Del. Dave Foggin

Maddy summaryHB 5500 exempts open-top farm vehicles transporting hay, straw, silage, and other natural farm products between farms from penalties for load escape. It specifically applies to vehicles carrying loose, bio-degradable materials that pose no environmental hazard (like fall foliage), but excludes fully loaded vehicles with large bales that could cause injury if dislodged. The bill requires farmers to obtain special permits for these vehicles and limits their speed to 45 mph when hauling materials prone to blowing away. This change directly affects farmers using open-top transport for agricultural products, removing fines for incidental escape while maintaining safety standards.

Maddy summaryHB 4769 requires West Virginia's Governor to develop comprehensive crisis preparedness plans for five specific threats: nuclear attacks, major energy grid disruptions (including cyber or physical attacks), prolonged cyberattacks on communications, invasion, and insurrection. The plans must include preventative measures, immediate response strategies, and recovery steps for each crisis type. The Governor must submit initial plans by November 2026, with annual updates to the legislature. This bill affects state government operations by mandating structured planning for high-risk scenarios, not individual citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 5397 would exempt the sale of firearm suppressors from West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax. This bill directly affects individuals purchasing suppressors, which are devices designed to reduce the sound of a firearm discharge. The key provision amends the tax code to specifically exclude suppressor sales from taxable transactions, aligning them with existing exemptions for small arms and ammunition. The bill does not change ownership laws or safety requirements for suppressors, only the tax treatment of their purchase.

Maddy summaryHB 5387 amends West Virginia's high school graduation requirements by removing a mandatory stand-alone computer science course. Instead, it establishes a computer literacy proficiency requirement that students must meet to graduate. The bill restores local flexibility for school districts to determine how to implement this requirement while preserving advanced computer science pathways. This change directly affects all West Virginia high school students by altering one of their required graduation courses.

Maddy summaryHB 5355 requires West Virginia public school districts to place any teaching position held by an uncertified individual up for public bidding every school year. This applies directly to school districts and teachers currently working without valid teaching certification. The bill mandates that such positions remain open for bid annually until filled by a certified educator, ensuring only qualified staff occupy teaching roles. It does not change certification requirements but adds a recurring annual bidding process for uncertified positions.

Maddy summaryHB 5322 prohibits sexual abuse of animals, defined as touching an animal's mouth, anus, or sex organs for sexual gratification, and bans related activities like selling animals for this purpose or allowing it on one's property. It imposes penalties ranging from up to 12 months in jail or a $2,000 fine for basic violations to up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for aggravated cases involving children or animal harm. Convicted individuals must surrender all animals, cover their care costs, and face a 5-year ban on owning animals for misdemeanors or a 15-year ban for felonies. Additionally, courts must require a psychiatric evaluation (paid by the defendant unless indigent) before granting probation for these offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 5326 increases the amount of pension income subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retired municipal police officers, firefighters, and water/sewage system employees from $15,000 to $30,000 per year. Currently, only the first $15,000 of a retiree’s pension was adjusted for inflation each year; this change extends the COLA calculation to the first $30,000. The bill does not alter the 4% annual COLA cap or the two-year waiting period for new retirees. This policy change directly affects eligible retired municipal public safety and utility workers by providing broader inflation protection on their pension benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 5372 would amend West Virginia law to allow individuals aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, currently only permitted for those 21 and older. The bill specifically targets sections of the code governing concealed carry penalties and exceptions, removing the permit requirement for this age group while maintaining existing exceptions (like carrying on personal property or during hunting). It directly affects West Virginia residents aged 18-20 who are not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession. The bill does not change open carry rules or other existing firearm regulations. This is a proposed policy change, as the bill is currently in committee review with no votes taken.

Maddy summaryHB 5199 requires West Virginia county courts to establish County Parks, Entertainment, and Recreation Commissions (PERCs) for managing public parks and recreation facilities. The bill mandates that each commission consist of 11 members (adjusted by county population), who must be county residents owning local real estate, serving three-year terms with staggered appointments. Existing park commissions continue under this new structure until their terms expire. The law provides clear rules for membership qualifications, appointment procedures, and vacancy handling, ensuring consistent oversight of county recreational systems.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.