Sen. Eric Tarr

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 33) allows West Virginia state legislators and legislative staff who already hold a valid concealed carry permit to carry concealed firearms inside Capitol buildings. It requires these individuals to register with the Capitol Police and submit a signed letter of intent to carry. The law does not change who may carry firearms but establishes a formal registration process for those who currently hold permits. It specifically permits concealed carry within Capitol buildings while maintaining existing restrictions on other weapons and conduct at the Capitol complex.

Maddy summarySB 92 creates a market-based pay enhancement for West Virginia teachers in counties where regional home prices exceed the state average. It directly affects certified teachers employed in counties where the median home price in their county plus neighboring border counties is higher than West Virginia’s statewide median. The bill calculates an annual multiplier using regional vs. state median home prices (from National Association of Realtors data), which is applied to each county’s average teacher salary to determine supplemental pay. This enhancement, added to base salaries, requires annual reporting to the State Auditor and is subject to personal income tax. The program begins July 15, 2026, with updates every five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies West Virginia's State Teachers Retirement System rules to address members serving as officers in statewide teaching associations. It allows these members to be considered "absent from service" while holding such roles, meaning their teaching service time won't count toward retirement credit during that period. However, they must make double the usual retirement contributions for the absence duration (e.g., if they normally pay 10% of salary, they pay 20% during this service). The provision applies only to those serving as officers before January 1, 2025, and service credit for this absence is capped at 10 years.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 2) proposes a constitutional amendment to protect gun rights in West Virginia. It would add a new section to the state constitution stating that "a person has the right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use." The amendment specifically prohibits state, county, municipal, or local government restrictions on this right based on factors like ammunition capacity, caliber, carry method, or accessories. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, it would become "Amendment 1" to the West Virginia Constitution.

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 443 authorizes the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board of Examiners to require criminal background checks as part of the licensing process for these professionals. The bill directly affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses to work as speech-language pathologists or audiologists in the state. Its key provision grants the Board the authority to conduct these background checks to ensure public safety, replacing any previous restrictions on this requirement. The law became effective upon the Governor's approval in March 2025.

Maddy summarySB 154 prohibits public schools from teaching about sexual orientation as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects public school students and educators in the state where it passed, banning instruction on sexual orientation in classrooms. Key provisions require schools to remove any content related to sexual orientation from required lessons. This law became effective on April 30, 2025, after being approved by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 449 allows public schools to establish organized shooting teams using compressed air firearms (non-lethal) and rimfire firearms (like .22 caliber). It removes previous restrictions preventing schools from creating such teams for competitive or educational purposes. The bill directly affects public school administrators and students participating in these sanctioned activities. It became law after Governor approval on April 24, 2025, and took effect on August 8, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 128 prevents courts from ordering healthcare providers to be paid more than the standard Medicaid reimbursement rate for services. This directly affects courts issuing service orders and providers who accept Medicaid payments, ensuring court-ordered services align with existing Medicaid payment rules. The key provision requires all court-ordered payments to match the state’s Medicaid rate, eliminating the possibility of higher court-mandated fees. The bill became law on August 8, 2025, after the governor approved it on April 25, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 627 removes a legal prohibition preventing the state from leasing underground pore spaces (geological formations) beneath lands already designated as state parks. This bill directly affects state park lands by allowing potential leasing for activities like oil, gas, or mineral extraction in those subsurface areas. The key mechanism is simply eliminating the existing ban on such leases, enabling new agreements between the state and private entities. The bill was enacted into law (Chapter 155, 2025 Regular Session) after approval by the Governor on April 24, 2025.