Del. Jim Butler

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5493 would require West Virginia courts to offer convicted sex offenders (specifically those found guilty of crimes against minors under §61-8-12 or related statutes) a choice between hormone treatment (medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA) or surgical castration as an additional penalty, alongside standard sentencing. Courts must first confirm a defendant's medical suitability for MPA treatment through a court-appointed expert, and the treatment duration is specified in the sentence. Refusing MPA treatment after sentencing could result in a 1-5 year prison term. The bill also mandates a prerelease risk assessment for these offenders before their release from prison.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6) expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for developing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, specifically an intra-Panhandle pipeline connecting western gas fields to the Eastern Panhandle. It aims to improve access to locally produced natural gas for residents, support industrial and commercial growth, and create jobs across the state. The resolution highlights West Virginia's status as a top natural gas producer and notes that existing pipelines transport most output out of state, while Maryland's opposition to pipeline extensions is cited as a barrier. It does not create new laws or funding but urges responsible infrastructure expansion to boost economic development. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct legal effect but signals legislative backing for pipeline projects.

Maddy summaryHB 5507 establishes rules for selecting and overseeing West Virginia's delegates to a potential national Article V convention, which would propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It requires delegates to meet specific qualifications (e.g., 5-year U.S. residency, no federal lobbying in the past 5 years) and mandates that seven delegates be named by a joint vote of the state legislature. The bill includes provisions for removing delegates who violate legislative instructions or propose "runaway amendments" (amendments outside the convention's scope), with penalties including felony charges and a $250,000 fine. It also creates an Advisory Committee to manage vacancies and oversee delegate conduct during the convention.

Maddy summaryHB 5520, the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration and Transnational Repression Act, requires lobbyists representing foreign adversaries (such as PRC-affiliated military companies) to disclose this relationship during West Virginia's lobbying registration process. The bill mandates that lobbyists provide specific details about their principals and include an affirmative acknowledgment if they are lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary. It creates new registration requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and duties for the Attorney General regarding record retention and oversight. This bill directly affects lobbyists and their principals who engage in lobbying activities on behalf of foreign adversaries or terrorist agents within West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5477 requires state-supported law enforcement agencies - including county sheriffs, municipal police, and regional jails receiving state funds - to join the federal 287(g) program for immigration enforcement. Larger detention facilities must use the "Jail Enforcement Model" under this program, with a fallback to the "Warrant Service Officer Model" only if federal authorities deny the primary option. The bill mandates reporting, audits, and allows withholding of state public safety funds from noncompliant agencies. It standardizes cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in detention settings across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5460, the Construction Cost Relief Act, provides a sales tax rebate for construction materials used in new single-family homes built for residential ownership in West Virginia. The rebate covers up to 30% of the home's sale price (or construction loan amount if the builder occupies the home), calculated using a county-specific housing index relative to the state average. Homeowners and builders must claim the refund within one year of construction completion using state forms, and the refund cannot be transferred to another party. This law applies only to new construction starting on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 5025 allows farm owners to burn obsolete, uninsured farm structures on agricultural land without facing second-degree arson penalties. It directly affects farmers who own outdated buildings (like barns or sheds) that are uninsured and no longer in use. To qualify, owners must submit a notarized letter to the county assessor and fire department seven days before burning, confirming the structure is uninsured and meets Department of Environmental Protection permitting requirements. The bill modifies existing arson law to create this specific exemption for eligible farm structures.

Maddy summaryHB 4769 requires West Virginia's Governor to develop comprehensive crisis preparedness plans for five specific threats: nuclear attacks, major energy grid disruptions (including cyber or physical attacks), prolonged cyberattacks on communications, invasion, and insurrection. The plans must include preventative measures, immediate response strategies, and recovery steps for each crisis type. The Governor must submit initial plans by November 2026, with annual updates to the legislature. This bill affects state government operations by mandating structured planning for high-risk scenarios, not individual citizens.