2025 WV Legislative Scorecard

SB225 amends West Virginia law to authorize commissioned rangers of the National Park Service to enforce state laws, allowing independent investigation, arrest, search, and seizure for any offense under state law in the National Park System.

The West Virginia Senate passed SB225 on April 11, 2025 by a vote of 33 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill expands state recognition of unconstitutional federal agencies that ought not even to exist, let alone have the power to enforce state and local laws. The 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reserves all powers not enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 to the states or the people. Assuming state police powers exceeds the limited domestic law-enforcement jurisdiction of the federal government, undermining the separation of federal and state powers, and establishes unconstitutional federal authority in state and local policing.

SB627 removes the prohibition against leasing state-owned lands designated as state parks for underground carbon capture and sequestration.

The West Virginia Senate passed SB627 on April 9, 2025, by a vote of 26 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the nays because carbon-capture programs intended to combat “climate change” align closely with the UN’s Agenda 2030, undermining national sovereignty and individual liberty. States should reject UN environmental agendas that erode U.S. sovereignty. Additionally, underground CO2 storage endangers the security of water resources and communities due to the long-term monitoring and storage requirements of carbon-sequestration storage sites.

HB2129 enacts the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” which affirms the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, care, healthcare, and mental health of their minor children; and provides for injunctive relief against violations.

The West Virginia Senate passed HB2129 on March 24, 2025, by a vote of 32 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the upbringing, education, care, and control of children belongs to—and is a fundamental right of—parents, not the government. The State of West Virginia has a duty to uphold the right of parents to protect their children. Parental rights are retained under the Ninth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

SB490 prohibits the use of ranked-choice voting methods by state, county, or local elections offices to conduct elections or nominations of candidates for local government, statewide, or federal elective offices in West Virginia. The West Virginia Senate passed SB490 on March 4, 2025 by a vote of 31 to 2.

We have assigned pluses to the yeas because ranked-choice voting undermines the electorate’s ability to choose the best candidate in elections, threatens election integrity, and is designed to elect moderate-to-leftist politicians, which generally means they do not wholeheartedly adhere to the U.S. Constitution.

SB460 expands exemptions to West Virginia’s compulsory childhood vaccination requirements by permitting religious and philosophical exemptions, and prohibiting schools or childcare centers from excluding exempted children from extracurricular activities or events. Additionally, it permits civil lawsuits with compensatory and punitive damages for any violations.

The West Virginia Senate passed SB460 on February 21, 2025 by a vote of 20 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because neither private nor governmental “public health” mandates are lawful. Every individual has a fundamental right to medical freedom, as no person or entity has legitimate authority to rule over another’s non-injurious health care decisions. Forcing vaccination on children violates the fundamental rights of parental authority and religious liberty. Compelling someone else’s child to be vaccinated violates parental rights retained via the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment.