Sen. Mark Maynard

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 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 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 711 removes a legal prohibition that currently prevents West Virginia from establishing new trail systems for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway recreational vehicles (ORVs), and utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) within state parks and forests. The bill directly affects the Division of Natural Resources, granting it authority to create such trail systems without restriction. It maintains existing provisions allowing connector trails from private systems (like the Hatfield-McCoy trails) to provide access to state park facilities. This change is a straightforward policy adjustment that eliminates a barrier to trail development but does not require the state to build new trails.

Maddy summarySB 564 (West Virginia Senate Bill 564) would prohibit voters not affiliated with a major political party (such as Democrat or Republican) from voting in that party's primary election. The bill amends election code sections to require that unaffiliated voters - registered as "independent" or with no party affiliation - receive only ballots for nonpartisan candidates and public questions during primaries, rather than party-specific ballots. This directly affects unaffiliated voters in West Virginia primary elections, limiting their choice to nonpartisan options only. The change is a procedural adjustment to voter registration and ballot access rules, not a new policy on election administration.

Maddy summarySB 566 provides tuition coverage for certified law enforcement officers in West Virginia pursuing education. It covers tuition and fees for one certificate, one undergraduate degree, one master's degree, and up to two doctorate degrees annually per officer, capped at the highest public university tuition rate. Officers must serve one year for every year of tuition covered or repay the costs. The program requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to set eligibility rules and administer payments, with reductions if officers receive other grants. It directly affects certified officers seeking education while serving in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 5 establishes West Virginia's Adopt-A-Road program, allowing individuals, groups, counties, or municipalities to volunteer for road maintenance projects under the Division of Highways. Participants must apply online, sign an agreement, and follow safety rules - covering tasks like litter cleanup, pothole repairs, or trail maintenance - while the state may provide up to 30% of project costs (or 100% for litter control using a specific fund). The program requires participants to cover signage costs and indemnify the state against liability from their work. It mirrors existing Adopt-A-Highway programs but expands participation to broader road infrastructure maintenance.

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.