Sen. Mike Woelfel

Maddy summarySB 819 redirects $4,906,630 from an unappropriated surplus balance in West Virginia's General Revenue Fund to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital (fund 0413) for fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements the hospital's existing appropriation by adding a new line item for "Current Expenses - Surplus" to cover operational costs. This procedural budget adjustment directly affects the hospital's funding for the 2026 fiscal year without changing health care policies or creating new obligations. The funds were identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document as available surplus.

Maddy summarySB 841 adds $30,498 to the State Board of Education's fund 3951 for the Hope Scholarship Program, using an unappropriated surplus from lottery net profits. This supplemental appropriation allocates existing lottery revenue - specifically from the surplus balance not included in the initial budget - to fund the Hope Scholarship Program during fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change the program's eligibility or structure but provides additional funding for student scholarships. The funds are designated for expenditure before June 30, 2026, as part of the state's budget process.

Maddy summarySB 871 allocates $12.66 million from West Virginia's Excess Lottery Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program for fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation adds a new funding line (Fund 3517) to the State Board of Education's budget, directing unappropriated lottery surplus funds toward scholarship payments. The bill does not change program eligibility, rules, or structure - it only provides additional funding for existing scholarship disbursements. It is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySB 828 is a procedural bill that allocates unspent funds from the Department of Human Services' Medicaid State Share Fund (Fund 5090) for fiscal year 2026. It directs $174,483,090 already designated for "Medical Services" to cover ongoing Medicaid provider payments, using money remaining unappropriated after the fiscal year began. This bill does not create new policy or change eligibility - it simply ensures existing unspent Medicaid funds are used for medical services as intended. It directly affects Medicaid providers in West Virginia by securing payment for covered services.

Maddy summarySB 950 repeals West Virginia Code §6-7-5, which previously governed mileage and expense reimbursements for judges. This bill directly affects judges by eliminating the existing rule for calculating travel costs related to their official duties. The key provision is the complete removal of the former statute, with no new mechanisms or allowances being introduced. The change is purely procedural, streamlining the legal framework without altering how judges are compensated for travel.

Maddy summarySB 947 requires the West Virginia State Registrar to provide free certified birth certificates to homeless individuals under 18. It defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (including stays in shelters, temporary institutions, or non-residential places) and mandates the State Registrar to issue copies upon application and proof of homelessness. The bill also updates fee structures for other birth certificate copies, directing some fees to a Vital Statistics Improvement Fund. This policy change directly affects homeless minors in West Virginia seeking essential identification for services like school enrollment or healthcare.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia's education code to redefine the term "long-term substitute" for public school personnel. The bill does not specify the new definition in the provided text, only stating it will amend §18A-1-1 to clarify this term. It affects school personnel categories, particularly those filling substitute teaching roles. The bill was introduced on February 23, 2026, and referred to education committees. (Note: The actual redefinition is not included in the provided bill text.)

Maddy summarySB 392 reduces West Virginia's personal income tax rates for taxpayers starting January 1, 2026, with automatic future reductions tied to state revenue growth. The bill requires the Secretary of Revenue to calculate annual tax rate cuts when state revenue exceeds inflation-adjusted 2019 levels (base year: $4.29 billion), applying the reduction equally across all tax brackets. These reductions cannot exceed a 10% cut in existing rates and will be certified annually after August 15 each year. The bill also lowers withholding rates on nonresident real estate sales, lottery winnings, and certain composite returns. This legislation directly affects all West Virginia income tax filers and nonresidents earning income within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 197) amends West Virginia law to explicitly include "attempt" as a criminal offense under the existing statute for sexual abuse by caregivers. It makes it a felony for parents, guardians, custodians, or others in positions of trust to attempt sexual abuse of a child in their care, with penalties of 10-20 years in prison for attempts involving children under 16. The change aligns penalties for attempted abuse with those for completed abuse, ensuring individuals who try to commit such acts face the same criminal consequences as those who succeed. This directly affects caregivers who attempt sexual misconduct with children under their supervision.

Maddy summarySB 393 updates West Virginia's corporate net income tax definitions to align with federal income tax rules. It requires West Virginia to use the same meaning for tax terms as the federal Internal Revenue Code, applying changes made to federal law between 2024 and 2025 (but not after January 1, 2026). This affects corporations filing West Virginia corporate income tax returns, ensuring their state tax calculations match federal definitions. The law applies retroactively to prior tax years but preserves the existing tax law for years before 2025.