Sen. Mike Azinger

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 927 allows West Virginia county school boards to purchase professional liability insurance from any insurance company licensed in the state, rather than being limited to the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management. It requires a minimum of $1.25 million in coverage per incident and $5 million in excess coverage per incident (paid by the county), with policies covering negligence claims during school duties. The insurance must include specific coverages like malpractice, attorney fees, and personal injury, and school boards must annually notify staff and administrators about their coverage details. This directly affects county school boards, teachers, administrators, and school employees by expanding insurance options and setting minimum coverage standards.

Maddy summarySB 835 (West Virginia Senate Bill 835) shortens the required notice period for tax lien sales. It reduces the time for serving notice to property owners from 45 days to 30 days for residents within the state and from 30 days to 15 days for out-of-state owners. The bill also cuts the statute of limitations for challenging a tax sale from two years to one year. These changes directly affect property owners facing tax liens, tax lien purchasers, and the State Auditor’s office, which must implement the revised notice and timeline requirements.

Maddy summarySB 836 modifies West Virginia's property tax payment rules for co-owners and others with property interests. It requires co-owners who wish to pay taxes on another's share to first obtain a split assessment from the assessor and provide a certificate to the sheriff before paying. After payment, the person must file a written claim with the county court clerk within 30 days to secure a lien on the property interest they paid for. The bill limits the ability of co-owners or third parties to pay others' taxes without these specific procedural steps.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit certain state constitutional officers to three consecutive terms. It would apply to the offices of Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Attorney General for terms beginning after January 1, 2029. Terms starting before 2029 would not count toward the limit, and partial terms after that date would be included in the count. The amendment must be approved by the legislature and ratified by voters in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summarySB 841 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting, facilitating, or funding any discussions, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. The bill bans state funds for gender transition treatments (like hormone therapy or puberty blockers), restricts school materials discussing gender identity, and prohibits staff from engaging in related training or curriculum. Violations could result in employee termination, funding suspension, or lawsuits by West Virginia residents. This directly affects state-funded institutions and their educational, medical, and administrative activities.

Maddy summarySB 806 reorganizes West Virginia's bail statutes to clarify and update procedures for setting bail and pretrial release. It requires judicial officers to consider specific factors like offense severity, defendant’s criminal history, and health when determining bail, and mandates release on recognizance (without money deposit) for certain misdemeanors unless there’s good cause to deny it. The bill sets a maximum cash bail amount for misdemeanors, adds requirements for surety bonds (including net worth rules), and prohibits judges from suggesting relatives as sureties. These changes directly affect defendants facing criminal charges, courts, and bail bond providers by standardizing bail decisions and expanding pretrial release options for non-violent offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt private passenger automobiles that are 25 years old or older from West Virginia's personal property tax. It amends state tax code §11-3-9 to add these older vehicles to the list of property types already excluded from taxation. The change would directly affect owners of vintage and classic cars who currently pay this tax on their vehicles. The policy removes a specific tax burden for this category of personal property without altering other tax provisions.

Maddy summarySB 804 gives public charter schools direct control over all extracurricular activities for their students, replacing county board oversight. It allows charter schools to optionally delegate athletic and band activities to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), which would now be a state agency managing rules for competitive balance (including transfer counts) and handling disputes through its executive director. The bill removes a written permission requirement for homeschoolers, Hope Scholarship participants, and microschool students to join school activities, while modifying fees they pay. It also changes commission membership to include athletic directors (or their representatives) from schools that delegate authority, and shifts all commission funds to public funds.

Maddy summarySB 678, the "Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act of 2025," directs West Virginia's Department of Economic Development to identify suitable sites for coal-fired electricity generation and coke production facilities. The bill aims to streamline state regulations and reduce delays for projects using West Virginia coal, specifically targeting sites near coal deposits, transmission infrastructure, and steel manufacturing facilities. It requires agencies to review and simplify permitting processes to support coal-based electricity and steel production, which the bill states will boost economic development and stabilize electricity prices. The legislation directly affects coal producers, steel manufacturers, and local communities near proposed facilities.