Sen. Scott Fuller

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 19 designates March 4, 2025, as Marshall University Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution recognizes Marshall University's contributions to education, economic growth, health care, and athletics in West Virginia, highlighting its role as a major employer, research institution, and community partner. It does not create new policies or affect funding - it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the university's achievements. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific licensing requirements for individuals and firms administering polygraph examinations (psychophysiological detection of deception) in West Virginia. To obtain a license, applicants must be 21+, U.S. citizens, have no disqualifying felony convictions (with a rational nexus review), honorable military discharge, pass a competency exam, complete six months of internship training, and meet education standards set by the Commissioner of Labor (without requiring a bachelor's degree for Class I or associate degree for Class II applicants). It creates two license types: Class I (general use) and Class II (for law enforcement employees only). The bill also mandates an annual fee paid into a dedicated fund for enforcement, with the Commissioner setting detailed rules for training, testing, equipment standards, and continuing education.

Maddy summarySB 656 creates a 25-foot buffer zone around first responders during lawful duties. It directly affects bystanders who ignore verbal warnings to stay back while police, firefighters, probation officers, or emergency responders are working. The bill prohibits approaching within 25 feet with intent to impede duties, threaten harm, or harass the responder. Violations are punishable by fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail. This law aims to protect responders from close proximity interference during critical operations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 657 would exempt retirement income for West Virginia campus police officers from state personal income tax, effective July 1, 2025. The bill amends the state tax code to exclude such retirement benefits from taxable income, applying to retirement systems including those sponsored by colleges and universities. This change directly affects retired campus police officers by removing their retirement income from state tax calculations. The exemption covers retirement income received after the effective date, including payments to surviving family members under survivorship annuities.

Maddy summarySB 629 increases payments by 25 percent for therapists and other professionals who provide early intervention services to West Virginia's Birth-to-Three program but are not employed by the state. This change applies to all contracted service providers under the program, effective July 1, 2025. The additional payments will be funded through the existing West Virginia Birth-to-Three Fund, which supports services for children with developmental delays. The bill does not affect salaries of state employees, as it specifically targets non-state agency contractors.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 633, the "Protecting Kids from Porn Act," requires commercial adult websites (those offering over 25% explicit content) to implement strict age verification before allowing access to minors. This includes mandatory biometric facial recognition, government ID, and credit card authentication for users, with re-verification every 24 hours. Websites failing to comply face $1 million per violation, permanent state blocking, and civil liability up to $10,000 per minor exposed. The law prohibits circumvention via VPNs or proxies and establishes an Attorney General enforcement unit to audit compliance. It directly affects adult content platforms operating in West Virginia, not general internet users.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 13) memorializes Wanda Porterfield Casto, a 34-year part-time Senate Secretary/Administrative Assistant who served the West Virginia Senate and dedicated her life to public service. The resolution formally honors her legacy as a wife, mother, grandmother, and public servant, extending the Senate's deepest sympathies to her family following her passing on May 20, 2024. It directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her family. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to recognize her contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia public schools to implement wearable panic alert systems for all school employees by December 2025. It mandates that each employee receives a device enabling immediate emergency contact and campus-wide lockdown notifications, with annual training required before each school year. The law also requires county school boards to share security data (like camera feeds and facility maps) with local law enforcement and establish access protocols. The system must integrate with 9-1-1 services, directly affecting school staff, administrators, and local emergency responders.

Maddy summarySB 603 exempts retirement benefits received by retired West Virginia campus police officers from the state's personal income tax, effective July 1, 2025. This applies specifically to retirement income from any retirement system or qualified plan (including those sponsored by colleges/universities) that is taxable under federal law. The bill directly affects retired campus police officers employed at West Virginia institutions of higher education. The exemption is a standalone change to the state tax code, removing these retirement benefits from taxable income for qualifying individuals.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 3) creates a Select Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health for the Eighty-Seventh Legislature. The committee, appointed by the Senate Presiding Officer (up to 17 members), will gather information on prevention, treatment, research, policies, access to care, and funding related to substance use disorders and mental health. It may meet during legislative interims and has jurisdiction over related legislative proposals, operating under Senate committee rules. This is a procedural resolution establishing a committee, not a law changing policy.