Sen. Chris Rose

Maddy summarySB 244 clarifies that property taxes for oil or gas wells must be paid to the county where the property being drawn from is located, not where the well's seat is situated. This directly affects property owners and local governments in counties with cross-county well operations, such as when a well is in County A but serves property in County B. The key provision requires tax payments to follow the property's location, resolving jurisdictional confusion about where taxes should be collected. The bill does not change tax rates or create new obligations, only clarifying existing payment requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects a portion of West Virginia's coal severance tax to the specific counties where coal is mined. Starting in 2012, it gradually increases the share sent to coal-producing counties (from 1% to 5% of the tax), with an annual cap of $20 million. Counties must use these funds exclusively for economic development or infrastructure projects like roads, broadband, mine reclamation, or water systems - barring personal services or bond costs. It ensures local communities directly benefit from coal extracted within their borders.

Maddy summarySB 21 prohibits West Virginia school districts and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission from banning students, coaches, or athletic trainers from participating in non-school athletic activities as a condition of being on a school sports team. The law explicitly states that such restrictions are arbitrary and not rationally related to a state purpose. It directly affects student-athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers in public schools by allowing them to join outside teams or events without losing their school team eligibility. This removes a common barrier that previously forced students to choose between school sports and non-school athletic opportunities.

Maddy summarySB 24 creates the West Virginia Intrastate Energy Use Act, clarifying that environmental regulations for coal, oil, and natural gas produced and consumed entirely within West Virginia fall under the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), not the federal EPA. It requires coal mines, oil wells, and gas wells operating for in-state use to obtain operational permits from the WVDEP before commencing activities, asserting that EPA lacks authority to deny such permits for resources not entering interstate commerce. The bill applies to all in-state energy production and power generation facilities using these resources, while explicitly stating it does not override other state or federal environmental laws. This legislation aims to define state regulatory authority for intrastate energy activities based on constitutional principles of state sovereignty.

Maddy summarySB 490 prohibits the use of ranked-choice voting in all West Virginia elections, including local, state, and federal races. The law directly affects voters and election officials by banning this voting method statewide, replacing it with traditional single-choice voting. It amends election law to explicitly prohibit ranked-choice voting procedures, effective August 8, 2025, after being signed by the governor on March 18, 2025. This change applies to all elections held under West Virginia law moving forward.

Maddy summarySB 526, now law as Chapter 197 of the 2025 Regular Session, grants pharmacists the authority to prescribe certain medications directly to patients. It specifically allows pharmacists to prescribe vaccines, birth control, and smoking cessation treatments without a physician's order. This expands patient access to these common healthcare services by enabling pharmacists to provide prescriptions within defined clinical protocols. The law directly affects patients seeking these specific treatments and pharmacists who can now offer this service under state guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 1 requires utility companies and local governments to coordinate utility work (like installing pipes or wires) with road paving projects. This directly affects utility providers and municipalities managing road construction. The law mandates that these entities hold joint planning meetings before starting work to avoid repeated road excavations. As a result, it reduces disruptions like multiple road cuts in the same area and saves public funds. The bill became law on April 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 464 creates a special license plate design for recipients of the Medal of Valor, an award given to law enforcement and emergency personnel for acts of heroism. The bill establishes a distinct plate with "Medal of Valor" wording, allowing eligible recipients to display it on their vehicles. This change directly affects individuals who have been honored with the Medal of Valor by their agency or state. The legislation was signed into law on April 24, 2025, and became Chapter 176 of the 2025 regular session acts.

Maddy summarySB 275 removes the requirement that school cooks and custodians in public schools must possess a high school diploma or equivalent credential. This change directly affects school support staff hiring, allowing districts to hire based on skills and experience rather than educational qualifications. The law updates state hiring standards for these roles, effective as of its enactment on April 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 10 exempts specific meat processing activities from state sales tax, directly affecting meat processors who handle certain types of meat (like grinding or curing). The bill removes the tax requirement for these defined processes, making them tax-free under current law. This is a procedural tax exemption change with no new fees or requirements for businesses.