Maddy summarySB 221 renames the West Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority to the King Coal Highway Economic Advisory Board and reduces its membership from 13 to 11 members. The bill requires the board to include representatives from the economic development agencies of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, two regional planning councils, and seven Governor-appointed members with specific industry expertise (coal, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, and agriculture). It also mandates that the board nominate six additional members with specialized industry experience within its first three meetings. The advisory board will provide guidance to support economic development and diversification in the five counties along the King Coal Highway.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryWest Virginia's Senate Bill 225 bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat (meat grown from animal cells in a lab) within the state from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031. Businesses violating this prohibition face fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail, and the state health secretary may suspend a food establishment's operating permit for violations. The law explicitly exempts research on cultivated meat conducted by government entities, state universities, or their partners through written agreements. The ban is set to expire after five years on July 1, 2031.
Maddy summarySB 217 (Creating Community Schools Funding Formula Revision Act) requires the West Virginia Department of Education to review school closures and consolidations considered during the current year and the previous four fiscal years. Within 180 days, the department must propose changes to the School Aid Formula designed to prevent at least 80% of those closures, regardless of prior district decisions based on financial or operational factors. The bill directly affects school districts facing closure threats due to budget constraints. It mandates a specific review period (5 years), a concrete prevention target (80%), and a strict timeline (180 days) for formula adjustments.
Maddy summarySB 178 requires the West Virginia Division of Highways Commissioner to create and annually submit a comprehensive plan for routine repaving of all asphalt-surfaced state roads. The bill amends existing law to mandate this annual plan, directly affecting the Division of Highways' maintenance operations. Key provisions include establishing a structured repaving schedule and requiring the plan to be presented to the Legislature each year. This focuses on systematic road maintenance rather than new construction or emergency repairs. The bill does not specify funding mechanisms or timelines for repaving.
Maddy summarySB 223 requires West Virginia county school boards to follow specific steps before closing or consolidating any school (except when a bond issue already covered the closure). Before making a final decision, boards must prepare written reasons with supporting data, hold public hearings with adequate notice, and create an impact statement covering student transportation, financial effects, enrollment, staff impacts, and community consequences. The bill ensures parents and community representatives (through school improvement councils) receive notice and have opportunities to provide input during the process. It applies directly to students, families, school staff, and local communities affected by potential school closures or consolidations. The law includes a 10-year sunset date but focuses on procedural requirements for school board decisions.
Maddy summarySB 219 creates a 5-year moratorium (starting July 1, 2026) on closing or consolidating any public school in West Virginia. It directly affects all public schools and their students by preventing closures while requiring the state to provide emergency funding for existing schools through Local School Improvement Councils. The bill mandates the Board of Education to conduct eight specific studies over five years, including tracking school proximity/travel data, implementing an annual safety/climate rating system for schools, validating assessment data, and studying how school size affects student well-being and academic performance. At the end of the moratorium, the Board must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, with the moratorium extending indefinitely if all studies aren't completed.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 218 creates a $5 million annual Community School Support Fund within West Virginia's Department of Education to assist schools at risk of closure or consolidation. It directly affects schools that qualified for Federal Title I funding during the 2024-2025 school year, providing up to 20% of a school's operating costs to help sustain them. Schools must apply through their Local School Improvement Council, and the fund exempts certain staffing requirements while allowing use of Step 7 funds for personnel and facility costs. The bill requires the State Superintendent to identify savings to set aside the $5 million annually and clarifies the application process for this targeted support.
Maddy summarySB 220 amends West Virginia law to redefine "solar photovoltaic energy facility" as "on-site energy facility" within the Public Service Commission's jurisdiction. It establishes specific rules for power purchase agreements (PPAs) between public entities (like schools or government buildings) and utility customers, requiring PPAs to guarantee lower electricity costs than the utility's rate, limit facility sizes (25kW residential, 1,000kW commercial, 2,000kW industrial), cap total PPA capacity at 3% of a utility's peak demand, and restrict PPA terms to five years. The bill also mandates 11-point font for PPA contracts and requires utilities to notify customers if capacity limits are reached within 30 days. These provisions directly affect public entities entering PPAs and utilities managing such agreements.
Maddy summarySB 211 amends West Virginia law to limit the Public Service Commission's (PSC) authority over electric utilities and require legislative involvement in rate adjustments. It mandates that the PSC forward all rate adjustment recommendations to the Legislature and requires specific legislative approval for any rate changes. This directly affects electric utilities (by changing how their rates are set) and the Legislature (by granting it new approval authority). The bill alters the existing regulatory process by shifting final decision-making power over utility rates from the PSC to the Legislature.
Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 222, updates West Virginia's Public Water Supply Protection Act by imposing new requirements on public water systems and public service districts. It mandates that water systems install real-time telemetry for aboveground tank levels, issue quarterly public reports, and undergo independent reviews when needed. Public service districts must appoint a communications officer, and the Public Service Commission must address water worker shortages in annual reports. These changes directly affect municipal water providers, rural water associations, and state oversight bodies responsible for water safety and infrastructure. The bill focuses on improving transparency, infrastructure monitoring, and emergency preparedness for public water systems.