Maddy summarySB 1017 establishes two financing programs under the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to support public charter schools. The Charter School Direct Loan Program provides loans for charter school startup, operations, facility acquisition, or improvements, while the Charter School Credit Enhancement Program helps schools secure better loan terms by reducing lender risk. Qualifying charter schools - those meeting authority-set standards and designated by the Economic Development Authority - can access these programs, with priority given to rural school development. The bill creates specific mechanisms for loan administration, debt service reserves, and project definitions (including facilities and capital equipment) without altering existing charter school governance.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 48 memorializes the late Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, a former West Virginia State Senator (1994-2006) and community leader, by formally honoring her life and public service. The resolution recognizes her roles as a philanthropist, founding president of the Tucker Community Foundation and West Virginia Grantmakers Association, and her decades of volunteer work across West Virginia. It extends the Senate’s condolences to her family and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her loved ones. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy or financial impact, solely commemorating her legacy.
Maddy summarySB 718 increases the annual salary for magistrates in West Virginia to $70,000, effective July 1, 2026. This bill amends West Virginia Code §50-1-3, which sets magistrate compensation, building on previous increases from $60,375 (2021) to $63,250 (2022). The measure directly affects all magistrates serving in West Virginia courts. The change is a straightforward salary adjustment with no additional mechanisms or eligibility requirements specified in the bill text.
Maddy summarySB 1071 proposes creating a state office of public defense to manage the procurement and sale of machine guns to qualified West Virginia residents. The bill cites the Second Amendment and West Virginia's state constitution (Article III, Section 22) as legal foundations, arguing that "arms of modern warfare" including machine guns are protected under these provisions. It establishes a new state office to handle the transfer process, referencing federal laws that permit states to transfer machine guns to law-abiding citizens. This bill directly affects eligible residents seeking to legally acquire machine guns for self-defense or state defense, as defined by the proposed office's regulations. The bill is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 23 (SB 23) clarifies that wind power projects in West Virginia are not classified as "pollution control facilities" for tax purposes and instead must be taxed as real property. This change directly affects wind energy developers and local tax assessors, as it removes the previous allowance for wind turbines and towers to be treated as personal property with reduced valuation. The bill specifies that wind turbines and their towers (including foundations) will be taxed as real property if permanently affixed to the ground, ending prior tax treatment that allowed them to be considered pollution control facilities. This adjustment aligns wind power projects with standard real property taxation, eliminating a prior distinction that impacted how these facilities were valued for local taxes.
Maddy summarySB 15 requires carbon storage operators to protect mineral owners' interests before permits are issued for underground carbon storage projects in West Virginia. It mandates that applicants must verify if coal, oil, or gas minerals exist in the project area and obtain written agreements ensuring these interests won't be harmed by the carbon dioxide plume. The bill also requires operators to notify mineral owners and lessees, secure written consent from at least 75% of pore space owners, and compensate nonconsenting owners fairly. This directly affects coal and oil/gas mineral rights holders and carbon storage operators by adding legal safeguards to project planning and approval.
Maddy summarySB 1040, the West Virginia Energy Freedom Act, removes the requirement for certain non-utility power generators to obtain a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" before building or operating facilities. It directly affects solar, wind, and other non-utility electric generation projects, requiring them instead to register with the Public Service Commission and comply with environmental, zoning, and grid interconnection rules. The bill streamlines approvals by waiving the certificate process for projects reviewed and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. It also exempts intermittent power sources (like solar and wind) from the certificate requirement, shifting oversight to registration and standard grid connection protocols.
Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 1041 establishes the "Energy Economic Load Dispatch Act," requiring utilities to follow a new cost-based planning standard for power generation projects. It mandates that utilities comply with this standard to obtain or maintain permits for new power plants, include resource adequacy and reliability in their long-term energy plans, and ensure costs for non-compliant projects cannot be passed to customers. The Public Service Commission gains explicit authority to deny approvals, condition permits, or revoke certificates if utilities fail to meet these requirements. This bill directly affects electric utilities and the commission's review process for energy projects, focusing on cost transparency and regulatory oversight.
Maddy summarySB 1058 would establish Economic Freedom Zones in West Virginia's most distressed census tracts (defined by high unemployment and poverty rates), offering a 50% reduction in corporate and pass-through business income tax rates for all businesses and individuals operating within these zones. The bill mandates regulatory simplification by requiring two existing state rules to be repealed for every new rule in a zone and setting a 30-day deadline for permit approvals (with automatic approval if not met). To maintain fiscal responsibility, it includes a safeguard that would adjust tax rates if revenue loss exceeds 0.5% of state collections, while prohibiting targeted subsidies or preferential treatment for specific businesses. The program would expire in 2035 unless renewed by the legislature.
Maddy summarySB 1030 creates a new legal framework for "decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations" (DUNAs) in West Virginia, allowing nonprofits with at least 100 members to operate without formal incorporation while using digital ledger systems (like blockchain) for governance. The bill defines DUNAs, sets requirements for membership and governance (including the use of smart contracts), and outlines rules for member rights, property management, dissolution, and conversion to other entity types. It directly affects nonprofit groups seeking a decentralized structure that relies on digital technology for decision-making rather than traditional corporate governance. The law establishes a clear regulatory path for these associations under West Virginia law.