Sen. Craig Hart

Maddy summarySB 270 declares that the sale and manufacture of firearms are essential businesses during any declared emergency. This directly affects firearm dealers, manufacturers, and distributors, ensuring they can continue operating when other non-essential businesses may be required to close. The bill requires emergency orders issued by the governor or local authorities to explicitly include firearm businesses as essential, preventing them from being shut down during crises like natural disasters or public health emergencies. It became law on April 25, 2025, as Chapter 241 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summarySB 617 defines "gang" as any group of three or more people engaging in specific crimes, and creates new criminal penalties for gang membership and recruitment. It makes joining a gang or assisting in gang-related crimes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $25,000 fine, separate from the underlying crimes. The bill also adds penalties for intimidating witnesses in gang-related cases, with up to 10 years in prison. This law directly affects individuals who join gangs or recruit others, targeting ongoing criminal activity under West Virginia's Anti-Organized Criminal Enterprise Act.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 18) recognizes the West Virginia Legislature's intent to create the "West Virginia Coal Renaissance Act" but does not enact new law. It directs state agencies (like the Department of Commerce and Public Service Commission) to develop strategies for increasing coal usage in state power plants, including optimizing plant operations, preventing premature closures, and supporting coal production. The resolution specifically targets coal-fired electric utilities and plants, aiming to reverse years of declining coal use by aligning state policy with federal energy priorities under the Trump administration. It focuses on planning and coordination (e.g., quarterly progress reports) rather than mandating immediate policy changes.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 50 is a non-binding request to the federal government to study and implement waterway restoration projects in West Virginia. The resolution specifically asks federal agencies to evaluate and act on debris removal, river bed stabilization, and restoration of natural water flow patterns to address existing flooding damage and prevent future flooding. It was prompted by historic flooding in West Virginia during winter and spring 2025, which left streams and rivers filled with debris that continues to damage property and infrastructure. The resolution requests federal action to mitigate these issues and reduce future recovery costs. This resolution is addressed to President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk, in his alleged capacity as a special government employee.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 26 directs the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study smoke shops in West Virginia, focusing on products they sell, health risks, and sales to minors. The resolution specifically asks the committee to examine both legal and illegal tobacco, nicotine, CBD, kratom, and cannabis products, including their compliance with federal safety guidelines. The committee will assess how illegal products enter the state and their sources, with a report due to the 2026 legislative session. This study aims to inform potential regulatory changes regarding these products without proposing new laws. The resolution does not make policy changes but requests a comprehensive examination to address safety concerns.

Maddy summarySB 944 creates the West Virginia Child First Advisory Committee to evaluate and improve the state's child welfare system. The committee, composed of DHS officials, child welfare experts appointed by the governor, legislative members, and court representatives, will assess child abuse/neglect cases, foster care, adoption processes, and system efficiency. It must issue annual reports by January 1st with recommendations for reducing child removal rates, improving family reunification, and enhancing system transparency. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund (administered by DHS) to support these improvements, funded by state appropriations and federal resources.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 44) honoring basketball legend Jerry West, a native of West Virginia. It memorializes his life and legacy, recognizing his birth in Chelyan, West Virginia; his high school and college career at West Virginia University; his NBA playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers; and his contributions to basketball as a player, coach, and executive. The resolution also acknowledges his philanthropy, including the Jerry West Scholarship for WVU students. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal tribute expressing the Senate's respect and extending sympathy to his family.

Maddy summarySJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all voters in West Virginia elections to be U.S. citizens. The amendment would add language to the state constitution stating: "Only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States shall be entitled to vote at all elections." This would codify the existing requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens, which is already enforced under current law. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 943 clarifies that apiaries (beekeeping operations) are protected agricultural activities under West Virginia law. The bill amends the Code to explicitly state that beekeeping and honeybee colonies are agricultural operations regulated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, directly affecting beekeepers and agricultural regulations. Key provisions include legislative findings that pollinator decline threatens agriculture, that beekeeping supports the economy and food security, and that apiaries are critical to agricultural operations relying on pollinators. This legal clarification ensures apiaries are treated as agricultural operations for regulatory purposes, not subject to conflicting classifications. The bill does not create new regulations but formally recognizes existing beekeeping practices within agricultural protections.

Maddy summarySB 763, the "Creating Public Electrical Savings Act," establishes rules for solar power agreements between utility customers and third-party providers. It directly affects residential, commercial, and industrial customers installing solar systems, as well as public entities (like schools or government buildings) entering into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for onsite solar. Key provisions include limiting total PPAs to 3% of a utility’s peak demand, setting size caps (50kW for homes, 1,000kW for businesses), requiring 48-hour backup power during outages, and mandating that public entity PPAs offer rates cheaper than the utility’s standard rate for the full agreement term. The bill also requires utilities to notify customers if caps are reached within 30 days or allow agreements to proceed if they don’t respond.