Maddy summarySB 719 clarifies how campus police officers employed by West Virginia state institutions (like universities) can use accrued vacation or sick days to earn retirement credit under the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. It specifies that these officers may only count unused leave days earned *after* they began participating in the retirement plan, not days accrued before joining. The bill establishes a 1:1 conversion of unused leave days to retirement credit (with specific rules for partial months), while ensuring lump-sum payments for unused leave don't count toward final salary calculations. This directly affects campus police officers who are current members of the retirement system and impacts how their service time is calculated for benefits. The bill corrects prior ambiguities in the law regarding their eligibility for this credit.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 886 removes the requirement for a burning permit when private landowners conduct prescribed fires on their property, provided they follow procedures set by the Division of Forestry. This change directly affects landowners managing vegetation for wildfire prevention or land health on private property. The bill amends existing law to exempt these controlled burns from the standard permit process during designated fire seasons (March 1-May 31 and October 1-December 31), while maintaining rules about burning times (5 p.m. to 7 a.m.), safety zones (10-foot clearance), and fire bans. It does not alter fire season dates, permit fees for other activities, or penalties for violations.
Maddy summarySB 1042 requires coal mine operators to maintain a minimum airflow of 3,000 cubic feet of air per minute at active mining faces where coal is being cut, drilled, or loaded. This amendment to West Virginia's mine ventilation law (§22A-2-4) sets a specific, enforceable standard for ventilation in working areas, directly affecting all operators of active underground coal mines. The bill also reinforces existing requirements for oxygen levels (minimum 19.5%), carbon dioxide limits (maximum 0.5%), and the use of flame-resistant ventilation materials like brattice cloth. These provisions aim to ensure consistent airflow to dilute flammable gases and maintain safe working conditions.
Maddy summarySB 243 creates a tax credit for businesses in West Virginia that pay severance and business privilege taxes. The credit equals 25% of qualifying expenses businesses incur repairing public property and infrastructure after disasters like hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes. Qualifying expenses include labor, materials, and equipment used for debris removal, site preparation, and rebuilding public structures. Unused credits can be carried forward to future tax years, but the credit excludes costs exceeding fair market value for similar goods or services.
Maddy summarySB 200 creates new criminal penalties for harming police dogs and other public safety animals trained to assist officers. It establishes three offense levels: misdemeanor fines ($200-$1,000) for physical injury, felony fines ($1,000-$3,000) or prison (1-5 years) for serious injury, and felony fines ($2,000-$5,000) or prison (2-10 years) for causing death. The bill explicitly exempts public safety officers who euthanize injured animals in their official duties and allows self-defense claims when protecting such animals. It also requires court-ordered restitution for convicted offenders and designates these offenses as qualifying for enhanced sentencing under recidivist laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $5,000 salary increase to state mine inspectors, including electrical, underground, and surface mine inspectors, effective upon enactment. It directly affects these specific inspectors by adding a fixed monetary amount to their base salaries without altering their duties or qualifications. The provision applies uniformly to all inspectors covered under the relevant chapter of the state code.
Maddy summarySB 228 establishes a two-county pilot program requiring child protective services workers in West Virginia to use mobile devices (like tablets) during child abuse and neglect investigations. The bill mandates that these devices must create digital records in real time, automatically upload data daily to department servers, and meet specific technical requirements for security and interoperability with existing systems. The pilot, starting October 2027, requires mobile technology use in at least 70% of cases in the participating counties and runs for five years. The Department of Human Services must report annually on the program’s progress to the Legislative Oversight Commission.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 sets new salary amounts for West Virginia county commissioners and other elected county officials, effective July 1, 2026, based on their county's population class (e.g., Class I commissioners will earn $53,731 annually, up from $45,535). To receive the increase, county officials must submit a written request to their county clerk, and the county auditor must certify sufficient fiscal health to cover the raise and related taxes. The bill applies directly to all elected county officials (including sheriffs, clerks, and assessors) across West Virginia's 55 counties, with salary tiers determined by county classification. It does not automatically increase pay; officials must actively request the raise, and counties must meet fiscal certification requirements before implementation.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 622 extends the West Virginia Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit, allowing mining businesses to continue claiming a tax credit for investments in safety technology, from expiring at the end of 2025 to December 31, 2028. This credit directly affects mining companies in West Virginia that purchase or develop safety equipment, such as ventilation systems or monitoring devices, for their operations. The bill amends the existing tax credit law by changing the termination date to provide three additional years of financial incentives. Eligible businesses can now reduce their state tax liability for qualifying safety technology expenses made through 2028.
Maddy summarySB 1, the Small Business Growth Act, creates a new tax credit program administered by the West Virginia Department of Commerce to incentivize investment in small businesses. It provides insurance companies with a credit against their state premium tax equal to 15% of qualifying capital investments made by certified "growth funds" into eligible West Virginia businesses. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and principal operations in the state, and investments are limited to 20% of a growth fund's capital authority or $7.5 million per business. The credit is claimed annually based on certified investments, with the program requiring annual reporting and prohibiting certain investment types.