Sen. Craig Hart

Maddy summarySB 154 prohibits public schools from teaching about sexual orientation as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects public school students and educators in the state where it passed, banning instruction on sexual orientation in classrooms. Key provisions require schools to remove any content related to sexual orientation from required lessons. This law became effective on April 30, 2025, after being approved by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 10 exempts specific meat processing activities from state sales tax, directly affecting meat processors who handle certain types of meat (like grinding or curing). The bill removes the tax requirement for these defined processes, making them tax-free under current law. This is a procedural tax exemption change with no new fees or requirements for businesses.

Maddy summarySB 942 modifies state regulations governing diesel-powered equipment used in mining operations. It directly affects mining companies and operators who use such equipment at mine sites. The bill changes specific requirements related to emissions standards, maintenance, or equipment specifications for diesel machinery in mines (though the exact technical modifications are not detailed in the provided context). The legislation was enacted into law as Chapter 182 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts on April 25, 2025. Without additional bill text, the precise nature of the "modifications" cannot be specified.

Maddy summarySB 280 requires all public schools in the state to display the official U.S. motto, "In God We Trust," in a prominent location within each school building. This policy directly affects every public K-12 school in the state, mandating the physical display of the motto as part of school decor. The key provision specifies that the motto must be visible in a location easily accessible to students and staff, without requiring specific formatting or additional signage. The bill became law on April 29, 2025, after approval by the Governor.

Maddy summarySB 810 clarifies the requirements for licensed nurses who administer anesthesia or manage chronic pain practices. The bill updates existing rules to provide clearer standards for these specific nursing roles, directly affecting qualified nurses in those specialties. It does not create new requirements but makes current regulations more explicit and actionable. The law became effective on August 8, 2025, following gubernatorial approval on April 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 449 allows public schools to establish organized shooting teams using compressed air firearms (non-lethal) and rimfire firearms (like .22 caliber). It removes previous restrictions preventing schools from creating such teams for competitive or educational purposes. The bill directly affects public school administrators and students participating in these sanctioned activities. It became law after Governor approval on April 24, 2025, and took effect on August 8, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 581 modifies school attendance policies to include student participation in 4-H activities as valid school attendance. It directly affects students enrolled in 4-H programs and school districts that must now count such participation toward attendance requirements. The key provision allows schools to recognize 4-H meetings and activities as equivalent to in-person classroom time for attendance purposes. This law, approved by the Governor on April 24, 2025, and enacted as Chapter 86 of the 2025 Regular Session, creates a concrete policy change for student attendance tracking.

Maddy summarySB 844 exempts non-native quail and partridge raised for agricultural purposes from needing a license to operate a private game farm. The bill amends West Virginia law to clarify that these birds, when kept for meat or egg production (like other domesticated poultry), are not subject to the game farm licensing requirement. This exemption applies only to birds used for agricultural activities - such as breeding for food production - excluding birds intended for release into the wild. The change reduces regulatory burden for farmers raising these birds as part of commercial agricultural operations.

Maddy summarySB 941 clarifies which state agency has authority over dams designed by the U.S. Conservation Service (likely a reference to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). It directly affects state agencies responsible for dam oversight and maintenance. The bill specifies that the state dam safety agency, not the U.S. Conservation Service, holds primary authority for these dams. This eliminates ambiguity in existing regulations without creating new requirements or changing dam management practices. The bill became law on April 28, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 299 prohibits medical professionals in West Virginia from prescribing or dispensing "gender altering medication" (including puberty blockers and supraphysiologic hormone therapy) to patients under 18 years old. This directly affects doctors, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses who provide care to minors. The bill requires telehealth regulations to include this prohibition and mandates that violations result in revocation of professional licenses. It amends existing health codes to define these prohibited practices and establishes enforcement through the Attorney General. The law takes effect July 11, 2025.