Del. Erica Moore

Maddy summaryHB 5196 allows West Virginia local governments (counties or municipalities) to enter formal agreements with the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation to have it operate as their designated land reuse agency. This bill amends land reuse agency law to explicitly permit such partnerships, requiring agreements to specify agency structure, board composition, and public input processes. The Land Stewardship Corporation, a state-created nonprofit, would then manage land reuse programs - like repurposing vacant properties - within the local government's jurisdiction under these agreements. This change streamlines collaboration between local governments and the state entity for economic development initiatives.

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 summaryHouse Resolution 12 declares January 27, 2026, as Sexual Violence Awareness Day in West Virginia. The resolution recognizes West Virginia's high rates of sexual coercion victimization (ranking 5th nationally for women) and the significant impact of sexual violence on the state. It symbolically supports local victim services agencies and advocates working to address sexual violence, without creating new laws or funding. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5236 requires county commissions to inspect all ballot tabulating equipment one week before in-person voting to confirm no internet connectivity (no modems or SIM cards installed) and that equipment is properly sealed. It also mandates the Secretary of State to randomly audit 10% of tabulating equipment in at least five counties 14 days before elections, verifying the same internet connectivity requirements. Both inspections require detailed written reports documenting findings, including verification of no internet components, sealing status, and any necessary corrective actions. This bill directly affects county election officials and the Secretary of State by adding mandatory pre-election verification steps to enforce existing law prohibiting internet-connected voting equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 5226 amends West Virginia law to permanently prohibit the refund of filing fees paid by candidates for any elected office. The bill affects all candidates who pay fees under §3-5-8, including those running for statewide offices, judges, county officials, and party committee positions. It specifically states that fees paid - whether for president, governor, sheriff, or party committee roles - will not be returned if a candidate withdraws or fails to appear on the ballot. This change applies to all filing fees described in the existing statute, with no exceptions. The bill does not alter the fee amounts themselves but makes refunds impossible.

Maddy summaryHB 5220 clarifies who may be present near polling places during elections for normal non-voting activities, such as business operations or routine tasks. It explicitly states that people conducting legitimate business or engaging in activities that normally occur at polling places (like retail or services) may remain within 100 feet of the entrance, as long as they do not engage in electioneering. The bill also specifies that vehicles delivering voters may stop within 100 feet to drop off passengers (including those with disabilities) but must move away after discharge. It does not change existing restrictions on electioneering or voting procedures. The bill aims to remove ambiguity for businesses and residents near polling locations during election periods.

Maddy summaryHB 5235 updates West Virginia's back-to-school sales tax holiday by increasing the price thresholds for exempt items. It raises the clothing exemption to $150 (from $125), school supplies to $60 (from $50), instructional materials to $25 (from $20), laptop/tablet computers to $600 (from $500), and sports equipment to $180 (from $150). The holiday applies to eligible purchases made during the first Sunday of August plus the previous Friday and Saturday, and the following Monday. This change directly affects West Virginia residents purchasing qualifying school-related items during this specific annual period, reducing their tax burden on those purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 5231 requires West Virginia counties to use separate voting machines exclusively for training purposes (not for actual elections), with exceptions only during emergencies like machine failures or funding shortages. It mandates that all automatic tabulating equipment be tested for accuracy one week before voting begins, using pre-audited ballots to verify vote counting, with public notice of the test required. Counties must certify the equipment is error-free, seal all testing materials under multiple locks, and submit results to the state Election Commission for one year. This directly affects county election officials, who must establish written security policies and comply with these testing and machine separation rules for all statewide elections.

Maddy summaryHB 5211 requires noncitizen driver's licenses and identification cards issued in West Virginia to be stamped with "NC" (noncitizen). This amendment to §3-1-34(a)(1)(C) of West Virginia law clarifies that such "NC"-stamped IDs cannot be used as valid identification for voting. The bill directly affects noncitizen residents who hold these licenses, as the "NC" designation makes their IDs invalid for meeting voting ID requirements. It modifies existing voting procedures to prevent noncitizen IDs from being accepted as proof of identity at polling places.

Maddy summaryHB 5230 aligns the retirement and disability benefits for dependents of West Virginia State Police officers who take disability retirement with the benefits available to dependents of officers who retire after 20 years of service without disability. It amends §15-2-33 to ensure that dependents of officers qualifying for disability retirement receive the same benefit calculations as dependents of standard retirees - specifically, the greater of either 5.5% of the officer’s 25-year salary average or 75% of the officer’s retirement benefits (with a $5,000 minimum). This change directly affects spouses, children, and parents of State Police officers who leave service due to disability. The bill ensures consistency in benefits without altering existing minimum payments ($5,000 or $6,000 annually) or scholarship provisions for dependent children.