Maddy summarySB 755 establishes a five-year program requiring every West Virginia public secondary school to have a licensed athletic trainer on staff or contracted through the county board by July 1, 2031. It expands career technical education (CTE) sports medicine programs to all high schools through cost-efficient methods like shared resources or mobile instructors, aligning curricula with higher education standards. The bill mandates annual state funding for trainer recruitment and retention, including using the Underwood-Smith Loan Repayment Program to incentivize dual-role teacher-athletic trainers. This directly affects student-athletes (through improved safety access), schools (requiring new staffing), and CTE programs (expanding course offerings statewide).
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 891 creates a free State Central Legal Advertising website managed by the West Virginia State Auditor, which will replace traditional newspaper publication requirements for certain legal advertisements. Entities required to publish legal notices (like courts, government agencies, and legal professionals) can now post Class II and Class III ads online for just one week instead of the current multi-week newspaper requirements. The website will provide electronic affidavits to confirm publication, which courts must accept as valid proof of service. This change applies to all legal ads published on the site, with traditional newspaper rules remaining in effect if the website isn't used.
Maddy summarySB 929, the "Restoring Private Schools Act of 2025," amends West Virginia law to establish requirements for private, parochial, and church schools. It mandates these schools to maintain attendance and immunization records, comply with fire and health safety inspections, create crisis response plans, and administer annual standardized tests to students in the same grades and subjects as public schools. Schools serving students with learning disabilities may use alternative assessments like portfolios or parent-agreed evaluations instead of standardized tests. The bill requires schools to share test results and student lists with parents and the state education department upon request, directly affecting all nonpublic schools operating under these provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential substance use disorder treatment facilities receiving state Medicaid payments to hold both state licensure and specific accreditation (CARF, Joint Commission, or DNV) by July 1, 2025. Facilities failing to meet these requirements will not receive reimbursement for services provided on or after January 1, 2026. The Bureau for Medical Services must update its provider manual by October 1, 2025, to enforce these rules and report on effectiveness by 2030. It directly affects all residential facilities treating substance use disorders that seek state Medicaid funding.
Maddy summarySB 851, the Child Protection Investigations Reform Act, requires West Virginia’s Department of Human Services to provide clear, written summaries and verbal notifications to parents or legal custodians accused of child abuse or neglect during investigations. The written summary explains investigation procedures, the right to file complaints, access records (unless safety is at risk), and legal counsel options, all in plain language the person understands. Verbally, it must also inform individuals of their Fourth Amendment rights, including the right to refuse interviews without a lawyer, withhold medical records, and consult an attorney before agreeing to safety plans. The bill applies only to investigations initiated on or after July 1, 2025, and does not change existing legal standards for reporting abuse.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "West Virginia-Powered Data Center Incentive Act," creates tax incentives to attract data centers to locate in West Virginia, targeting facilities that will use coal-generated electricity. It establishes eligibility criteria, property tax exemptions, and an application process for qualifying data centers, while requiring compliance with program terms. The incentives aim to stimulate economic growth, create high-quality jobs in construction and technology, and support the state's coal energy infrastructure. The bill includes recapture provisions if data centers fail to maintain compliance with the program requirements.
Maddy summarySB 853 clarifies registration requirements for individuals and organizations bidding at public auctions of tax-abandoned land held by West Virginia's State Auditor. It requires bidders to register in advance with the Auditor's office or submit a notarized affidavit on the auction day, and prohibits registration for those with past payment defaults, delinquent property taxes, repeated code enforcement violations, or unresolved legal disputes related to property ownership. The bill specifically allows 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on housing or public facilities to bid at auctions, provided their bid is no more than 5% lower than the highest non-nonprofit bid. This affects anyone seeking to purchase tax-foreclosed land through county auctions, ensuring bidders meet specific eligibility criteria before participating.
Maddy summarySB 849 proposes a market-based pay adjustment for West Virginia State Police troopers, directly affecting troopers employed in counties where base salaries fall below regional competitiveness. The bill calculates a pay multiplier by comparing the median home price in a trooper's specific region (including contiguous counties in border states) to West Virginia's statewide median home price, then applying this to average local law enforcement salaries. This adjustment would be implemented starting July 15, 2026, and recalculated every five years using data from the National Association of Realtors. The law requires the State Police to certify the calculation to the State Auditor and mandates that funds for this enhancement are in addition to minimum salary schedules.
Maddy summarySB 855 creates the West Virginia Beverage Producer Responsibility Act, requiring beverage producers (like manufacturers and importers) to fund and manage recycling of containers through Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). The bill establishes a refund system for consumers returning containers (with labels and deposit procedures), a state-managed recycling trust fund overseen by the Auditor, and tax credits for PROs building redemption centers. It exempts small producers (selling under one million beverages yearly), non-profits, and government entities. The law sets a compliance deadline for implementation and defines key terms to clarify producer responsibilities.
Maddy summarySB 841 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting, facilitating, or funding any discussions, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. The bill bans state funds for gender transition treatments (like hormone therapy or puberty blockers), restricts school materials discussing gender identity, and prohibits staff from engaging in related training or curriculum. Violations could result in employee termination, funding suspension, or lawsuits by West Virginia residents. This directly affects state-funded institutions and their educational, medical, and administrative activities.