Del. Kathie Hess Crouse

Maddy summaryHB 4122 requires all West Virginia public schools to install cameras in hallways, stairwells, classrooms, and every other room where students are present, excluding bathroom stalls, showers, and locker rooms. The bill mandates that recorded footage must be retained for a full year. This directly affects West Virginia schools and their students by implementing a uniform camera system in all student-accessible areas. The key provision focuses on the physical placement of cameras and the one-year retention period for video evidence.

Maddy summaryHB 4071 requires all West Virginia public K-12 schools to post their annual report cards on their official websites. County school boards must use the state's existing WV Education Information System for collecting and reporting data to meet federal accountability standards under the Every Student Succeeds Act. This bill directly affects every public school in the state by mandating transparent, online access to performance data for parents and the public. It does not alter school funding or academic standards but ensures consistent reporting through the state’s established electronic platform.

Maddy summaryHB 4090 allows West Virginia county school boards to hire or accept as volunteers certified chaplains to provide support services for students, staff, and parents. The bill requires chaplains to undergo background checks like child care workers but exempts them from needing state certification or licensing. School boards must also prohibit sex offenders or child predators from serving. Chaplains are granted liability protection for actions taken in their role, unless those actions were maliciously intended to harass or intimidate. The bill directly affects public school districts across West Virginia by expanding their ability to provide spiritual support services.

Maddy summaryHB 4112 creates a tax credit for West Virginia parents or legal guardians who homeschool or send children to private schools meeting state education standards. The credit equals the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer (not per child) and applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship cannot claim this credit. The bill does not allow the State Board of Education to add new regulations for homeschooled children receiving this credit.

Maddy summaryHB 4193 would allow West Virginia community colleges to charge tuition based on the number of credit hours a student takes (per-credit tuition) instead of a flat rate for full-time enrollment. It directly affects undergraduate students at these colleges, changing how their tuition is calculated. The bill amends existing law to permit colleges to establish tuition rates "on a per credit hour basis for all undergraduate credit hours attempted," while maintaining pro-rated discounts for part-time students (e.g., 1/12 of full-time rate per credit hour). This is a structural change to billing, not a rate increase, and does not alter existing fee collection or payment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 4146 requires all public school employees in West Virginia - including teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and custodians - to receive all childhood vaccines (such as flu shots, measles, and HPV) following the pediatric schedule, with no religious or philosophical exemptions allowed. It mandates a 21-day quarantine for school staff traveling to states that permit vaccine exemptions for students, and requires visitors (like parents or contractors) to show proof of vaccination before entering public school buildings. The bill applies directly to school staff and visitors, not students, and specifies exact vaccine requirements without allowing exemptions for personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 4399 clarifies the definition of a "disabled veteran taxpayer" in West Virginia law to ensure consistency for property tax benefits. The bill specifically adds that a disabled veteran must have a 90% or greater service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or qualify for individual unemployability under VA disability ratings. This change directly affects disabled veterans who seek the property tax credit authorized under §11-13MM-4 of the code, as it defines eligibility more precisely. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new benefits, but ensures the existing credit applies only to veterans meeting the clarified VA disability standard.

Maddy summaryHB 4380 clarifies West Virginia's business and occupation (B&O) tax rules by requiring businesses to pay taxes to each municipality where they maintain a permanent physical presence, based on revenue generated at each location. Businesses without a permanent address in a municipality or performing temporary work (e.g., one-time jobs) are exempt from paying taxes there. For revenue earned outside municipal boundaries (like in unincorporated areas), taxes are paid to the business’s primary municipality, and businesses with multiple locations must prorate revenue earned outside municipal boundaries using a consistent, auditable method. The bill also eliminates county-level B&O taxes for businesses operating solely in unincorporated areas.

Maddy summaryHB 4372 allows K-12 teachers, administrators, and support staff in West Virginia to carry concealed firearms if certified as School Protection Officers (SPOs). To qualify, applicants must complete state-developed training (including firearms instruction) through the Department of Homeland Security, meet specific qualifications, and receive county superintendent approval. The bill creates a new SPO designation with mandatory certification requirements, replacing the general prohibition on weapons in schools for these designated staff. This policy change directly affects school employees who pursue SPO certification, altering existing restrictions under §61-7-11a of the West Virginia Code.

Maddy summaryHB 4347 would exclude overtime pay (hours worked over 40 in a week) and all tips/gratuities from West Virginia's taxable income for full-time hourly employees. This change modifies the state's adjusted gross income calculation by removing these specific income sources from taxation. The bill directly affects hourly workers in jobs requiring overtime, such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing, as well as service industry workers relying on tips. It does not create new tax exemptions but removes existing taxable income for these specific categories. The policy change would reduce income tax liability for affected workers on their overtime and tip earnings.