Del. Joe Parsons

Maddy summaryHCR 17 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study pedestrian safety measures for the New River Gorge Bridge. It directs the committee to examine the feasibility, costs, and federal funding options for installing safety features, while ensuring Bridge Day events can continue. The resolution requires a 2027 report with findings and potential legislation, but does not mandate any safety changes or allocate funds. It directly affects the committee conducting the study and the Bridge Day Commission through consultation. This is a procedural request for research, not a bill implementing safety measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5400 increases criminal penalties for child neglect resulting in death in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence from 3 to 10 years for offenders convicted of causing a child's death through neglect when both a fine and imprisonment are imposed. The bill also clarifies that religious healing methods meeting IRS criteria for medical expenses do not count as neglect (but this exception does not apply to professionals like teachers or doctors responsible for a child's health). Additionally, it specifies that interfering with court-ordered medical treatment is considered neglect under this law. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, custodians, and others in positions of trust responsible for a child's well-being.

Maddy summaryHB 5374 prohibits telemarketers from using auto-dialing systems (robo-calls) to make unsolicited sales calls for Medicare benefits, auto insurance, warranties, or charitable donations in West Virginia. The bill directly affects consumers who receive these unwanted calls and telemarketers who currently make such solicitations. It bans all phone calls using auto-dialing technology to sell insurance-related products, warranties, or solicit donations for charities. The law would apply to all locations, including workplaces, and aims to reduce nuisance calls without exempting political or non-commercial communications. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee after being introduced on February 9, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5320, the "Welcome Act," aims to address West Virginia's housing shortage by changing how land is taxed during development. It allows property owners to keep their original tax classification for subdivided land until individual lots are sold, directly affecting homeowners and developers. The bill protects property owners' right to further subdivide land after initial sales, requires new parcels to include 24/7 access to a road (without mandating road construction), and limits local governments from imposing stricter road standards than the existing access road. These provisions apply to casual land divisions but not to formally recorded subdivisions with existing deed restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 4759 requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to update its rules about athletic eligibility for students who transfer between schools. It directly affects students transferring schools, public and private schools, and the WVSSAC itself. The bill mandates that WVSSAC modify its existing rules to address eligibility after school transfers and also updates rules for incoming ninth-grade students' academic eligibility. These changes aim to standardize transfer protocols and ensure consistent athletic participation rules across school districts. The bill does not alter academic requirements but focuses on administrative procedures for student eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill would permit recreational gold panning in West Virginia rivers and streams under specific conditions, directly affecting individuals who pan for gold and the Division of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR must establish seasonal dates for panning based on fish spawning seasons and publish these dates for public access. It requires that panning be done using only a standard gold pan, with any sluice (a tool for concentrating gold) limited to no wider than four inches. This change creates a regulated framework for the activity, replacing previous restrictions with defined seasonal windows and equipment limits.

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 summaryHB 5200 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within West Virginia's Secretary of State's office to support entrepreneurs, startups (businesses under 5 years old), and scale-ups (businesses with proven growth metrics like 20% annual revenue increase). The office will serve as a central liaison between these businesses and state agencies, helping navigate government processes, coordinate resources, and identify systemic barriers. Key mechanisms include requiring state agencies to provide data (with confidentiality protections), mandating 48-hour responses to business inquiries, and requiring annual reports to the Economic Development Committee on entrepreneurship progress. This bill directly affects small business owners and growth-oriented enterprises seeking state support.

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.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.