Sen. Chris Rose

Maddy summarySenate Bill 676 allows veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed in good standing in other U.S. states with equivalent requirements to practice in West Virginia without retaking exams or meeting all local licensing conditions. It requires applicants to have held an active license for five years in another state and provide documentation confirming no disciplinary actions. The bill directly affects licensed veterinary professionals seeking to work across state lines by simplifying their path to West Virginia licensure.

Maddy summarySB 688, the "Responsible Use of Facial Recognition Act," prohibits West Virginia law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition, real-time security monitoring, drones, license plate readers, and other specified surveillance technologies without a warrant based on probable cause. The bill requires that any facial recognition technology used must be developed and manufactured exclusively in the United States to address national security concerns about foreign technology providers. It establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to create model policies for the responsible use of these technologies. The bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in West Virginia and aims to strengthen Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 675 requires hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program (called "340B covered entities") to annually report detailed financial data to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy by April 1. This includes costs for drugs purchased under the program, payments received from insurers, payments to contracted pharmacies, and how savings are used for charity care or community health services. The data must be reported by payer type (commercial, Medicaid, Medicare), remains confidential, and the Board must then compile and publish an annual summary by November 15 for state lawmakers and the public. The bill aims to increase transparency about how 340B program savings benefit underserved patients.

Maddy summarySB 664, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits West Virginia state agencies from contracting with companies that rate news sources for accuracy, bias, or misinformation. It requires advertising and marketing firms bidding for state contracts to provide written certification that they do not use such rating services. The law applies to all state advertising contracts executed, renewed, or modified on or after July 1, 2025. The bill does not restrict services that aggregate news articles or provide ad performance analytics, as long as they do not involve media monitoring organizations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 3, 2025, as "Future Farmers of America Day" at the West Virginia Legislature. It commemorates the history and ongoing work of the National FFA Organization, which supports agricultural education for students across West Virginia (serving 6,968 members in 91 programs). The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, recognizing FFA's role in developing leadership and agricultural skills since its founding in 1928. It does not change laws or affect any specific groups beyond acknowledging FFA's contributions.

Maddy summarySB 653 extends retirement benefits under West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Retirement System to include emergency vehicle operators (such as ambulance drivers) who were previously excluded. It modifies the definition of "final average salary" used to calculate retirement benefits and adjusts benefit percentages, increasing the maximum payout from 67% to 90% of that salary under certain funding conditions. The bill specifically affects current and future EMS personnel, including 911 operators with transferred assets, by clarifying how their service credit and benefit amounts are determined. These changes apply to all covered EMS employees under the existing retirement system framework.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 633, the "Protecting Kids from Porn Act," requires commercial adult websites (those offering over 25% explicit content) to implement strict age verification before allowing access to minors. This includes mandatory biometric facial recognition, government ID, and credit card authentication for users, with re-verification every 24 hours. Websites failing to comply face $1 million per violation, permanent state blocking, and civil liability up to $10,000 per minor exposed. The law prohibits circumvention via VPNs or proxies and establishes an Attorney General enforcement unit to audit compliance. It directly affects adult content platforms operating in West Virginia, not general internet users.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 13) memorializes Wanda Porterfield Casto, a 34-year part-time Senate Secretary/Administrative Assistant who served the West Virginia Senate and dedicated her life to public service. The resolution formally honors her legacy as a wife, mother, grandmother, and public servant, extending the Senate's deepest sympathies to her family following her passing on May 20, 2024. It directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her family. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to recognize her contributions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 3) creates a Select Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health for the Eighty-Seventh Legislature. The committee, appointed by the Senate Presiding Officer (up to 17 members), will gather information on prevention, treatment, research, policies, access to care, and funding related to substance use disorders and mental health. It may meet during legislative interims and has jurisdiction over related legislative proposals, operating under Senate committee rules. This is a procedural resolution establishing a committee, not a law changing policy.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 583, titled the "West Virginia-Powered Data Center Incentive Act," provides property tax exemptions for new data centers meeting specific eligibility criteria and a tax credit for coal-fired electric utilities supplying them. Data centers must apply for these incentives and maintain compliance to continue receiving benefits. The bill aims to attract data center investments to West Virginia, which the state expects will create jobs and boost economic growth while supporting coal-powered electricity infrastructure. It establishes clear application processes, eligibility rules, and compliance requirements for both data centers and utilities.