Sen. Craig Hart

Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a bill) that would eliminate West Virginia's tax on business inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for sale or manufacturing. This change would directly affect businesses (reducing their tax burden) and local governments (counties, municipalities, school districts), which would lose revenue from this tax. The amendment requires the state legislature to provide alternative funding to replace lost revenue for impacted communities, ensuring no net fiscal harm to local governments. It must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 614 would allow West Virginia pharmacists to sell Ivermectin for human use without a prescription once the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it for over-the-counter sale. The bill requires pharmacists to provide the FDA-approved patient information sheet at the time of sale and eliminates the need for a pharmacist consultation. It also protects pharmacists and healthcare providers from liability or disciplinary action for dispensing or recommending Ivermectin under these conditions, provided they act in good faith and follow applicable laws. This change would directly affect patients seeking Ivermectin and pharmacists operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits West Virginia state agencies, local governments, and their employees from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any federal law, rule, or regulation related to coal, oil, gas, timber, or other extractive resources - unless that same federal requirement already exists under West Virginia law. It also bans the use of state funds or assets to support such federal enforcement efforts. The Attorney General must challenge federal actions deemed to violate state rights under the Tenth Amendment and publish guidance for state agencies on resisting federal mandates. The law directly affects state law enforcement, natural resource agencies, and local governments by restricting their ability to cooperate with federal environmental or resource regulations not mirrored in state law.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 694 prohibits state agency employees (except law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity) from using or downloading social media, applications, or AI tools owned by entities in designated "foreign countries of concern" on state-owned or leased devices. It bans access to websites of such foreign-owned platforms and prohibits the use of any software or AI algorithms from these entities. Exceptions include written waivers approved by the Secretary of State for specific job duties. The bill directly affects all state agency staff using government devices and aims to prevent foreign entities from accessing state systems or citizen data through these technologies.

Maddy summarySB 610 would exempt overtime pay earned under West Virginia's existing overtime law from state personal income tax. Specifically, it adds a provision to the tax code stating that overtime compensation paid in accordance with §21-5C-3 (the state's overtime requirements) is not subject to income tax. This change directly affects workers who receive legally mandated overtime pay from their employers. The bill does not alter overtime work rules but changes how that specific income is taxed. It applies only to overtime covered by current state law, not all overtime earnings.

Maddy summarySB 604 requires West Virginia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to automatically notify the Public Service Commission (PSC) when a person qualifies for utility bill discounts through programs like SSI, TANF, or SNAP. This eliminates the need for customers to apply separately, as the PSC must then order utilities to apply a 20% discount for eligible households during December through April billing months. The bill specifically limits eligibility to named beneficiaries of these programs and their spouses. It streamlines access to existing discounts by shifting the notification responsibility from individuals to DHS.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 14) proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead exemption from $20,000 to $25,000 for eligible homeowners. It would directly affect seniors (65+ years) and permanently disabled residents who own and occupy their primary home as their residence. The amendment, if approved by voters in the 2026 general election, would change the state constitution to set a $25,000 exemption limit on property taxes for qualifying residential properties. This would reduce property tax burdens for affected homeowners by exempting a larger portion of their home's assessed value. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee and requires voter ratification to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 687 limits the West Virginia Public Service Commission's authority over electric utility rates by requiring the Commission to submit all rate adjustment proposals to the Legislature for approval, rather than implementing changes directly. This means electric utilities cannot have their rates adjusted without the Legislature passing a separate bill approving the change. The bill directly affects electric utilities and the Legislature, shifting final decision-making power over rate increases from the regulator to elected lawmakers. It specifically targets electric service rate adjustments, not other utility services or regulatory functions.

Maddy summarySB 679 would repeal West Virginia's current law requiring annual vehicle inspections and safety sticker renewals. This bill directly affects all vehicle owners in West Virginia who currently must obtain an annual inspection to register or renew their vehicle registration. The key provision is the removal of all legal requirements for mandatory state inspections, meaning drivers would no longer need to get an inspection sticker or undergo the inspection process to legally operate their vehicles. The bill eliminates these requirements without adding new rules or costs.