Sen. Mark Maynard

Maddy summarySB 541 requires West Virginia circuit courts to include specific findings of fact and conclusions of law in all orders related to juvenile child abuse and neglect cases. This applies to every court order issued under the state's child abuse and neglect procedures, directly affecting judges, legal representatives, and families involved in these cases. The bill mandates that courts document their reasoning in writing, increasing transparency in decision-making without altering substantive legal standards. It does not change existing rights or procedures but adds a procedural requirement for court orders.

Maddy summarySB 1081 creates a temporary School Finance Transparency Commission to study how West Virginia allocates and spends state education funds at the county level. The commission, including state officials, legislators, and local school representatives, will review spending data on personnel, operations, and instructional services across counties to identify trends and gaps between funding formulas and actual expenditures. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2026, before terminating on December 31, 2026. This bill directly affects county school districts by examining their funding mechanisms and reporting on potential improvements to financial transparency.

Maddy summarySB 1037 would allow the death penalty for first-degree murder committed during a sexual abuse conviction (in the first degree) when the victim is under 12 years old and the defendant is over 18. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the court and defendant within 45 days of arraignment if seeking the death penalty, including the specific reasons they will argue for it. It also establishes procedures for jury selection, sentencing, and automatic review of death penalty cases by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The bill repeals West Virginia’s existing ban on the death penalty to permit this specific application.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's Bureau for Social Services to officially file its entire policy manual - including all rules on Child Protective Services, foster care, youth services, licensing, and casework - as a legislative rule by July 1, 2026. Future updates to these policies must also be filed as amendments to this rule under state procedures. The law aims to make bureau policies transparent and subject to standard rulemaking processes, directly affecting how the agency operates. It does not change program eligibility or funding but ensures policies are formally documented and accessible.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 48 memorializes the late Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, a former West Virginia State Senator (1994-2006) and community leader, by formally honoring her life and public service. The resolution recognizes her roles as a philanthropist, founding president of the Tucker Community Foundation and West Virginia Grantmakers Association, and her decades of volunteer work across West Virginia. It extends the Senate’s condolences to her family and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to her loved ones. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy or financial impact, solely commemorating her legacy.

Maddy summarySB 752 transfers authority to permit motor vehicle racing events on public roads from county commissions to the West Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT). It repeals a provision allowing counties to authorize such events and instead requires racing organizers to obtain permits directly from the DOT, which will charge a fee to cover administrative costs. Organizers must provide proof of insurance, emergency planning, traffic control plans, and written permissions from local governments. The bill also clarifies that DOT permit requirements override certain road obstruction and speed laws, and shifts liability to permittees (not the state) for any injuries or property damage during sanctioned events.

Maddy summarySB 1070 authorizes West Virginia's School Building Authority to use existing funds for specific grounds and site improvements that protect school buildings' structural safety and integrity. It allows funding for drainage systems, erosion control, soil stabilization, and related engineering services when needed to prevent foundation damage, flooding, or structural threats - excluding purely aesthetic landscaping or routine maintenance. The bill requires written certification from a licensed engineer confirming that proposed improvements are necessary for building safety before approval. This directly affects public school facilities statewide by enabling proactive, cost-effective protection of school infrastructure. The measure expands the Authority's existing funding powers to address site conditions threatening building safety, with implementation effective 90 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 1040, the West Virginia Energy Freedom Act, removes the requirement for certain non-utility power generators to obtain a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" before building or operating facilities. It directly affects solar, wind, and other non-utility electric generation projects, requiring them instead to register with the Public Service Commission and comply with environmental, zoning, and grid interconnection rules. The bill streamlines approvals by waiving the certificate process for projects reviewed and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. It also exempts intermittent power sources (like solar and wind) from the certificate requirement, shifting oversight to registration and standard grid connection protocols.

Maddy summarySB 1047 creates a non-criminal system to address homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges by requiring law enforcement to issue verbal warnings, then written warnings, and finally refer individuals to community behavioral health centers after three encounters - replacing arrests or citations. The bill sets standards for recovery housing to be substance-free, trauma-informed, and long-term, with specific provisions for family recovery housing supporting pregnant women and mothers with children. It prohibits criminalizing homelessness or addiction, integrates community behavioral health centers with recovery housing services, and mandates an annual report from a state advisory team, all using existing state resources without new funding. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 1041 establishes the "Energy Economic Load Dispatch Act," requiring utilities to follow a new cost-based planning standard for power generation projects. It mandates that utilities comply with this standard to obtain or maintain permits for new power plants, include resource adequacy and reliability in their long-term energy plans, and ensure costs for non-compliant projects cannot be passed to customers. The Public Service Commission gains explicit authority to deny approvals, condition permits, or revoke certificates if utilities fail to meet these requirements. This bill directly affects electric utilities and the commission's review process for energy projects, focusing on cost transparency and regulatory oversight.