Sen. Mike Woelfel

Maddy summarySB 442 creates a new "homeless education coordinator" position in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the State Board of Education. This position will directly assist homeless children and youth in accessing and staying in school by addressing barriers to attendance and enrollment. The bill amends education law to clarify the coordinator's role in supporting homeless students, ensuring they receive necessary services under federal and state education requirements. The coordinator will work within designated urban counties to implement strategies that prevent school disruption for homeless students.

Maddy summarySB 441 requires West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles to provide free identification documents to homeless U.S. citizens residing at homeless shelters within the state. Eligible individuals - verified through a shelter-affiliated affidavit and proof of citizenship - may receive a free photo ID card, driver's license replacement, or birth certificate. The bill mandates that shelters confirm residency and that applicants use the shelter's address, with the State Registrar verifying citizenship via approved documents like birth certificates or passports. It limits applicants to one document per 30 days and requires the commissioner to create necessary application forms.

Maddy summarySB 432 requires West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles to provide free identification documents (including photo IDs, driver's license replacements, or birth certificates) to homeless U.S. citizens residing in shelters or served by homeless services providers. To qualify, applicants must live at a shelter, use the shelter's address, have a shelter employee verify their homelessness via affidavit, and provide proof of U.S. citizenship (like a birth certificate or passport). The bill limits recipients to one document per 30 days and mandates the State Registrar to develop application forms. It directly affects homeless youth and unaccompanied homeless individuals who lack stable housing and cannot afford standard ID fees. The law aims to remove barriers to employment, benefits, and housing stability by ensuring access to essential identification.

Maddy summarySB 401 would exempt new hires and promoted employees in West Virginia's Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health from the state civil service system and grievance process, starting July 1, 2026. Current employees in these departments will retain their existing civil service status and grievance rights in their current positions, while those who leave and return to the same departments will transition to the exempt system. The bill does not apply to Governor-appointed positions and does not affect existing laws against nepotism, discrimination, or unethical employment practices.

Maddy summarySB 391 requires West Virginia's Child Protective Services (CPS) to assign workers to counties based on population, referrals, and average caseload, as determined by the commissioner. It prevents any staffing reduction below the level established on January 1, 2023, and allows temporary adjustments for immediate needs like current caseloads. The CPS bureau must annually report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources by July 1, detailing any assignment changes lasting over three weeks and their justifications. This bill clarifies the allocation formula and reporting requirements for CPS staffing across counties.

Maddy summarySB 419 removes statutory limits on staffing for two divisions within West Virginia's State Tax Department. It eliminates the current cap of 12 investigators in the criminal investigation division and the cap of 8 examiners in the special audits division. These changes allow the Tax Department to hire more staff specifically to address non-resident tax compliance, which the bill identifies as having higher noncompliance rates than resident tax matters. The bill does not alter tax laws but enables greater staffing flexibility for enforcement efforts related to taxes, fees, and credits administered under specific sections of state code.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the parole rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder who receive a life sentence with parole eligibility ("life with mercy"). It requires them to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The law directly affects those sentenced under West Virginia Code §61-2-2 for first-degree murder, specifically altering their parole timeline. This policy change eliminates early parole consideration for these offenders, mandating a 30-year minimum term before parole review.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia public schools to provide annual, age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse prevention for students in grades 3-6, personal safety and assault prevention (with parental opt-out options requiring one-week notice), and dating violence/sexual violence prevention for grades 7-12. It mandates training for public school employees on recognizing abuse signs, responding to disclosures, and preventing inappropriate behaviors, including social media safety. The law also requires schools to develop resources addressing disclosure protocols, child-on-child scenarios, and crisis response in coordination with existing child abuse reporting systems. Public charter and nonpublic schools may choose to follow these requirements voluntarily.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes penalties for possessing less than 15 grams of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil violation. It affects individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana for the first time, replacing potential jail time (up to 1 year) or criminal records with a flat civil fine of up to $25. The key change is moving simple possession under 15g from criminal prosecution to a non-criminal penalty, as specified in Section (c) of the bill. This applies only to marijuana possession, not other drug offenses or larger quantities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 126 amends West Virginia law to criminalize specific acts that obstruct election activities. It directly affects election officials, workers, and voters by creating new misdemeanor offenses for preventing election workers from performing duties (§3-9-10(1)), stopping elections from occurring (§3-9-10(2)-(3)), blocking voters from exercising suffrage (§3-9-10(4)), or hindering access to polling places (§3-9-10(5)). The bill establishes penalties of up to $2,000 fines or one year in jail for these offenses, while eliminating a prior requirement for citizens to assist in preventing election disorder. The law clarifies and expands criminal protections for election processes without changing voter eligibility or election administration procedures.