Del. Sarah Drennan

Maddy summaryHB 3254 establishes the Summer Feeding for All Program to ensure West Virginia students have access to nutritious meals during summer and other non-school periods. It requires each county public school system to conduct an annual survey of students' food access when school is closed and compile a list of community food resources (including charities and religious groups) for families. County school boards may develop local initiatives - such as mentorship programs or entrepreneurship opportunities - to deliver meals and must provide training for feeding site operators. They are also required to report survey results and program activities annually to the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition.

Maddy summaryHB 3218 creates a tax credit program to incentivize the rehabilitation of underutilized commercial, industrial, and residential properties across West Virginia. Businesses and property owners who invest at least $250,000 in renovation, increase property value by 30%, and create or sustain five full-time jobs within three years can claim a 25% tax credit (up to $2 million) on eligible costs for business and occupation or corporate income tax, plus a 50% property tax credit on increased value for up to five years. Additional credits of up to 15% are available for projects in rural or distressed areas (10%) or for brownfield/historic properties (5% each). The bill also establishes a fast-track permitting process for qualifying projects to streamline development approvals within 90 days.

Maddy summaryHB 3217 requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to notify the public within 24 hours of any hazardous spill into state waters - including rivers, wells, or groundwater - released by entities like industrial facilities or chemical handlers. The bill mandates notifications include the spill location, substance type and quantity, health/environmental risks (like drinking water impacts), public precautions (e.g., water use restrictions), and cleanup steps, delivered via DEP websites, media, and emergency alerts. It also requires spill-reporting entities to immediately notify the DEP and Emergency Management Division, with potential civil penalties for failures to report. The DEP must maintain a public online database tracking all spills and remediation efforts. This directly affects environmental agencies, spill-causing entities, and communities near affected waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 3100 would align retirement and disability benefits for dependents of West Virginia State Police officers who take disability retirement with the benefits provided to dependents of officers who retire after 20 years of service. Currently, dependents of disability retirees receive less than those of regular retirees under the existing §15-2-33 formula. The bill proposes amending the law to ensure surviving spouses and dependents of disability retirees receive the same monthly benefit amount as those of regular retirees - calculated as three-fourths of the retired officer's benefits (with a minimum $5,000 annual payment). This change directly affects dependents of State Police officers who must leave service due to disability before reaching 20 years. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after introduction on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-administered program where West Virginia matches employer payments toward employee childcare costs, up to 100% for families earning below the state median household income. It applies to West Virginia employers with at least 20 weeks of employee work in the state, and to employees using approved childcare centers. The Department of Human Services will verify eligibility, process contracts, and distribute state matching funds directly to childcare centers. Small businesses (under 50 employees) are specifically included in the program’s eligibility framework.

Maddy summaryHB 2369 amends West Virginia law to limit parents to one improvement period per child in abuse or neglect cases where a child is in foster care. It requires the state to seek termination of parental rights if a parent fails to complete this single improvement period, which is the final opportunity to address issues before rights can be terminated. The bill clarifies that courts may not grant additional improvement periods after the first one, directly affecting parents whose children have been removed due to abuse, neglect, or other specified circumstances. This change streamlines proceedings by removing repeated extensions, ensuring cases move toward resolution more promptly.

Maddy summaryHB 3138 would create a 25-foot buffer zone around first responders (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) while they are lawfully performing their duties. It makes it unlawful to approach within 25 feet after receiving a verbal warning, specifically to impede their work, threaten them with harm, or harass them. Violators would face misdemeanor charges with fines of $50-$500 or up to one year in jail. The bill directly affects anyone near first responders during emergency operations and aims to protect them from interference. (Note: The bill is in early stages, having been introduced on March 4, 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 3143, the Workforce-Education Partnership Act, allows West Virginia business owners to contract employees to participate in vocational programs or high school classes while keeping them on payroll. Business owners receive a tax credit equal to 100% of the employee’s wages during participation, capped at $50,000 per business annually and $5 million statewide. The program requires written agreements between businesses and schools, ensures employees retain all benefits (including workers’ compensation), and prohibits replacing certified teachers in core subjects. It limits tax credits to one academic year per employee per tax year and mandates state approval for claims.

Maddy summaryHB 3140 requires West Virginia government agencies to create and maintain a public online database tracking all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and outcomes. It directly affects public bodies (like state agencies) that handle FOIA requests, mandating they redact requesters' names and contact information from the database - except in specific cases like government officials' requests, public interest overrides, or explicit consent. The bill requires the Secretary of State to update all public FOIA databases within 90 days of enactment to comply with these redaction rules, and failure to redact personal details would trigger penalties under existing law. This changes how agencies currently manage FOIA request records by standardizing public access while protecting requester privacy.

Maddy summaryHB 3093 provides legal immunity to mental health professionals who conduct mental hygiene checks for possible involuntary hospitalization under West Virginia law. It directly affects licensed counselors, social workers, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants performing these evaluations. The bill creates protection from liability when providers follow specific procedures outlined in the law, including having particularized expertise in mental health and conducting examinations per court orders. This change modifies liability standards for professionals involved in involuntary hospitalization cases involving substance use disorders or mental illness.