Del. Jonathan Pinson

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.

Maddy summaryHB 5171 sets new salary schedules for West Virginia county commissioners and other elected county officials (such as sheriffs, clerks, and assessors), effective July 1, 2026. The bill establishes specific annual salary amounts based on county classification (Class I to X), with increases ranging from $5,000 to $17,000 above current rates for commissioners and similar increases for other officials. To receive these raises, counties must first have their auditor certify improved fiscal health, and individual officials must submit a written request for the increase. This directly affects all 55 counties and their elected county officials, with the new rates applying to terms beginning July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4601 expands West Virginia's Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit from a minimum of six to at least 21 members, requiring each of the 21 State Police districts to contribute at least one retired officer. The bill establishes unit offices in every State Police district (located within Human Services offices) and allows honorably retired State Police officers to rejoin under specific conditions - without accruing pension rights and after completing required training in areas like firearms and child abuse investigation protocols. The unit must coordinate with Child Protective Services, maintain statewide statistical data on child abuse/neglect convictions (without identifying individuals), and submit annual reports to the legislature. This directly affects Child Protective Services offices, law enforcement agencies, and retired State Police officers who may rejoin the unit.

Maddy summaryHB 5099 requires courts to order defendants convicted of DUI causing death to pay monthly child support for the victim's child until age 18 or high school graduation. This directly affects children who lost a parent or guardian to a DUI-related death and defendants sentenced for such offenses. The bill mandates courts to set reasonable payment amounts considering the child's needs, guardian's resources, and other factors, while offsetting payments by any existing civil judgment for the same accident. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summaryHB 5016 clarifies West Virginia's sex offender registration rules for individuals without a permanent residence, requiring them to register "transient residences" - defined as any location where they stay for three or more days in a year (including places without a street address, like shelters or temporary housing). The bill ensures these individuals meet legal obligations by reporting their temporary stays, alongside standard registration details like name, address, and employment. It does not change which offenses require registration but makes the process clearer for people without a fixed home, such as the homeless or frequent travelers. This update aims to improve compliance while maintaining existing registration standards.

Maddy summaryHB 4375 requires West Virginia's Bureau for Social Services to file the current Social Services Manual as a legislative rule, rather than revising it outside formal rulemaking procedures. The bill mandates that all future updates to the manual - which outlines procedures for foster care and other social services - must also be submitted through the official legislative rulemaking process. This change directly affects the Bureau for Social Services, which manages the manual, and ensures transparency for stakeholders relying on these service guidelines. The bill does not alter the manual's content but standardizes how it is officially adopted and revised. (Bill: HB 4375, introduced January 15, 2026)

Maddy summaryHB 4863, the West Virginia Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act, requires state and local officials to assess community capacity before resettling refugees or immigrants. The bill mandates that the state office within the Department of Human Services evaluate factors like healthcare access, housing availability, school capacity, job market impact, and law enforcement resources through a formal assessment. It also requires quarterly coordination meetings with local governments, 30 days of public notice for resettlement plans, and fiscal impact reports before new resettlements begin. This directly affects local governments (counties/cities), the Department of Human Services, refugee resettlement organizations, and the communities receiving refugees.