Sen. Mike Stuart

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 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 745 updates West Virginia's lobbying laws to increase transparency and accountability. It directly affects registered lobbyists and their employers by requiring a new searchable online database for public access to lobbying records, including registration details and reports. Key provisions include mandating a password-protected electronic filing system by December 2025, increasing registration fees, requiring lobbyists to wear ID badges on capitol grounds, prohibiting contingent fees and political contributions, and raising thresholds for grass-roots lobbying campaigns. The bill also revises reporting requirements and penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to create an official marketing program called the WV Produced or Manufactured Program for goods made in the state. The program would set participation requirements, establish categories for different producers and manufacturers, and develop a logo that can be placed on products before they are sold. The Department of Economic Development must also propose rules to implement these provisions. This legislation directly affects businesses and producers in West Virginia by creating a standardized way to identify locally made products through the state's official marketing efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill would restrict the sale of electronic smoking devices in West Virginia by requiring manufacturers to provide FDA authorization documentation to wholesalers and retailers. It establishes a system where wholesalers must verify that retailers are not on a tobacco noncompliance database before selling these devices, and it sets penalties for selling unauthorized devices or selling authorized devices to individuals under 21. The legislation also requires the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission to maintain lists of authorized retailers and a database of noncompliant businesses, while allowing existing enforcement entities to enforce the new rules.

Maddy summarySB 868 removes the requirement for annual safety inspections and inspection stickers for non-commercial vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers in West Virginia. Instead, it imposes a new $6 annual or $12 biennial "road security fee" on these vehicles during registration, with all funds directed to the West Virginia State Police. The bill repeals all existing inspection requirements for non-commercial vehicles (sections 17C-16-1 through 17C-16-9) while maintaining federal inspection rules for commercial vehicles. This changes how vehicle safety compliance is handled, shifting from physical inspections to a fee-based system for non-commercial owners.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 598 allows judges in West Virginia to refer parents who knowingly make false accusations of child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence during child custody proceedings to prosecutors. If a court finds an accusation was knowingly false, the judge may order the accuser to reimburse the accused parent for reasonable legal costs and refer the case to prosecutors to determine if criminal charges apply. The bill specifically targets deliberate falsehoods - not withdrawn or unproven reports - and applies to parents or household members making such false claims in custody cases. This policy change directly affects parents involved in custody disputes who make verified false allegations, aiming to address misuse of child protection systems.

Maddy summarySB 847 eliminates a legal limit of 12 investigators in the Tax Division's criminal investigation unit. The bill allows the unit to hire more staff to better enforce tax compliance, particularly for nonresident taxpayers (those with business or residence outside West Virginia). It amends existing law by removing the numerical cap, directing the unit to focus efforts on nonresident tax enforcement. Funding for this expanded unit comes from charitable bingo and raffle fees deposited into a dedicated account.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 37), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes the Energy Council's 50th anniversary and commends the organization for its work since 1975. The resolution expresses the West Virginia Senate's appreciation for the Council's role in fostering nonpartisan collaboration among energy policymakers across 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. It has no binding effect or impact on energy policy, funding, or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale of unauthorized electronic smoking devices, such as vapes, in West Virginia and directly affects retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers of these products. It requires manufacturers to provide FDA authorization documentation to wholesalers and retailers, while wholesalers must only sell authorized devices and verify that retailers are not on a tobacco noncompliance database. The legislation establishes penalties for selling unauthorized devices or selling authorized devices to individuals under 21, and mandates that the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission maintain a database of retailers and receive reports of citations. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of State to develop a list of retailers selling electronic smoking devices and allows existing enforcement entities to enforce the new provisions.