Sen. Mike Woelfel

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 217 creates a refundable state tax credit for working families with children under 17 who claim federal child or childcare tax credits. The credit equals 20% of the federal childcare credit or 10% of the federal child tax credit (whichever is larger), available to residents with adjusted gross income under $100,000. Families receive the credit as a refund even if they owe no state tax, though refunds under $10 will not be issued. The credit is excluded from calculations for public assistance and medical benefits, aiming to support low- and middle-income households and reduce child poverty.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 211 clarifies the procedure for county litter control officers issuing citations for litter violations in West Virginia. It requires officers to investigate and determine violations before issuing citations for issues like open dumps or improper waste disposal, then mandates written complaints served to property owners with a 10-day window to request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the county commission must schedule it within 20 days, with the enforcement agency bearing the burden of proof by a preponderance of evidence. This bill directly affects county litter control officers, property owners receiving citations, and county commissions handling enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 73) clarifies that "tenancy" under West Virginia law includes individuals residing in sober living homes, defined as alcohol- and controlled substance-free living environments for people maintaining abstinence. It amends §37-6-5 to explicitly include such residents in tenant protections and adds §37-6A-5 to require landlords to return security deposits per state law, with reasonable attorney’s fees awarded if they willfully or in bad faith fail to comply. The law directly affects tenants in sober living homes and their landlords by ensuring these tenants receive the same security deposit protections as other renters. It does not change security deposit amounts or create new financial obligations, only clarifying existing tenant rights for this specific housing type.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits driving slowly in the left lane of four-lane interstate highways in West Virginia when it blocks normal traffic flow, except when driving safely or following the law. It applies to all drivers on these specific highways (defined as having two lanes in each direction). Violators face fines up to $100 for a first offense and $200 for repeat offenses within a year. Law enforcement will enforce this rule starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 7 creates a new felony crime for knowingly and willfully desecrating a deceased human body where the death resulted from criminal activity. It defines "desecrate" as physically damaging, mutilating, or otherwise mistreating a body in a way that would outrage reasonable observers. Violators face 2-10 years in prison (served consecutively) and fines of $2,000-$10,000. The law excludes medical professionals acting within their lawful professional duties, as covered under existing medical regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals convicted of a felony in West Virginia to provide a DNA sample to law enforcement. The collected DNA must be entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and compared against evidence from other open criminal cases. Refusing to provide a DNA sample is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100. The law applies to all felony convicts and is enforced by local law enforcement officers.

Maddy summarySB 222 updates West Virginia's extortion law to explicitly include threats to publish images of a person's intimate body parts as a criminal act. It defines "intimate body parts" and specifies that sexual acts (as defined in other law) can count as "value" in extortion cases. Successful extortion using these threats becomes a felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison, while failed threats face misdemeanor charges (up to 3 years or $5,000 fine). The bill targets coercive behavior involving private images to force sexual acts or other "value," clarifying penalties for such conduct.

Maddy summarySB 285 creates the West Virginia Guardian Program, allowing county school boards to contract with retired law enforcement officers (including former state troopers, police officers, deputies, or federal officers) or honorably discharged veterans to provide security on public school grounds. To qualify, applicants must meet specific requirements, including U.S. citizenship, a high school diploma or GED, passing concealed carry training, completing fitness and background checks, and meeting retirement or discharge criteria. West Virginia Guardians may carry concealed weapons while on duty but cannot make arrests; they are limited to detaining individuals until law enforcement arrives. The bill excludes individuals with dishonorable discharges, recent drug use, certain criminal offenses, or failure to meet other specified criteria.

Maddy summarySB 190 increases the retirement benefit multiplier for deputy sheriffs in West Virginia from 2.5% to 3% of their final average salary, multiplied by their years of credited service. This change directly affects current and future members of the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System who retire on or after July 1, 2018. The bill amends the existing retirement formula to provide a higher benefit percentage without altering contribution rates or eligibility rules. This policy change results in larger monthly retirement payments for qualifying deputy sheriffs based on their salary and service length.

Maddy summarySB 229, the West Virginia Sexual Assault Survivors' Child Protection Act, protects children conceived during sexual assault and their mothers by ending perpetrators' legal parental rights. The bill requires courts to terminate a perpetrator's parental rights if a child was conceived through sexual assault, while still mandating child support payments unless the survivor waives them. It also creates a faster court process to minimize survivors' contact with perpetrators and ensures privacy and safety during proceedings. The bill directs state agencies to develop guidelines for filing petitions, holding hearings, and providing support services to affected survivors and children.