Maddy summarySB 1009 provides legal immunity from civil lawsuits for staff, volunteers, and board members of West Virginia Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) who make recommendations or render opinions in good faith while performing their official duties. This bill amends West Virginia Code §49-3-101 to explicitly state that such individuals cannot be held liable for civil damages based on their actions within their scope of work. The immunity applies specifically to those acting as part of multidisciplinary teams responding to child abuse allegations, covering activities like forensic interviews, medical evaluations, and victim advocacy coordinated through CACs. It directly affects CAC workers by protecting them from civil claims related to their professional duties, without altering the centers' required services or operational standards.
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Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 32) expresses the West Virginia Senate's commitment to protecting coal-dependent communities and energy infrastructure. It specifically requires coal-fired power plants to operate at a minimum 69% annual capacity factor to maintain grid reliability and protect over 10,000 coal jobs, while opposing actions that threaten mine closures or job losses. The resolution also pledges to prioritize local coal jobs over "out-of-state contracting" and prevent ratepayers from bearing higher costs due to reduced coal generation. As a non-binding resolution (adopted February 18, 2026), it does not create new law but formally commits the Senate to supporting coal through policy advocacy and oversight.
Maddy summarySR 42 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Walter Dolph Helmick, a former West Virginia state legislator and public servant. It memorializes his life and career, noting his service as a coal miner, teacher, businessman, Mason, West Virginia House of Delegates member, Senate member (1989-2013), and Commissioner of Agriculture. The resolution formally recognizes his contributions to West Virginia and extends condolences to his family following his death in 2025. As a non-binding memorial resolution, it has no policy impact or effect on legislation.
Maddy summarySB 946 prohibits most health care providers from charging facility fees for outpatient services, except for services on a hospital campus, at facilities with licensed emergency departments, or for emergency care at freestanding emergency facilities. It specifically bans facility fees for outpatient evaluation services and certain diagnostic/imaging services identified annually by the West Virginia Insurance Commission. The bill requires hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities to submit detailed annual reports to the Commission - including revenue data, patient visits, and top procedures - published publicly online. These reports aim to increase transparency about facility fee practices, with the Commission authorized to create rules and impose fines for noncompliance. The law directly affects hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities that previously charged these fees.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the distribution or prescription of "abortifacients" (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It directly affects licensed medical professionals (like doctors and pharmacists) and anyone distributing such drugs, with violations carrying felony penalties (3-10 years imprisonment) for non-professionals and potential license revocation for medical providers. Key provisions include banning the mailing, sale, or dissemination of abortifacients without a valid prescription, requiring medical professionals to attest to compliance, and creating a civil lawsuit option for affected parties. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies - defined as situations where an abortion is necessary to prevent serious risk of death or life-threatening impairment to the patient.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 35) is a ceremonial measure that commends February 14, 2026, as National Organ Donor Day in West Virginia. It honors Timmy "Bub" Fields, a West Virginia teen whose organ donation saved lives after his death, and highlights the state's organ donation achievements, including 779 donors in 2025. The resolution does not create new laws or alter policies; it solely serves to recognize the importance of organ donation and encourage registration through existing channels like donatelifewv.org. It was adopted by the West Virginia Senate on February 13, 2026.
Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 478, the Second Amendment Reaffirmation and Protection Act, prevents state and local officials from enforcing firearm restrictions that rely solely on federal laws later repealed or declared unconstitutional. The bill automatically makes such state or local provisions unenforceable once the federal law is invalidated, unless the state passes new independent laws. It also allows individuals to sue officials who knowingly enforce these invalidated federal rules for damages. The law directly affects state/local law enforcement and residents who might face enforcement actions based on outdated federal regulations.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 34) designates February 12, 2026, as "Hospital Day" at the West Virginia Legislature. It formally recognizes hospitals' economic contributions (including 54,000 direct jobs and $16.9 billion in economic activity) and community benefits (like $92 million in annual community programs). The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, directing the Clerk to send a copy to the West Virginia Hospital Association. It was adopted by voice vote on February 12, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 926, introduced in the West Virginia Senate on February 12, 2026, proposes to eliminate state capital gains tax on the sale or exchange of certain precious metal bullion. The bill would amend West Virginia's tax code to exclude gains from selling gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion from taxable adjusted gross income. This change would directly affect West Virginia residents who sell qualifying precious metals, reducing their state tax liability on those transactions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee and has not yet been enacted into law.
Maddy summarySB 923, the "GRANITE Act," creates a legal cause of action for West Virginia residents and businesses in digital communication, blockchain, and internet services to sue foreign governments or international organizations that enforce censorship laws conflicting with U.S. or West Virginia constitutional protections. It allows lawsuits against foreign entities for imposing penalties (like fines or platform shutdowns) for speech protected under the First Amendment and West Virginia’s Constitution, shifting the burden of proof to the foreign entity to justify such laws. The bill prohibits West Virginia from recognizing or enforcing foreign judgments that compel censorship or criminalize protected U.S. speech, and it establishes civil penalties for violations. This directly affects West Virginia’s digital innovation sector by aiming to shield it from extraterritorial censorship efforts, such as those seen in the UK’s Online Safety Act enforcement against 4chan or Brazil’s court orders against X. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee (introduced February 12, 2026).