Sen. Mark Maynard

Maddy summarySB 561 establishes rules for local religious organizations in West Virginia seeking to disaffiliate from a parent denomination or conference. It requires a two-thirds vote of the local membership for disaffiliation approval and divides property into three classes: real estate (Class A), personal property (Class B), and financial assets (Class C). For real estate, a local church may retain a parcel if over 50% of its acquisition costs were raised locally (excluding parent funds), but must reimburse the parent for documented investments - though the parent must prove ownership claims within 60 days via receipts or records. If the parent fails to provide required documentation, the local church keeps the property without reimbursement for unproven claims.

Maddy summarySB 530 expands West Virginia's Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit within the State Police by requiring at least one retired State Police officer from each of the 21 police districts to join the unit, increasing its size to 21 members. The bill mandates that the unit maintain an office in every State Police district (located within local Human Services offices), coordinate closely with Child Protective Services, and track statewide data on child abuse/neglect cases without identifying individual cases. It also establishes rules for rehiring retired officers (requiring specific training but no pension accrual) and requires an annual report to the legislature on unit activities and case data. The unit will focus on investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases while supporting local law enforcement and social services.

Maddy summarySB 528 would make permanent daylight saving time (currently observed in summer) the official time for all West Virginia public schools, colleges, government agencies, and businesses. It specifies this time would apply year-round starting March 2nd and ending November 1st, aligning with current daylight saving schedules. However, the bill explicitly states it would only take effect if Congress passes federal legislation allowing states to observe daylight saving time permanently. This bill is conditional and does not change current time practices until federal approval is secured.

Maddy summarySCR 2 is a symbolic Senate Concurrent Resolution (not a law) introduced in West Virginia on January 19, 2026. It expresses legislative support for religious freedom in public spaces, specifically endorsing practices like public school students and teachers openly expressing their faith, accommodating religious observances in government settings, protecting religious symbols in public areas, and fostering respectful dialogue among faiths. The resolution cites historical documents and recent Supreme Court decisions (like *Kennedy v. Bremerton*) to frame its support for religious expression in public life. It does not create new legal requirements or change existing laws, as it is a non-binding statement of principle.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 523) requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to seek termination of parental rights in specific new circumstances, directly affecting parents whose children are in state custody. It mandates termination petitions when: a child has been in foster/kinship/residential care for 15 of 22 months; a court finds abuse like abandonment, torture, or sexual abuse; a parent committed murder/manslaughter against a child or other family member; or a parent fails to contact a child for 18 months (excluding incarceration or treatment). The bill also clarifies time limits for "improvement periods" where courts allow parents time to address issues before termination proceedings. These changes aim to expedite permanency for children in unsafe situations while maintaining legal safeguards.

Maddy summarySB 542 (West Virginia Senate Bill 542) requires courts to issue final decisions in child abuse and neglect cases within 12 months of the initial petition being filed. This law directly affects courts handling these sensitive cases and aims to prevent prolonged legal delays. The key provision creates a strict deadline: courts must render disposition decisions (final rulings) no later than 12 months after the initial petition is officially submitted. The bill adds Section §49-4-611 to West Virginia law, replacing any existing longer timelines that might delay outcomes for children in foster care or protection proceedings.

Maddy summarySB 527 creates a new process for courts to offer alternatives to formal conviction, such as community service or treatment programs, for individuals facing certain criminal charges that could result in incarceration or in juvenile abuse and neglect cases. The bill establishes a specific procedure for requesting and reviewing these "pre-adjudicatory alternative dispositions," requiring courts to follow defined steps and documentation, including attaching certified copies of underlying court orders. It adds a new section (§49-4-607a) to West Virginia law and amends related sections to integrate this process into existing legal frameworks. This change directly affects defendants in eligible cases by providing an option to resolve their matter without a formal adjudication.

Maddy summarySB 529 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to create a 15-month pilot program contracting with private companies to provide caseworker aide services. These aides will handle administrative tasks using technology, freeing up child welfare caseworkers to spend more time directly interacting with children and families. The pilot will target districts with high caseloads, persistent staff vacancies, or high rates of children placed in out-of-state foster care. The department must maintain full supervisory control over cases and submit a report to the legislature evaluating the program's impact on caseworker time and outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 525 establishes a two-county pilot program starting October 1, 2026, requiring child protective services (CPS) workers to use mobile devices (like tablets) during child abuse and neglect investigations. The bill mandates that devices must create real-time digital records, securely upload data daily, work with existing systems, and be used in at least 70% of cases in the pilot counties. The Department of Health and Human Resources must analyze monthly quality metrics and submit annual reports to the legislature on the program’s progress. This directly affects CPS workers in the two participating counties and the state department managing child welfare investigations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 521 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DoHS) to develop and implement a statewide prevention plan by January 1, 2027. The plan must provide trauma-informed, evidence-based services to children under 18 and their families - including those in foster care, with open child welfare cases, aging out of foster care (up to age 21), post-adoption, or transitioning between care levels. DoHS must ensure services are accessible through a mix of physical locations and telehealth, track outcomes, and report annually starting December 2027 on family counts, costs, and regional outcomes (using de-identified data). The bill also directs DoHS to seek federal funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act to maximize state resources for these programs.