Sen. Trenton Barnhart

Maddy summaryHB 4943 requires all West Virginia high school students to learn proper American flag handling, folding, treatment, honoring, display, and retirement procedures as part of their required civics education. This would be integrated into existing civics courses mandated for graduation, with students needing to pass an exam on this topic. The bill directly affects all high school students in West Virginia public, private, parochial, and denominational schools. It amends existing curriculum requirements (§18-2-9) to add flag etiquette as a specific component of civics instruction.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 45 modifies West Virginia's property valuation law to allow reduced appraisals for certain corporate-owned farmland. It specifically enables corporations that generate at least $20,000 annually in agricultural products (as defined by state law) to have their farm property appraised based on its farming value - not its potential non-farming use - regardless of whether farming is their primary business. This applies to all farm parcels owned by such corporations, whether contiguous or not. The bill directly affects corporate landowners meeting the $20,000 sales threshold who would otherwise not qualify for agricultural valuation. The change aims to align property tax assessments with the actual agricultural use of the land.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to create a formula for distributing state and federal road funds among the state's 10 road districts by 2027. The formula must consider specific factors like county population (from census data), road mileage, traffic volume, heavy truck usage, and bridge conditions to ensure funds are allocated based on actual needs. Before finalizing the formula, the Commissioner must gather public input through a six-week comment period and publish all feedback online. The proposed formula must be submitted to the Legislature for approval as a rule, guaranteeing districts cannot receive less funding than their highest previous five-year allocation unless the overall highway budget decreases.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 80 requires all new West Virginia EBT cards issued after June 1, 2026, to include a photograph of the cardholder. This applies directly to individuals receiving food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill mandates this photo requirement to help prevent fraud by verifying cardholder identity, as stated in the bill's purpose. It does not change eligibility rules but adds a visual authentication step for EBT cardholders.

Maddy summarySB 248 creates a nonrefundable $25,000 tax credit against West Virginia state personal income taxes for eligible returning residents. It directly affects individuals who were born in West Virginia or lived/worked there for 10+ years, left for at least 10 consecutive years before 2025, and returned as residents on or after January 1, 2025. The credit reduces state income tax bills (up to $25,000 annually) and can be carried forward to future tax years but not back to prior years. The credit is available starting after December 31, 2026, and expires after December 31, 2030, with the Tax Commissioner required to verify eligibility and report usage annually.

Maddy summarySB 7 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000, reducing tax bills for eligible primary homeowners. It applies to residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who meet residency requirements (such as living in the state for two consecutive years). The exemption is applied as a direct deduction from a home's assessed value, meaning no property tax is due on the first $40,000 of a home's value. The bill also updates residency rules to include exceptions for military service members and returning residents within five years.

Maddy summarySB 40 (Providing veterinarian and veterinary technician reciprocity) allows licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians from other U.S. states to practice in West Virginia without repeating full licensing requirements, provided they hold an active, good-standing license in their home state for at least five years. The bill amends West Virginia law to permit the Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue licenses based on reciprocity, requiring applicants to submit proof of continuous good standing and no disciplinary actions. It directly affects licensed veterinary professionals seeking to work across state lines without re-taking exams or completing additional training. The bill does not change existing licensing standards for new applicants but streamlines practice for those already qualified in other states.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 19 prohibits foreign governments and entities from designated countries (like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) from purchasing or acquiring title to real property in West Virginia, with key exceptions for U.S. citizens/residents, primary residences, and short-term leases (under 5 years). It requires existing foreign-owned properties to be sold within 180 days and mandates owners to file property details with the Department of Agriculture within 60 days. The West Virginia Attorney General enforces the law through investigations, court actions to divest property, and civil penalties. This bill directly affects foreign governments, entities controlled by them, and individuals from designated countries seeking to own real estate in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 202 would exempt certain military veterans and their families from tuition and fees at West Virginia’s public colleges and universities. It specifically covers: (1) spouses and children of veterans killed in action, missing in action, or who died while serving; (2) disabled veterans with 90%+ service-connected disabilities (since 9/11); and (3) spouses and children of active-duty veterans who died or went missing in service. To qualify, applicants must be West Virginia residents, apply for FAFSA, exhaust other tuition aid, and maintain academic standards. The exemption applies only to undergraduate programs and does not cover special fees like lab costs or parking. The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.

Maddy summarySB 5 exempts retirement income for retired West Virginia campus police officers from state personal income tax, effective July 1, 2026. This applies specifically to retirement benefits received under any qualified retirement system (including those sponsored by colleges/universities) that would otherwise be taxable under federal rules. The exemption covers all retirement income received after the effective date, including survivorship annuities. It directly affects retired campus police officers employed by West Virginia institutions of higher education. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-21-12 to add this specific exemption to the state's tax code.