Maddy summarySB 854, titled the "Creating Academic Quality in Public Education Act," establishes new standards for West Virginia public schools. It requires a minimum 180-day school year with five hours of daily instruction, annual attendance and immunization records shared with parents, and compliance with health/safety inspections and crisis response planning. The bill mandates annual standardized testing using nationally normed assessments, with results provided to parents and the State Superintendent, and sets a 40th percentile benchmark for school performance. If a school’s test scores fall below this benchmark for two consecutive years, students attending that school would no longer satisfy the state’s compulsory attendance requirement and would be considered delinquent.
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Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate Resolution (SR 35), not a law, recognizing the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Support Program (WVMBSP) for its achievements during the 2023-2024 program year. It highlights the program's work in expanding services to 11,858 women and babies across all 55 counties through 49 partner locations, including pregnancy care centers and social service agencies. The resolution acknowledges specific accomplishments like funding essential resources (car seats, diapers, prenatal vitamins) and supporting program expansions, but does not create new policies or allocate funds. It serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of the program's impact.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 36) formally commemorates the 100th anniversary of the State Fair of West Virginia, which began as the Greenbrier Valley Fair in 1921 and became the State Fair in 1941. The resolution recognizes the fair's historical significance, its annual economic impact ($16.9 million), and its role in supporting agriculture, education, and community engagement through events, scholarships, and local employment. It does not create new laws or allocate funds; instead, it serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation directed to the State Fair's CEO. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate on March 19, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 804 gives public charter schools direct control over all extracurricular activities for their students, replacing county board oversight. It allows charter schools to optionally delegate athletic and band activities to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), which would now be a state agency managing rules for competitive balance (including transfer counts) and handling disputes through its executive director. The bill removes a written permission requirement for homeschoolers, Hope Scholarship participants, and microschool students to join school activities, while modifying fees they pay. It also changes commission membership to include athletic directors (or their representatives) from schools that delegate authority, and shifts all commission funds to public funds.
Maddy summarySB 678, the "Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act of 2025," directs West Virginia's Department of Economic Development to identify suitable sites for coal-fired electricity generation and coke production facilities. The bill aims to streamline state regulations and reduce delays for projects using West Virginia coal, specifically targeting sites near coal deposits, transmission infrastructure, and steel manufacturing facilities. It requires agencies to review and simplify permitting processes to support coal-based electricity and steel production, which the bill states will boost economic development and stabilize electricity prices. The legislation directly affects coal producers, steel manufacturers, and local communities near proposed facilities.
Maddy summarySB 762, the "Creating Support for Neglected Schools Act," proposes a funding mechanism to support school construction and major improvements in West Virginia. It would allocate up to 10% of available state funds for the School Building Authority to finance projects meeting statewide educational needs, including vocational programs at high schools and community college partnerships. The bill requires schools to submit approved 10-year facility plans before receiving funds and mandates that the authority consider all other funding sources for proposed projects. It also sets aside 2% of funds as an emergency reserve for urgent facility needs. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Education Committee.
Maddy summarySB 764 requires West Virginia county school boards to provide parents with a formal process to review and potentially prevent school closures or consolidations. Before making a final decision, boards must prepare written reasons and impact statements (including data like student enrollment and facility conditions), share them with parents and school councils 30 days before a public hearing, and hold accessible hearings where community members can voice concerns. The bill mandates that school boards give significant weight to these impact statements and parent input when deciding on closures. This applies to all schools except those covered by prior voter-approved bond issues, and the law includes a 10-year expiration date.
Maddy summarySB 749 updates West Virginia's public charter school laws to clarify governance, funding, and student enrollment rules. It prohibits charter schools from charging full tuition (allowing only standard fees for activities or part-time programs), authorizes new "high-risk population" charters for students like those in juvenile justice or with severe disciplinary issues, and requires county school districts to track students returning to district schools after leaving a charter. The bill also allows unlicensed teachers to proctor state tests, permits charter boards to remove members via vote, and enables partnerships with learning pods and virtual microschools operated by colleges. These changes directly affect charter schools, their students (including high-risk populations), and county school districts managing student transfers.
Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.
Maddy summarySJR 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a bill) that would eliminate West Virginia's tax on business inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for sale or manufacturing. This change would directly affect businesses (reducing their tax burden) and local governments (counties, municipalities, school districts), which would lose revenue from this tax. The amendment requires the state legislature to provide alternative funding to replace lost revenue for impacted communities, ensuring no net fiscal harm to local governments. It must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.