Sen. Eric Tarr

Maddy summarySB 563 modifies West Virginia's State Teachers Retirement System rules to treat teachers serving as officers in statewide professional teaching associations as "absent from service" during that role. This means their time in such leadership positions counts toward retirement credit, but they must pay double their regular retirement contributions during the absence. The policy applies only to those serving as officers before January 1, 2024, and limits the credited absence period to a maximum of 10 years. It ensures retired members who held these roles while employed retain credit for that time without losing retirement benefits.

Maddy summarySB 555 prohibits West Virginia municipalities (cities, towns, and counties) from entering into contracts with public sector labor unions, trade unions, or labor organizations. The bill adds a new section (§8-12-2a) to the state code that explicitly nullifies any existing union contracts and bans future agreements between local governments and unions. This means municipalities cannot negotiate or agree to terms with unions representing public employees like police, firefighters, or other municipal workers. The bill directly affects public sector unions and the local governments that employ these workers.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 556 prohibits West Virginia's Department of Human Services and Department of Health Services from requiring foster parents or household members to receive certain immunizations as a condition of fostering a child. The exception applies only if the child has a medically verified immunosuppressive condition requiring special prevention measures, in which case the department may mandate up-to-date immunizations for the household. This law directly affects foster parents and caregivers seeking to provide foster care, removing a potential barrier while maintaining safety for vulnerable children. It does not change immunization requirements for children in foster care or general public health rules.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 549 creates a state tax deduction for West Virginia residents who receive and report tips to their employers. It allows tipped workers to deduct qualified tips (cash, card, or check payments received in employment) from their taxable income, effectively eliminating state income tax on those earnings. The deduction applies only to tips not already deductible for federal tax purposes and is available regardless of the tax return form filed. The provision takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a felony to operate a methadone clinic that is not part of a comprehensive primary care clinic. It directly affects clinics, businesses, or individuals running standalone methadone treatment programs without integrating them into broader primary care services. Violators face penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, one year in prison, or both for each offense, with each day of continued operation counted as a separate violation. The law specifically targets standalone operations, not methadone services provided within full-scope medical clinics.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 543 requires local governments (political subdivisions like cities or counties) to follow specific procedures when hiring outside lawyers on contingency fees or lawsuit contracts. Before hiring, they must publicly disclose reasons for the hire, attorney qualifications, financial resources, and why in-house staff or hourly fees aren't sufficient. The Attorney General must review and approve all such contracts within 90 days, and the approval findings must be made public under state disclosure laws. This bill clarifies oversight to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest when local governments pursue legal action through private attorneys.

Maddy summarySB 535 authorizes five West Virginia counties - Ohio, Harrison, Monongalia, Jefferson, and Mercer - to create economic opportunity development districts where they can levy a special excise tax on sales of tangible personal property and services within designated district boundaries. The bill specifically approves districts like Fort Henry (Ohio County), University Town Centre (Monongalia County), and The Ridges (Mercer County), with each district having defined acreage and unique expiration dates (2053-2054). This tax revenue must be used for public purposes within the districts, and Jefferson County receives special provisions allowing it to set tax rates without state office approval. The bill directly affects businesses operating within these districts and county governments managing economic development projects.

Maddy summarySB 536 authorizes five specific West Virginia counties to levy a special sales tax within designated economic development districts to fund local projects. The bill permits Ohio County (Fort Henry District, 500 acres until 2054), Harrison County (Charles Pointe, 437 acres), Monongalia County (University Town Centre, 1,450 acres until 2053), Jefferson County (Hill Top House Hotel, 11 acres with special rules), and Mercer County (The Ridges, 420 acres with public hearing requirements) to collect this tax on sales of goods and services within their district boundaries. Counties must obtain legislative approval before imposing the tax, and each district has a defined sunset date (2053-2054) when it would automatically end unless terminated earlier. This tax is intended to fund local economic development without reducing state General Revenue Fund collections.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with legal effect) that formally commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program. It recognizes the program's history since 1950, which uses excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels to fund state fisheries conservation efforts through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The resolution honors anglers, the sportfishing industry, state agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their role in restoring fish populations. It does not create new laws, change funding, or affect any specific individuals or groups beyond acknowledging their historical contributions.

Maddy summarySB 476 increases funding flexibility for West Virginia's Water Development Authority by raising the annual transfer limit to its Critical Needs and Failing Systems Sub Account from $12 million to $14 million. It raises the project cost cap for certain infrastructure extensions from $2 million to $3 million and allows grants for facility upgrades (under $300,000) to reduce maintenance, operations costs, or waterline leakages. This directly affects local water and wastewater systems facing aging infrastructure or service disruptions. The bill modifies existing rules to expand eligible projects without changing grant allocation limits.