Sen. Mike Azinger

Maddy summarySB 796 requires all voter identification documents presented at polling places in West Virginia to include a photograph, with exceptions for Medicare and Social Security cards. The bill specifies that state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards without "NV" markings (indicating non-citizens) are acceptable, but non-citizen IDs marked "NV" are not valid for voting unless accompanied by proof of naturalization. This change affects voters who must show ID at polls and poll workers who verify identification, directly impacting how voter ID is validated during elections.

Maddy summarySB 741 authorizes West Virginia's State Auditor (acting as Commissioner under the Uniform Securities Act) to conduct fairness hearings for corporate reorganizations involving the exchange of securities, claims, or property interests. It directly affects West Virginia-based companies or those with principal operations in the state seeking to restructure through security exchanges, as well as the security holders participating in these transactions. The bill requires the Commissioner to hold a hearing within 30 days of an application, approve terms as "fair" to participating holders, and issue approval within 10 business days - enabling such exchanges to qualify for exemption from state securities registration. This process streamlines compliance for companies seeking to reorganize under federal securities law (15 U.S.C. § 77c(a)(10)).

Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.

Maddy summarySB 742 increases the civil jurisdiction limit for West Virginia magistrate courts from $10,000 to $20,000 for claims like small debts, landlord-tenant disputes, or property detainer cases. It clarifies that corporations may be represented by agents (non-lawyers) or attorneys when pursuing their own legal claims, but not third-party rights. The bill also explicitly prohibits magistrates from representing any party in their own court. This affects individuals and businesses filing civil cases under $20,000 in magistrate court.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a bill) that would eliminate West Virginia's tax on business inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for sale or manufacturing. This change would directly affect businesses (reducing their tax burden) and local governments (counties, municipalities, school districts), which would lose revenue from this tax. The amendment requires the state legislature to provide alternative funding to replace lost revenue for impacted communities, ensuring no net fiscal harm to local governments. It must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 614 would allow West Virginia pharmacists to sell Ivermectin for human use without a prescription once the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it for over-the-counter sale. The bill requires pharmacists to provide the FDA-approved patient information sheet at the time of sale and eliminates the need for a pharmacist consultation. It also protects pharmacists and healthcare providers from liability or disciplinary action for dispensing or recommending Ivermectin under these conditions, provided they act in good faith and follow applicable laws. This change would directly affect patients seeking Ivermectin and pharmacists operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 729 sets maximum annual interest rates for regulated consumer lenders on installment loans up to $35,000, with rates of 31% for unsecured loans of $3,500 or less, 27% for loans between $3,500 and $15,000 or secured by real property, and 18% for loans over $15,000. It also limits origination fees to 2% for most loans and 5% for real estate-secured loans, requiring these fees to be included in the total borrowing cost. The bill directly affects lenders who make such loans and borrowers who take them by capping the cost of credit. This replaces previous interest rate structures with a tiered system based on loan amount and security.

Maddy summarySB 667 requires all public elementary and secondary schools in West Virginia to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill mandates that the display must meet specific size requirements (at least 16x20 inches), include the exact text listed in the bill, and be legible from any point in the classroom. Schools may accept private donations of compliant displays or replace non-compliant ones using public funds or donations. This policy directly affects all public K-12 schools in the state, with no exemptions specified for classroom content.

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 summaryThis bill requires that any entity purchasing or taking over a West Virginia-chartered bank (through merger, sale, or similar transaction) must be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). It directly affects West Virginia banks and potential buyers of their assets, ensuring that the surviving entity in such transactions has federal deposit insurance. The law adds a new requirement to state banking code, with an exception for agreements already in place before the bill's enactment. It also allows the Banking Commissioner or interested parties (like other banks) to seek court injunctions to block transactions violating this rule.