Del. Scot Heckert

Maddy summaryHB 4614 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DoHS) to develop and implement a statewide prevention plan by January 1, 2027. The plan must provide evidence-based, trauma-informed services to children under 18 and their families - including those in foster care, youth aging out of foster care, pregnant youth, post-adoption youth, and families with specific needs - through a mix of physical locations and telehealth. DoHS must track service outcomes, report annually starting December 2027 on county-level service reach and costs, and seek federal funding to support these services. The bill focuses on expanding accessible prevention support for vulnerable youth and families without creating new funding.

Maddy summaryHJR 18 proposes amending West Virginia's Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in any state election. It would add language to Article IV, Section 1 stating, "no person who is not a citizen of the United States be entitled to vote at any election held within this state." This change directly affects non-citizen residents currently eligible to vote in West Virginia elections. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and would be designated as "Amendment 1" or the "Citizens Voting Amendment." The bill is currently referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 4590 (West Virginia House Bill 4590) would amend state law to allow private property owners who win their case in an eminent domain proceeding to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the government entity (the "applicant" seeking to take the property). Currently, the government pays trial court costs, but this bill specifically adds that a private property owner who "substantially prevails" in either trial or appellate court could be awarded these fees. The bill directly affects private landowners facing government takings who successfully challenge the action in court. It changes the cost-shifting mechanism to make it easier for property owners to cover legal expenses when they win their case against the government.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's wildlife director to propose new rules for hunting antlered deer. The proposed rules would limit licensed hunters to harvesting two antlered deer per season, with the second deer needing at least three points on one antler. These rules would directly affect all hunters with valid deer hunting licenses in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4571, the "Taxpayer Protection Act," prevents West Virginia residents from being wrongly classified as independent contractors instead of employees. It requires the Tax Commissioner to apply an "ABC" test to determine worker status: (1) absence of employer control, (2) work being unusual for the employer’s business, and (3) the worker operating as an independent business. Employers must prove all three criteria to classify a worker as an independent contractor; otherwise, the worker is presumed an employee for tax purposes. This ensures the state collects proper income taxes from employment relationships, directly affecting both workers (who may gain tax protections) and hiring businesses (which must comply with the classification rules).

Maddy summaryHB 4620 establishes requirements for clothing and necessity allowances for children in foster care in West Virginia. It defines "adequate wardrobe" as appropriate, seasonally suitable clothing in good condition and sets a minimum $375 initial clothing allowance for new placements, plus up to $175 for supplementary needs like illness or damaged items. The bill requires placement providers (foster parents, kinship caregivers, or residential providers) to assess a child's existing wardrobe and necessities at intake, update an inventory periodically, and use a reloadable card as the primary payment method for approved items. It directly affects children in state custody and their caregivers by ensuring access to essential clothing and supplies during foster care. The law specifies that initial allowances cover immediate needs only, not full outfitting, and outlines three payment options for the Department of Human Services.

Maddy summaryHB 4579 requires West Virginia child protective services (CPS) workers to use body-worn cameras during investigations of child abuse or neglect reports. CPS workers must first obtain consent to use cameras in private areas where people expect privacy, and they may skip using cameras if it would harm a child's privacy or impede the investigation - though they must document the reason in the case file. All audio and video recordings become confidential child welfare records, protected from public disclosure under state law, and must be kept until all legal appeals are complete. This bill directly affects CPS workers conducting in-person investigations across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4580 establishes a two-county pilot program requiring child protective service (CPS) workers in West Virginia to use mobile devices (like tablets) during child abuse and neglect investigations starting October 1, 2026. The bill mandates that these devices must have customized software allowing real-time digital record-keeping, automatic daily secure uploads to the department’s server, and compatibility with existing systems to track quality metrics. The pilot will last five years, with annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission detailing device usage and system performance. This directly affects CPS workers and the child welfare system in the participating counties, focusing on evaluating whether mobile technology improves investigation efficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 4616 would require West Virginia courts to issue a final decision in child abuse and neglect cases within 12 months of the initial petition being filed. This time limit applies to all such proceedings and aims to prevent prolonged delays in resolving these cases. The bill does not change the legal standards for determining abuse or neglect but sets a strict deadline for court action. This change directly affects courts handling these cases and the families involved, ensuring more timely resolutions.

Maddy summaryHB 4618 would temporarily increase payments to kinship parents (relatives caring for children) to match foster parent subsidies under specific conditions. To qualify, kinship parents must pass a background check within five days of placement, pass a home safety screening, and be assigned to a child placing agency to help them become foster parent certified. The temporary payment would begin within 30 days of placement and last up to six months, ending if certification isn't completed within that time. This bill directly affects relatives caring for children in West Virginia's child welfare system who are temporarily placed with them.