Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "child torture" in West Virginia law, targeting caregivers, parents, or others with a duty of protection who intentionally or recklessly subject a child under their care to severe physical or psychological acts. It defines torture as including acts like breaking limbs, inflicting prolonged pain, depriving food/water for unreasonable periods, sexual abuse, or terrorizing the child to cause significant emotional distress. The bill establishes felony penalties: 1-5 years in prison if no bodily injury occurs, and 2-10 years if bodily injury results. It directly affects individuals in positions of trust over children, such as parents, guardians, or custodians, by imposing specific criminal consequences for documented severe abuse.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1036 modernizes foster care funding in West Virginia by requiring the Department of Human Services to update basic, special, and therapeutic foster care payment rates using current cost data. It mandates automatic annual adjustments based on the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for Health Care & Social Assistance or the CPI-Medical index to keep pace with rising costs. The bill also requires therapeutic foster care and agency administrative rates to reflect current expenses and includes retention incentives for foster care providers. This directly affects foster parents, child-placing agencies, and the Department of Human Services by stabilizing workforce compensation and placement continuity. The changes aim to improve recruitment and retention in the child welfare system through updated, cost-based funding.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires vape and smoke shops in West Virginia to obtain a state license before operating. It directly affects businesses that sell vaping products, tobacco, and related accessories, defining "vape or smoke shop" as establishments devoting at least 33% of floor space to these products. Key provisions include banning shops from operating as residences, prohibiting the sale of certain vapor products, and imposing fines up to $10,000 or jail time for unlicensed operation. The law establishes licensing fees, enforcement by the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner, and reporting requirements for compliance.
Maddy summarySB 929, the "Taxpayer Transparency in Education Act," requires West Virginia county school boards to publish detailed annual financial statements within 120 days of each fiscal year. These statements must disclose all expenditures over $250 to individuals or firms, debts, school personnel pay, and budget estimates, either as legal ads or on public websites. County boards failing to submit these reports within 90 days face a State Auditor noncompliance notice, and after 60 days of noncompliance, they lose access to discretionary state education funds. The bill directly affects all 55 county school boards by mandating greater financial transparency for taxpayers.
Maddy summarySB 144 would gradually increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners aged 65+ or permanently disabled residents. The bill phases in a higher exemption amount (beyond the current $20,000) over time, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment. It also repeals a provision limiting how much property tax rates can rise when property appraisals increase. This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their property tax burden, contingent on constitutional approval.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Sergeant First Class Bill Brown of Beckley, West Virginia, for his distinguished military service during the Vietnam War. The bill formally recognizes his three tours of duty in Southeast Asia, where he served in command roles and was severely wounded in 1971, resulting in a bilateral leg amputation. It acknowledges his receipt of 16 military medals, including the Silver Star and a rare South Vietnamese award, and directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to him.
Maddy summarySB 1037 would allow the death penalty for first-degree murder committed during a sexual abuse conviction (in the first degree) when the victim is under 12 years old and the defendant is over 18. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the court and defendant within 45 days of arraignment if seeking the death penalty, including the specific reasons they will argue for it. It also establishes procedures for jury selection, sentencing, and automatic review of death penalty cases by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The bill repeals West Virginia’s existing ban on the death penalty to permit this specific application.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 54), not a substantive bill. It formally recognizes Christy Martin of Mullens, West Virginia, for her pioneering career in women's boxing, including her induction into the West Virginia Boxing Hall of Fame (2015) and International Boxing Hall of Fame (2020), as well as the 2025 release of her biographical film *Christy*. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it serves solely as symbolic acknowledgment of her achievements and legacy. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate on February 26, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 560, the Financial Accountability Stable Token Act (FAST Act), allows West Virginia to use stable digital tokens fully backed by U.S. dollars for payments to state vendors and contractors. The State Treasurer will maintain a list of approved tokens meeting strict criteria (e.g., 1:1 U.S. dollar backing, quarterly audits, and U.S. regulatory compliance) and may authorize them without further legislative action. Vendors and contractors can choose to accept these tokens voluntarily but cannot be required to do so, and such payments will satisfy the state’s financial obligations. The Treasurer must also submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing token usage, cost savings, and risk assessments.
Maddy summarySJR 21 proposes a constitutional amendment (designated "Amendment 1") that would require West Virginia's state government to limit annual spending increases to no more than the combined growth of the state's population plus inflation. This would directly affect state budget decisions by imposing a strict cap on how much spending can rise each year. The amendment would be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election for approval. If adopted, it would become part of the West Virginia Constitution, altering how state expenditures are managed. The resolution includes procedural steps to number and name the proposed amendment as the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Amendment."