buildings. The bill amends state law to mandate that the Commissioner of Labor propose distinct rules covering licensing standards, examinations, and classifications for these two work settings. This change would replace the current unified system with two separate regulatory frameworks. The bill does not alter existing licensing requirements but specifies that future rules must differentiate between residential and commercial plumbing work. The legislation is currently in the early stages of the legislative process.

Maddy summarySB 245 requires oil and gas operators to file a detailed "Declaration of Pooled Unit" with county clerks within 60 days of receiving a drilling permit. This declaration must include specific information about well locations, parcel boundaries, lease details, and acreage calculations for all wells in a pooled unit. It also mandates additional filings when wellbores cross unit boundaries and gives lessors or royalty owners 60 days to request operator compliance, with the option to pursue legal action if requirements aren't met. The bill directly affects operators, lessors (landowners leasing mineral rights), and royalty owners by increasing transparency around pooled drilling operations.

Maddy summarySB 246 establishes a minimum net enrollment of 1,200 students for calculating school funding in West Virginia counties. It directly affects all county school districts, particularly those with low enrollment, by requiring their net enrollment (counting students in grades K-12, special education, and specific programs) to be adjusted upward for funding calculations if below 1,200. The bill uses a specific formula to determine the adjusted enrollment, including a 10% increase and a cap at 1,400, while exempting counties from penalties for staffing ratios in the 2026-2027 school year due to this adjustment. This change ensures smaller counties receive a baseline level of state aid based on enrollment.

Maddy summarySB 247 changes reimbursement rules for law-enforcement training costs in West Virginia. If an employee leaves one law-enforcement agency to join another within the state, the new agency must reimburse the original agency for training expenses (including wages, benefits, tuition, and costs) over two years. The original agency may also require employees to sign written agreements before training, obligating them to repay a portion of costs if they leave within one year of completing training. This applies to all law-enforcement employees moving between agencies in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies pretrial release rules for misdemeanor defendants in West Virginia. It requires release on personal recognizance (without bail) for most misdemeanors unless charges involve violence, harm to minors, deadly weapons, specific drug offenses, sexual abuse, serious traffic violations, or property crimes exceeding $250 in value. The bill prohibits cash-only or property-only bail, mandates that personal recognizance bonds include an unsecured monetary amount, and bars releasing felony defendants on their own recognizance at initial appearance. Judicial officers must set the least restrictive conditions necessary to ensure court appearance while protecting public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to require all legal actions or injunctions concerning the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to be filed exclusively in Wood County or Kanawha County courts. It directly affects anyone filing lawsuits against WVSSAC, such as schools, students, or organizations challenging its rules or decisions. The key provision changes the venue for these cases, mandating that they be heard in one of two specific counties rather than elsewhere in the state. This is a procedural change with no impact on WVSSAC's operational rules or student eligibility policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 31, provides an enhanced retirement benefit for specific West Virginia public retirees. It directly affects retirees over age 77 who retired before June 30, 2020, and have received retirement payments for at least 12 years. The key provision adds a monthly supplement equal to 103% of the retiree's annual retirement payment at age 65, calculated as a compounded amount. This supplement is in addition to existing retirement benefits under the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement Act. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or funding mechanisms beyond this specific payment adjustment.