Sen. Mike Woelfel

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 849) allocates $64,800 from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund to the Moorefield Agricultural Center under the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects the Moorefield Agricultural Center by providing supplemental funding for its operations. The bill adds this specific amount as a new line item to an existing budget account, using money that was not allocated in the original state budget. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 789 allocates additional funds from unappropriated balances to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Capital Improvements Fund (Fund 1413, Fiscal Year 2026). It increases specific budget items for capital projects, including $750,000 for repairs, $1.15 million for equipment, $490,000 for current expenses, $2.33 million for buildings, and $280,000 for other assets. The bill directly affects the Department of Agriculture's ability to fund ongoing capital improvement projects during the 2026 fiscal year. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy, using existing unspent funds to supplement existing appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a $10 million supplemental appropriation to the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund (fund 0105) for fiscal year 2026, specifically designated for "Flood Resiliency - Surplus." The funds will be transferred directly to the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund (fund 1070) as specified in the bill. It adjusts the state budget by reallocating an unappropriated surplus balance identified in the Governor’s budget document. This is a procedural budget amendment affecting state fund allocation, not a new policy or direct service for residents.

Maddy summarySB 815 adds $1.5 million to the Department of Homeland Security's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (specifically its Correctional Units under Fund 0450) for equipment purchases during fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation uses an unappropriated surplus balance identified in the Governor's budget document, rather than new funding. The bill directly affects the state's correctional facilities by providing funds for equipment replacement or upgrades. It is a procedural budget adjustment with no policy changes, solely reallocating existing surplus funds to a specific operational need.

Maddy summarySB 790 reorganizes West Virginia's energy governance by transferring the Office of Coalfield Community Development into the Office of Energy and creating a new Comprehensive Energy Policy and Development Plan. It requires the Office to develop a long-term strategy covering coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydropower, hydrogen, and geothermal energy sources, including annual reports and stakeholder meetings. The bill grants the Office new authority to approve power plant decommissioning, designate energy-ready communities, and establish site criteria for energy projects. This directly affects the Office of Energy's operations and state energy planning processes, eliminating outdated programs like the Coal Fired Grid Stabilization Act.

Maddy summarySB 803 requires public schools in West Virginia to assess the academic competency of students transferring from nonpublic schools (including homeschools, microschools, learning pods, or individualized instruction plans) before transcribing their previous grades onto a public school transcript. This applies specifically to students enrolling in public schools after receiving education outside the traditional public system. The key mechanism is a mandatory competency assessment administered by the public school upon enrollment, ensuring students meet academic standards before their prior coursework is recognized. The bill does not change graduation requirements or affect students already enrolled in public schools.

Maddy summarySB 811 would amend West Virginia law to allow registered voters to change their political party affiliation on the day of any election, including primaries, general elections, or special elections. Currently, voters must select a party affiliation when registering and cannot update it until after an election, but this bill would permit changes at polling places on election day. The provision applies to all registered voters who wish to switch parties without requiring prior registration updates. It does not affect voter eligibility, voting methods, or other registration requirements - only the timing of party affiliation changes.

Maddy summarySB 754 creates a special fund called the "Foster Care Facilities Improvement Fund" to support West Virginia nonprofit organizations operating foster care facilities. The fund, financed through state appropriations, donations, and investment income, prioritizes grants for renovating, constructing, or maintaining residential childcare facilities - especially those providing psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and trauma services. An Advisory Committee (appointed by the Department of Human Services) recommends quarterly disbursements based on identified needs, with priority given to local nonprofits improving facility access and quality. The bill ensures unspent balances roll over annually and reinvests savings from reduced out-of-state placements to expand high-quality care within the state.

Maddy summarySB 782 increases the annual salaries for West Virginia judges, including magistrates, Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges, and family court judges, with specific raises effective July 1, 2026, and 2027 (e.g., circuit judges from $138,600 to $143,600 in 2026). It modifies judicial retirement benefits by suspending court contributions to the retirement system until a condition is met, treating post-2005 retirees as pre-2005 retirees, and increasing surviving spouse benefits. The bill also eliminates distinctions between certain judges when calculating survivor and dependent benefits and removes limits on retirement benefit increases. These changes directly affect current and retired judges in West Virginia’s judicial system.

Maddy summarySB 450 establishes a 25% state income tax credit for property owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It directly affects residential and non-residential property owners who work on structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or within designated historic districts, after review by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The credit applies to "qualified rehabilitation expenditures" meeting specific criteria, including a requirement that rehabilitation costs equal at least 20% of the building's assessed value. The bill reorganizes existing historic preservation tax rules into a new centralized article (§11-13NN) with defined terms and procedures for claiming the credit.