Sen. Chris Rose

Maddy summarySB 570 requires state agencies to include a detailed economic impact statement when submitting proposed legislative rules to the Legislative Rule-Making Committee. The statement must analyze specific factors like regulatory costs, business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and compliance costs calculated at $60 per hour (adjusted for inflation). This bill directly affects state agencies that draft rules, mandating they assess economic impacts before submission. The Legislative Rule-Making Committee will then review these statements as part of its evaluation process. The law aims to ensure rules are economically transparent before adoption.

Maddy summarySB 839 requires the West Virginia Division of Labor to propose separate licensing rules for plumbers who work in residential homes versus commercial buildings. The bill amends existing law to mandate distinct standards, examinations, and fees for each work setting, replacing the current unified licensing approach. This change affects how the Division of Labor administers licensing but does not alter the basic requirements for plumbers. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on administrative rule-making rather than changing plumbing work practices.

Maddy summarySB 865 requires that the "best interests of the child" be the paramount consideration in all decisions made by West Virginia’s Department of Human Services, courts, appointed guardians ad litem, and state-contracted vendors serving children. It mandates a comprehensive assessment using 13 specific factors, including the child’s safety, health, relationships, cultural background, educational needs, and potential for family reunification. The bill also requires all state policies and vendor practices to align with this standard and allows review or appeal for decisions that fail to prioritize the child’s best interests. Guardian ad litem appointments must advocate solely for the child’s welfare, overriding other considerations like agency or parental interests.

Maddy summarySB 705 requires the West Virginia State Board of Education to submit newly created or amended rules to the Legislature's Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee for review. The Legislature has 15 months to approve, amend, or reject each rule; if it does not act within that timeframe, the rule becomes effective automatically. This directly affects the State Board of Education (which must submit rules) and the Legislature (which must review them within the specified period). The bill adjusts existing processes to clarify that the Legislature retains ultimate authority over education rules, as established by state constitutional provisions.

Maddy summarySB 899 (West Virginia Senate Bill 899) requires carbon storage operators to protect coal and gas mineral rights when seeking permits for carbon capture projects. The bill mandates that permit applicants must verify if valuable minerals exist in the storage area and obtain written agreements with mineral owners to ensure projects won’t harm their interests. Operators must design storage to isolate mineral production from CO2 plumes and secure consent from at least 75% of mineral owners before permits can be issued. This directly affects coal/gas mineral owners, carbon storage companies, and the state’s regulatory secretary, adding specific consent and design requirements to carbon storage permits under West Virginia law.

Maddy summarySB 885, the "Tax and Expenditure Limitation Act," would require voter approval for most new taxes, tax increases, or significant spending changes by West Virginia state and local governments starting in 2026. It sets annual spending limits: for the state, the maximum increase equals the lesser of population growth plus inflation, personal income growth, or gross state product growth; for local districts, it equals inflation plus local economic growth (e.g., property value changes for non-school districts or enrollment shifts for schools). The bill also mandates voter approval for creating new debt (except for refinancing or pension additions) or suspending these spending limits. This legislation directly affects all state and local government entities, including counties, cities, school districts, and special districts.

Maddy summarySB 894 renames the West Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority to the King Coal Highway Economic Advisory Board and reduces its membership from 13 to 11 members. The bill directly affects McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties along the King Coal Highway corridor, which face economic challenges linked to coal industry changes. Key provisions include modifying the board's membership requirements, clarifying its role in advising local governments and businesses, and focusing on reducing regulatory barriers to economic development. The board will help guide efforts to diversify local economies, leverage natural resources, and support business creation in these coal-impacted regions.

Maddy summarySB 898 creates a two-year pilot program allowing West Virginia's Division of Highways to contract with private vendors for snow removal on secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston counties. The bill requires the Division to issue requests for proposals, select vendors, and establish that vendors have no legal immunity and must cover damages from their work. Vendors can be terminated with 30 days' notice if unsatisfactory. This directly affects residents of those counties who rely on secondary roads and potential contractors bidding on the snow removal services.

Maddy summarySB 895 amends West Virginia law to change the definition of "solar photovoltaic energy facility" to "on-site energy facility" within Public Service Commission (PSC) jurisdiction rules. It sets specific requirements for power purchase agreements (PPAs) between public entities (like schools or municipalities) and customers, including size limits (25kW for residential, 1,000kW for commercial), a 3% annual cap on aggregate PPA capacity relative to utility demand, and a requirement that PPA rates be lower than the utility’s rates. The bill also restricts PPA terms to five years, mandates clear font for agreements, and requires utilities to notify customers within 30 days if capacity limits are reached. These provisions directly affect utilities, public entities entering PPAs, and customers installing small-scale on-site energy systems.

Maddy summarySB 929, the "Restoring Private Schools Act of 2025," amends West Virginia law to establish requirements for private, parochial, and church schools. It mandates these schools to maintain attendance and immunization records, comply with fire and health safety inspections, create crisis response plans, and administer annual standardized tests to students in the same grades and subjects as public schools. Schools serving students with learning disabilities may use alternative assessments like portfolios or parent-agreed evaluations instead of standardized tests. The bill requires schools to share test results and student lists with parents and the state education department upon request, directly affecting all nonpublic schools operating under these provisions.