Sen. Amy Grady

Maddy summarySB 245, the Hunger-Free Campus Act, creates a grant program for West Virginia public universities to address student food insecurity. To qualify, campuses must meet specific requirements, including establishing a hunger task force, providing SNAP assistance, operating food pantries or stigma-free food access, hosting awareness events, and conducting annual student hunger surveys. Eligible institutions receive state grant funding - subject to available appropriations - to implement programs like meal credit sharing and improve campus food security services. The Higher Education Policy Commission must report to the governor and legislature within two years on grant distribution, program impact, and recommendations for expansion.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 256 increases annual training requirements for West Virginia county board of education members from 8 to 12 hours per year. It expands required training topics to include school finance, special education, and student safety, and allows the state superintendent to request additional training. The bill also modifies compensation rules - increasing pay for meetings attended but limiting how many meetings count toward pay, while withholding compensation entirely if training is not completed. These changes directly affect elected county board members, who oversee public school systems across West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 244, the "West Virginia Women's Bill of Rights," defines key terms like "woman," "man," and "sex" based solely on biological sex at birth (e.g., a woman is an adult human of the female sex). It requires state agencies, schools, and public entities to replace the word "gender" with "sex" in laws and data collection, and mandates that data on biological sex be used for public health, anti-discrimination compliance, and statistics. The bill permits single-sex facilities (like locker rooms, shelters, and sports teams) without violating anti-discrimination laws, citing biological differences as justification for separate environments. It also states there are only two sexes, excludes "gender identity" from sex definitions, and specifies that intersex individuals are not a third sex.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows West Virginia school districts to offer cash bonuses to school employees (including both professional and service staff) for unused personal leave days. County boards of education may pay employees a bonus equal to the average daily substitute rate for up to 10 unused personal leave days per employment term, at the employee's discretion. All school employees are eligible regardless of hire date or retirement plan enrollment, but the bonus cannot be used to increase retirement benefits or insurance coverage. The program is optional for employees and aims to reduce absenteeism through financial incentives.

Maddy summarySB 255 (2025) prohibits West Virginia public schools and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission from restricting student-athletes from participating in non-school competitive sports as a condition for playing on school teams. The bill directly affects student-athletes in public schools by removing barriers to joining outside athletic programs, such as club teams or community leagues. Key provisions state that county boards of education and the activities commission may not deny school team participation based on a student's involvement in non-school sports events. This law aims to ensure students can pursue additional athletic opportunities without penalty from their school.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia Legislature to replace the state's existing statue of John Kenna in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol with a new statue honoring Hershel "Woody" Williams. The legislation recognizes Williams as a Medal of Honor recipient and founder of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument program, citing his military service and community contributions as worthy of national commemoration. To implement this change, the bill establishes a commission to select a sculptor, authorizes the Governor to fund the project from a contingency fund, and mandates that the removed John Kenna statue be displayed at the State Culture Center.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors David Allen Stover for his public service in West Virginia. It acknowledges his career as a teacher, his time as Wyoming County Circuit Clerk, and his single term in the state Senate. The bill formally expresses the Senate's appreciation for his dedication and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to him.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks federal lawmakers to apply the same food safety standards to imported products as those required for goods produced and sold within the United States. The bill highlights concerns that dangerous substances have been found in foreign foods at levels exceeding safe limits, arguing that current differences in standards create unfair advantages for foreign producers while potentially endangering American consumers. It further requests that imported foods be clearly labeled to inform buyers about their origin and associated risks, and directs the Senate to send this request to relevant federal agriculture committees. Ultimately, the measure serves as a formal appeal for stricter oversight and enforcement of food safety regulations on imported items to protect public health and ensure market fairness.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the U.S. Department of the Treasury to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan to prevent double taxation and stop tax evasion. The bill aims to address current issues where Taiwanese companies face a 30 percent withholding tax and individuals might be taxed by both nations. By establishing these rules, the measure seeks to encourage more trade and investment between the two economies while aligning with similar agreements other countries have made with Taiwan. It is a non-binding recommendation intended to guide future negotiations rather than directly changing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes the dedicated public service of the Honorable William Chandler Swope, Sr. It directly affects Swope, a former West Virginia State Senator who served two terms and held various committee leadership roles. The resolution expresses the Senate's appreciation for his commitment to serving West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the document to him. This measure is commemorative in nature and does not create new laws or change existing policies.