Del. Jim Butler

Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a study resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to examine whether West Virginia counties should direct a portion of new property tax revenue from large-scale investments (like manufacturing or energy projects) toward property tax relief for primary residence homeowners. The study would assess thresholds for "significant" revenue growth, prioritize relief for retirees, develop revenue allocation formulas, and analyze constitutional requirements for such a policy. It does not create new tax relief but evaluates feasibility and implementation details, including safeguards to maintain funding for schools and public safety. The committee must report findings by 2027, potentially leading to future legislation or constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 5476 requires hospitals in West Virginia to maintain an unaltered audit trail for all electronic health care records, showing who made changes, when, and why. It directly affects hospitals (health care providers) and patients, granting patients the right to review their records, request corrections for inaccuracies within five days, and seek $2,000 minimum damages if records are altered without justification. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that records were improperly altered if no audit trail exists and prohibits hospitals from retaliating against employees who report tampering. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in medical record-keeping while protecting patient rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow public schools and charter schools in West Virginia to refuse enrollment to students who are unlawfully present in the United States, provided the student or their parent has exhausted all available legal appeals. The legislation requires schools to verify a student's immigration status through documentation before enrollment, accepting only U.S. citizenship, citizenship applications, or legal visa status as valid proof. By adding a new section to state law, the bill creates an eligibility standard for public school enrollment that differs from current federal precedent, permitting schools to deny access to students with final removal orders without charging tuition.

Maddy summaryHB 5665 amends West Virginia's ethics code to require House and Senate clerks to record individual roll call votes in the journal when a legislative vote concerns a member's direct personal or financial interest and more than one-third of members present vote using a voting machine. This provision increases transparency for votes involving potential conflicts of interest by mandating specific documentation of electronic votes. The bill does not change existing conflict-of-interest rules but adds a new record-keeping requirement for such circumstances. It directly affects legislative clerks (who must implement the recording) and members who may vote on matters involving their personal interests.

Maddy summaryHB 5644 requires all West Virginia public K-12 schools and accredited colleges/universities to record students' immigration status and nationality as defined by federal law. This includes categories like U.S. citizens, permanent residents, non-immigrants, undocumented individuals, and refugees. Schools must annually publish aggregated demographic data (without individual student details) on immigration status to the state education superintendent, who will post it online. The bill directly affects every public educational institution in West Virginia by mandating this data collection and reporting process. It does not change student eligibility for education but creates a statewide database for tracking enrollment demographics.

Maddy summaryHJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how the West Virginia State Board of Education is structured. It would replace the current system of nine governor-appointed members with five elected regional members (serving four-year terms, limited to two terms) and four appointed members (serving staggered terms). The amendment requires the Board to submit proposed policies to the Legislature for review, approval, or rejection. This change, if approved by voters in 2026, would take effect for the 2028 election cycle and directly affects how board members are selected and how education policies are reviewed.

Maddy summaryHB 4997 prohibits individuals convicted of terroristic threats involving schools or children (under §61-6-24(b)) from residing within 1,000 feet of any educational facility, including public/private schools, preschools, or daycares where children are regularly present. This residency restriction applies automatically during probation or parole, or as a sentencing condition if no supervision is ordered. Violations are classified as felonies punishable by 1-5 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, or both, and may lead to revocation of probation. The bill uses GIS or property records to measure proximity and aligns with existing sex offender residency rules under §62-12-26.

Maddy summaryHB 5561 would require West Virginia's Secretary of State to refer potential election fraud cases directly to the state Attorney General for prosecution, rather than to a county prosecuting attorney. Currently, the Secretary refers such cases to the Prosecuting Attorneys Institute, which appoints a county-level special prosecutor. This change would shift the primary responsibility for prosecuting election fraud from local county authorities to the state Attorney General's office. The bill affects how election fraud allegations are handled, moving the referral process from county to state level.

Maddy summaryHB 5547 requires healthcare providers to obtain specific written consent from parents before conducting newborn genetic screening, which cannot be fulfilled by general consent forms signed at hospital admission. It limits blood collection to only what's necessary for screening and mandates destruction of blood samples after three weeks unless parents give additional written consent for retention. The bill also prohibits using newborn blood samples for research, law enforcement, or other purposes without separate consent from parents or the adult who was a minor when the sample was taken. Healthcare facilities must provide written information about screening options and the right to opt out during pregnancy.

Maddy summaryHB 5546 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine-related injuries and side effects to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that these professionals receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill further requires the Bureau to produce an annual report for the Legislature and create a public mechanism for individuals, including parents, to report vaccine-related adverse effects. These provisions aim to improve data collection on vaccine safety without advocating for or against vaccination.