Sen. Chris Rose

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 5, 2025, as "West Virginia University Day" at the West Virginia Legislature. It recognizes West Virginia University as the state's first land-grant institution and highlights its academic programs, extension services, and youth initiatives like 4-H. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy to the university president and Extension office. As a ceremonial resolution with no funding or policy changes, it serves only to honor the university's role in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 566 provides tuition coverage for certified law enforcement officers in West Virginia pursuing education. It covers tuition and fees for one certificate, one undergraduate degree, one master's degree, and up to two doctorate degrees annually per officer, capped at the highest public university tuition rate. Officers must serve one year for every year of tuition covered or repay the costs. The program requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to set eligibility rules and administer payments, with reductions if officers receive other grants. It directly affects certified officers seeking education while serving in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 699 prohibits any entity - including individuals, companies, or government bodies - from conducting geoengineering activities like weather modification, stratospheric aerosol injection, or cloud seeding within or over West Virginia. The bill defines "geoengineering" as the intentional release of atmospheric contaminants (such as aerosols or chemicals) that could harm human health, the environment, or agriculture. It requires the West Virginia Department for Environmental Protection to investigate credible reports of violations, issue immediate cessation orders, and pursue penalties for noncompliance. This law directly affects any party engaging in these activities in the state, with enforcement focused on preventing atmospheric pollution from such experiments.

Maddy summarySB 706 requires the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to obtain legislative approval before implementing any new rules or changes to existing education regulations. Currently, the WVDE can issue such rules without direct legislative review, but this bill would mandate that the legislature must approve all proposed education rules before they take effect. The bill also requires the State Board of Education to submit proposed rules to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability for review. This change would shift oversight so that the legislature formally reviews and approves education-related policies, affecting how state education regulations are enacted.

Maddy summarySB 687 limits the West Virginia Public Service Commission's authority over electric utility rates by requiring the Commission to submit all rate adjustment proposals to the Legislature for approval, rather than implementing changes directly. This means electric utilities cannot have their rates adjusted without the Legislature passing a separate bill approving the change. The bill directly affects electric utilities and the Legislature, shifting final decision-making power over rate increases from the regulator to elected lawmakers. It specifically targets electric service rate adjustments, not other utility services or regulatory functions.

Maddy summarySB 679 would repeal West Virginia's current law requiring annual vehicle inspections and safety sticker renewals. This bill directly affects all vehicle owners in West Virginia who currently must obtain an annual inspection to register or renew their vehicle registration. The key provision is the removal of all legal requirements for mandatory state inspections, meaning drivers would no longer need to get an inspection sticker or undergo the inspection process to legally operate their vehicles. The bill eliminates these requirements without adding new rules or costs.

Maddy summarySB 680 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of the Division of Highways to create and submit an annual plan for routine repaving of all normally asphalt-surfaced state roads. This plan must outline how the state will systematically maintain road surfaces, directly affecting the Division of Highways and West Virginia residents who rely on state highways. The bill amends existing law to add this specific annual planning requirement, ensuring consistent road maintenance without changing other highway duties. It focuses on proactive, scheduled repaving rather than reactive repairs, applying to all standard asphalt roads in the state.

Maddy summarySB 684 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to review school closures and consolidations from the current year and the previous four years, then propose changes to the School Aid Formula that would have prevented at least 80% of closures justified by financial or operational reasons. The proposal must be submitted to the legislature within 180 days of the bill's passage. This bill directly affects school districts facing closures due to budget constraints by mandating a funding formula revision to prevent future closures. The key mechanism is the 80% prevention target for financially motivated closures, aiming to adjust funding to stabilize schools.

Maddy summarySB 685, the Non-Profit Transparency and Accountability Act, requires all West Virginia nonprofit organizations receiving any public funds (from state or federal sources) to comply with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests exactly as government bodies do. This applies to nonprofits using public money for operations, mandating they respond to public records requests under the same rules as government agencies. The bill also requires these nonprofits to enroll in Open Checkbooks, a public database for tracking financial information. It directly affects nonprofits that receive public funding, aiming to increase transparency around how public money is spent.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all electric utilities in West Virginia to offer customers a choice between smart meters and traditional manual meters for residential, business, and rental properties. Utilities must allow customers to opt out of smart meters - those that emit signals, contain batteries, or require wireless data transmission - in favor of manual meters that are read physically and have no electronic emissions. The law specifically excludes normal electromagnetic radiation from electricity flow as a concern under this requirement. It directly affects all electricity customers in West Virginia who wish to avoid smart meter technology for personal reasons.