Del. Kathie Hess Crouse

Maddy summaryHB 3319, the "Restoring Sanity Act," prohibits West Virginia public schools and state universities from requiring instruction, course content, or statements about specific concepts deemed "factual" or "beliefs" related to race, gender, or sexuality. It bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and redirects funds from such offices to merit scholarships for lower-income, first-generation, or in-state students. The bill also requires schools to report complaints about violations and prohibits employees from being required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it conflicts with their biological sex, while clarifying that using biological sex-based pronouns does not create legal liability. These provisions apply directly to school districts, public charter schools, the West Virginia Board of Education, and state universities.

Maddy summaryHB 3077 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire interns or apprentices in high-demand fields like manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and skilled trades (e.g., electricians, welders). Employers receive a 50% credit on wages paid (up to $10,000 per trainee annually), with a maximum $150,000 total credit per business yearly. The credit excludes retail, food service, administrative roles, and non-technical positions. Employers must apply for certification through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to claim the credit and report trainee details annually.

Maddy summaryHB 3329 amends West Virginia law to strengthen penalties for sex offenses against children under 12 and for filming minors in sexually explicit conduct. It mandates prison sentences without probation for sex offenses involving force, weapons, or moving the victim, with a minimum 20-year sentence for first offenses. Repeat offenders face life imprisonment without parole. The bill also increases penalties for filming minors in sexually explicit conduct, imposing fines up to $10,000 or up to 10 years in prison for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 3303 would expand the authority of bail bond enforcers (often called bounty hunters) in West Virginia to apprehend defendants for specific serious offenses, including drug trafficking near schools, violent assaults, stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The bill requires enforcers to give law enforcement at least four hours' notice before apprehension and to deliver defendants to court or police within 24 hours. It also mandates the Secretary of State to publish a list of registered enforcers and clarifies prohibited conduct. The bill directly affects defendants charged with the listed offenses and the bail bond industry, but does not apply to all criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2697 prohibits all state-funded colleges, universities, and community colleges in West Virginia from charging students, former students, or graduates for academic transcripts. The bill directly affects these institutions and their students by banning transcript fees as a standard practice. Key provision: It amends state law to explicitly state that no such institution may impose a fee for issuing transcripts. This is a concrete policy change eliminating a common administrative cost for students. The bill does not alter other fees or services.

Maddy summaryHB 3309 would amend West Virginia's retirement law to allow sheriffs in the public retirement system to retire at age 62 with eight years of actual, contributing service, instead of the standard 10 years required for newer members. This change specifically applies to sheriffs who became members through their election as sheriff and are not covered by another retirement plan. The bill creates a separate retirement eligibility standard for sheriffs, lowering the service requirement from 10 to 8 years. This policy directly affects eligible sheriffs by providing an earlier retirement option under the amended law.

Maddy summaryHB 3219 would allow certain nonviolent offenders, including those convicted of specific drug offenses currently classified as violent under West Virginia law, to carry firearms. The bill amends §61-7-7 by removing the requirement that these drug offenses (listed in §60A-4-401-403 and §60A-4-409-417) be treated as violent, thereby eliminating the five-year waiting period for reinstating firearm rights after release from incarceration. This change would directly affect individuals with past nonviolent drug convictions who are currently barred from possessing firearms under current law. The bill also clarifies that law enforcement may not infringe on the right to bear arms for nonprohibited individuals over 21 years old.

Maddy summaryHB 2117 changes the deadline for submitting mail-in ballot applications in West Virginia. It requires most voters' applications to be received by the sixth day before an election, while qualified first responders must submit theirs by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election. The bill maintains the same deadline (six days before) for overseas and uniformed services voters. This affects all voters requesting mail-in ballots, adjusting the timing for when applications must be accepted by election officials.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 would allow K-12 teachers in West Virginia who hold valid concealed handgun permits to carry concealed firearms on school grounds when designated as "school protection officers" by their school. The bill amends state law to create this exception, explicitly permitting teachers (but not all staff) to carry concealed weapons as part of their role, provided they meet standard concealed carry requirements. This changes existing rules that generally prohibit firearms on school premises, except for specific exemptions like law enforcement. The bill is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee after initial referral to Education.

Maddy summaryHB 3130 strengthens animal welfare protections in West Virginia by requiring pet owners to confine unspayed female dogs during heat cycles and increasing penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenses. The bill defines new criminal offenses like unlawful confinement and animal hoarding, with mandatory mental health treatment for hoarding cases, and updates humane officers' duties to include reporting suspected child abuse, elder neglect, or domestic violence linked to animal cruelty. It also mandates that animal facilities provide public access to stray and surrendered animals and establishes clear standards for temporary and primary enclosures. These changes directly affect pet owners, animal shelters, and law enforcement officers across the state.