Sen. Mike Azinger

Maddy summarySB 1, the Small Business Growth Act, creates a new tax credit program administered by the West Virginia Department of Commerce to incentivize investment in small businesses. It provides insurance companies with a credit against their state premium tax equal to 15% of qualifying capital investments made by certified "growth funds" into eligible West Virginia businesses. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and principal operations in the state, and investments are limited to 20% of a growth fund's capital authority or $7.5 million per business. The credit is claimed annually based on certified investments, with the program requiring annual reporting and prohibiting certain investment types.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 531, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits state agencies from entering contracts with media monitoring organizations that rate news sources for factual accuracy, bias, or adherence to journalistic standards. It directly affects all state departments, institutions of higher education using state funds, and companies bidding for state advertising contracts. The bill requires contractors to provide written certifications confirming they do not use such media monitoring services, and clarifies that contracts for aggregating news or tracking ad performance are still permitted. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for all new or renewed state contracts.

Maddy summarySB 640 prohibits the public release of contributors' addresses and employer information for political election donations exceeding $250 in a single election cycle. It amends West Virginia election law to require this information to be reported in financial statements but bans its disclosure to the public, while maintaining the requirement for contributors to provide it. The bill directly affects political donors over $250 and election committees that file financial reports. A violation constitutes a misdemeanor offense under the new provisions. This change modifies existing disclosure rules to protect contributor privacy for specific details, without altering contribution limits or reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates West Virginia laws to clarify the requirements when an out-of-state bank acquires a state-chartered bank within the state. It requires the acquiring bank to provide written confirmation to the state commissioner that it will continue to follow West Virginia laws, maintain deposit insurance, and meet capital requirements as long as it operates a branch in the state. The legislation also sets limits on how many deposits the resulting bank can control in West Virginia and allows the commissioner to waive these limits in specific cases. These changes directly affect banks involved in interstate mergers and the state's financial regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates West Virginia's mortgage lending laws to strengthen consumer protections and improve transparency for borrowers. It requires lenders and brokers to provide detailed closing statements that clearly show late payment penalty maximums and must include the borrower's signature, ensuring they understand the loan terms before finalizing the agreement. The bill also mandates that loan records be kept for 36 months and allows borrowers to request account statements and payoff information within specific timeframes without fees, except for third-party delivery costs. Additionally, it clarifies that a separate state-specific closing disclosure is not needed if the federal closing disclosure already contains all required information, reducing paperwork while maintaining compliance with state and federal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement for the West Virginia Commissioner of Finance to approve the joint account forms used by banking institutions. It directly affects banks and financial institutions operating in the state by eliminating a regulatory step in their account documentation process. The legislation amends existing banking laws to allow institutions to use their own joint account forms without prior commissioner approval, while maintaining all other rules about how joint accounts are handled, including protections for creditors and notice requirements for account owners. This change streamlines administrative procedures for banks without altering the substantive rights and responsibilities of account holders or financial institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the licensing requirements for mortgage lenders and brokers in West Virginia by allowing applicants to use various forms of financial statements to prove their tangible net worth. It maintains existing background check procedures through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry while clarifying how the commissioner can use this system to streamline information requests from government agencies. The legislation sets specific financial thresholds for licensure, requiring lenders to demonstrate $250,000 in net worth and brokers to show $10,000, with bond amounts adjusted based on annual loan origination volumes. These changes apply to both new license applications and annual renewals, ensuring ongoing compliance with state regulations for mortgage professionals operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 985 regulates kratom products by requiring businesses that grow, process, or sell them to obtain permits and verify online customers are at least 21 years old using approved age-check systems. The bill defines "kratom" as the natural leaf of the mitragyna speciosa plant (excluding food products or synthetically altered forms) and prohibits selling contaminated products or unapproved items. Selling without a permit is a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine or 1 year in jail) for first offenses and a felony (up to $5,000 or 5 years in prison) for repeat violations. The Department of Agriculture must enforce these rules, use a software tracking system, and notify the Tax Department of certain violations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the dedicated public service of Honorable Michael Andrew Woelfel, a former West Virginia State Senator. The bill honors his career as a prosecutor, juvenile court referee, university professor, and legislator who served three consecutive terms in the Senate. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for his contributions to West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Woelfel. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the dedicated public service of Honorable Charles Houston Clements, a former West Virginia state senator. The bill honors Clements for his legislative career, including his service as Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his decision not to seek reelection in 2026. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for his commitment to serving West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Clements.