Del. Jonathan Pinson

Maddy summaryHB 2090 modifies retirement benefits for West Virginia deputy sheriffs. It increases the retirement benefit calculation from 2.25% to 2.75% of final average salary for deputies retiring after July 1, 2018, and raises benefits for totally disabled retirees. The bill also authorizes counties to pay higher fees into the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund. These changes directly affect current and future retired deputy sheriffs and county governments managing retirement fund contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 2122 would exempt specific infant and hygiene products from West Virginia's sales tax. It defines "diapers" as disposable absorbent products for infants/toddlers or people with incontinence, "feminine hygiene products" as items like tampons and menstrual cups for biological women, and "infant products" as baby bottles, formula, and car seats. The bill removes sales tax liability for these items at the point of purchase. This directly affects consumers who buy these products, reducing their out-of-pocket costs. The policy change is limited to the defined products and does not alter other tax obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 2435 repeals a West Virginia law (§55-2-1) that set a time limit for lawsuits involving entry onto or recovery of land. This change removes a specific statute of limitations, meaning property owners or others involved in land disputes would no longer face a fixed deadline to file such legal actions. The bill directly affects individuals or entities pursuing or defending claims related to land ownership or access. As a repeal bill, it eliminates an existing legal restriction without adding new provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 2395 amends West Virginia law to classify search and rescue (SAR) group dogs working with law enforcement under the West Virginia Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program as "law enforcement officers" during active duty. This directly affects SAR dogs and their handlers, granting handlers the right to use reasonable force to protect these dogs - similar to how they would defend a human officer. The bill clarifies that these dogs are not state employees and do not receive employee protections or status. It specifically applies to dogs trained for searching for people or cadavers while assisting in the field with handlers.

Maddy summaryHB 2040 modifies West Virginia's Certified Industrial Business Expansion Development Program by removing a requirement that electricity provided to businesses in designated industrial districts must be generated from renewable sources. This change directly affects new or expanded industrial facilities locating within certified high-impact business development districts, which are limited to two per state and must cover no more than 2,250 acres. The key provision allows these businesses to use electricity generated from non-renewable sources within the district without facing certain utility regulations, such as Public Service Commission oversight on rates or net metering rules. The bill does not create new districts but alters the operational flexibility for electricity service within existing or future certified zones.

Maddy summaryHB 2072 allows healthcare providers in West Virginia to refuse to perform, assist with, or accept patients for procedures related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning based on religious or conscientious objections. The bill defines "gender transition" as changing from one's biological sex and specifies that healthcare workers - including doctors, nurses, and facilities - may not face disciplinary action or liability for such refusals. It explicitly excludes emergency care, visitation rights, and health care decision-making from this provision, requiring providers to still offer emergency treatment under federal law. The bill also permits healthcare providers to sue if denied their right to object, with the Attorney General empowered to enforce compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2069 amends West Virginia law to clarify that penalties for dogs wounding livestock apply to "any other livestock" as defined in §19-18-1, beyond the specifically listed animals (like sheep, cattle, or poultry). This change ensures the law covers all livestock types under the state's legal definition, not just those explicitly named in the current penalty section. The bill does not create new penalties or alter existing ones but makes the law more inclusive by explicitly including all livestock covered by the definition in §19-18-1. It directly affects livestock owners and dog owners by extending the same penalty rules to all legally defined livestock, regardless of whether they were previously named in the statute.

Maddy summaryHB 2352 modifies West Virginia's Unborn Child Protection Act by requiring healthcare providers to obtain voluntary, informed consent before performing abortions. The bill mandates that providers inform patients about medical risks of abortion, risks of carrying a pregnancy to term, ultrasound viewing options, fetal development stages, and mental health resources - via printed materials and the state health department's website. It includes special provisions for minors and cases of sexual assault or incest, requiring 48-hour law enforcement reports or medical treatment documentation before abortion access. The bill also restricts abortion locations to licensed hospitals and prohibits certain procedures, while emphasizing patient education as a core requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2088 prohibits individuals listed on West Virginia’s state sex offender database from attending any public school activities, events, or athletic functions, regardless of whether they have children enrolled. This applies to all such individuals, including parents or guardians, and directly affects those on the registry who would otherwise participate in school-related settings. The bill imposes penalties: a first violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, while subsequent violations are felonies carrying 1-5 years in prison. It also requires parent-teacher conferences involving registered sex offenders to occur off school grounds, such as at a courthouse or police station. The law creates a clear policy change banning these individuals from school premises during school activities.

Maddy summaryHB 2153 prohibits the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services from requiring foster or adoptive parents to affirm, accept, or support government policies regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflict with their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. It prevents the department from denying eligibility or authorization for fostering or adoption based on such beliefs, and bans per se rules that automatically disqualify parents due to their views. The bill requires that placement decisions still prioritize the child's best interests, while allowing the department to consider the religious beliefs of the child or their family of origin. It does not override existing duties to make individualized placements consistent with the child's welfare.