Sen. Zack Maynard

Maddy summarySB 447 amends West Virginia's Industrial Access Road Fund to clarify spending rules and raise monetary limits. It increases the annual county allocation cap for unmatched funds from $400,000 to $800,000 and sets a $300,000 cap for matched funds. The fund can only finance roads to existing or planned industrial sites (e.g., manufacturing, distribution, or West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program locations), not schools, shopping centers, or private property. Counties must provide surety bonds if sites aren't built on time, and projects require Division of Highways approval within 90 days.

Maddy summarySB 423, the "Public Electrical Savings Act," establishes rules for public entities (like schools, government buildings, and municipal facilities) entering power purchase agreements (PPAs) for on-site solar energy. It requires that any PPA must guarantee customers a lower cost per kilowatt-hour than the local utility’s rate, limits PPA contracts to five years (with renewal allowed), and caps total solar generation from PPAs at 3% of a utility’s statewide peak demand. The bill also sets individual capacity limits (50kW for homes, 1,000kW for businesses) and mandates utility meter inspections and cost reporting. These provisions aim to ensure public solar projects provide actual cost savings while preventing grid strain.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for West Virginia state senators and delegates. It would limit senators to three consecutive terms and delegates to six consecutive terms, applying only to terms beginning after the amendment is ratified by voters in the 2026 general election. Terms served before ratification are not counted toward the limit, but any partial term served after ratification counts as a full term. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect, as it requires constitutional change.

Maddy summarySJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit terms for five West Virginia constitutional offices: Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Attorney General. It would prevent any person from serving more than two consecutive terms in any of these specific offices. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election and would take effect upon ratification, counting existing terms toward the two-term limit. This is a procedural constitutional change, not a direct law, and does not affect the Governor's term limits.

Maddy summarySJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces from property taxes on their primary residence and personal property in West Virginia. It would amend Article X, Section 1b of the state constitution to expand the existing homestead exemption - currently limited to seniors or disabled residents - to include veterans who are owners and residents of their primary home. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect. If passed, it would directly affect eligible veterans by eliminating property tax on their primary residence and personal property. This is a constitutional change, not a new law, and does not specify new administrative mechanisms or fiscal impacts beyond the tax exemption.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 2) proposes a constitutional amendment to protect gun rights in West Virginia. It would add a new section to the state constitution stating that "a person has the right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use." The amendment specifically prohibits state, county, municipal, or local government restrictions on this right based on factors like ammunition capacity, caliber, carry method, or accessories. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, it would become "Amendment 1" to the West Virginia Constitution.

Maddy summarySB 7 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000, reducing tax bills for eligible primary homeowners. It applies to residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who meet residency requirements (such as living in the state for two consecutive years). The exemption is applied as a direct deduction from a home's assessed value, meaning no property tax is due on the first $40,000 of a home's value. The bill also updates residency rules to include exceptions for military service members and returning residents within five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects a portion of West Virginia's coal severance tax to the specific counties where coal is mined. Starting in 2012, it gradually increases the share sent to coal-producing counties (from 1% to 5% of the tax), with an annual cap of $20 million. Counties must use these funds exclusively for economic development or infrastructure projects like roads, broadband, mine reclamation, or water systems - barring personal services or bond costs. It ensures local communities directly benefit from coal extracted within their borders.

Maddy summarySB 21 prohibits West Virginia school districts and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission from banning students, coaches, or athletic trainers from participating in non-school athletic activities as a condition of being on a school sports team. The law explicitly states that such restrictions are arbitrary and not rationally related to a state purpose. It directly affects student-athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers in public schools by allowing them to join outside teams or events without losing their school team eligibility. This removes a common barrier that previously forced students to choose between school sports and non-school athletic opportunities.