Del. Kathie Hess Crouse

Maddy summaryHB 3045, the Farmer Protection Act, prohibits financial institutions in West Virginia from denying or restricting financial services to agriculture producers based on environmental or sustainability criteria. The bill defines "agriculture producer" and establishes clear standards to prevent unfair discrimination in financial service provision. It directly affects farmers and financial institutions by requiring state oversight to ensure compliance with these standards. The legislation was introduced to address concerns that ESG-related demands could harm small farms and increase food prices.

Maddy summaryHB 3005, the West Virginia Consumer Privacy Act of 2025, requires businesses to obtain explicit consumer consent ("opt-in") before selling or sharing their personal financial information. It directly affects West Virginia consumers and businesses like financial institutions, credit reporting agencies, mortgage lenders, and brokers that handle consumer financial data. The law mandates that businesses clearly disclose what information is being shared and gives consumers control over their data to prevent identity theft and unsolicited marketing. Violations carry fines of up to $10,000 per offense, with additional penalties for bad-faith lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 2819 imposes fines on West Virginia county and state school boards that provide false or misleading information to parents about homeschooling, public school access, or scholarship programs. Specifically, it requires boards to pay $500 per incident for incorrect guidance (e.g., on homeschool filing forms, diploma validity, or sports eligibility) and $5,000 for misinformation on official websites/social media, with daily penalties for ongoing errors. Fines are paid directly to affected parents or split between homeschool advocacy groups. The bill targets misinformation related to homeschool exemptions, HOPE Scholarship paperwork, and other educational rights as defined in existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 2478 clarifies eligibility rules for West Virginia's HOPE Scholarship Program, directly affecting students seeking to use the scholarship. It updates the definition of an "eligible recipient" to specify that students must be enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public school for at least 45 days during an instructional term (or meet specific kindergarten enrollment criteria), with an exception for kindergarten students if the program's participation rate remains below 5% of public school enrollment. The change would take effect July 1, 2026, allowing kindergarten-eligible students to qualify without full-term enrollment if participation is low. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or funding but streamlines eligibility criteria. This is a substantive policy clarification, not a procedural change.

Maddy summaryHB 2405 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who homeschool or send children to private schools for primary and secondary education. It provides a credit equal to the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer, regardless of how many children are homeschooled or in private school. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship are excluded from this credit. The State Tax Commissioner must establish rules for claiming the credit, which reduces income tax liability but does not impose new education regulations on homeschooled children.

Maddy summaryHB 2370 clarifies and updates West Virginia's involuntary hospitalization process for individuals with mental health needs. It expands who can initiate involuntary hospitalization applications to include physicians, psychologists, licensed counselors, social workers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and law enforcement officers. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Resources to provide transportation for individuals needing involuntary hospitalization. These changes directly affect mental health professionals, law enforcement, individuals subject to hospitalization, and courts handling these cases, streamlining the process while maintaining procedural safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 2974, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," declares federal regulations on intrastate firearm sales within West Virginia invalid, prohibiting state officials from enforcing such rules. It imposes $50,000 civil penalties for violations and requires the West Virginia Attorney General to defend residents facing federal charges over intrastate firearm transactions or prosecute federal agents who enforce prohibited regulations. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents engaging in local firearm sales, law enforcement, and federal agencies like the ATF operating within the state. It explicitly states that federal laws restricting intrastate firearm transfers violate both the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions.

Maddy summaryHB 2962 amends West Virginia law to establish specific procedures for updating sex designation on state-issued identification documents. The bill requires individuals to follow defined steps to change their sex marker on driver's licenses, identification cards, or instruction permits, clarifying the process for revisions. It directly affects residents seeking to update their gender marker on official state IDs, particularly those transitioning or correcting initial documentation. The bill focuses on administrative requirements for ID changes without altering birth certificate issuance procedures for new registrations.

Maddy summaryHB 2933 would set the State Superintendent of Schools' annual salary at the average of salaries for equivalent positions in West Virginia's five neighboring states (Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia). The salary would be established at this average upon the bill's effective date and reassessed every five years. This change directly affects the State Superintendent's compensation and replaces the current method where the State Board of Education sets the salary. The bill does not alter the superintendent's job duties, qualifications, or other responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2839 requires all West Virginia public elementary, middle, and high schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students. County boards of education must supply these products using existing funds allocated for hygiene items, without requiring new state spending. The bill directly affects female students in public K-12 schools by ensuring access to these essential products during school hours. It establishes a clear policy change to address period poverty in educational settings through existing budget mechanisms.