Del. Jarred Cannon

Maddy summaryHB 4985, the "Strategic and Critical Resources Act," defines specific minerals (like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements) as critical to West Virginia's security and economy. It prohibits local governments outside cities from regulating the extraction of these resources or the development of related facilities, preempting local ordinances. The bill also restricts foreign adversaries (entities designated by federal law) from owning or controlling land used for extracting these resources. Importantly, the law does not override federal environmental regulations or state building codes, and it aligns with existing federal restrictions on foreign ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 4870 extends campaign finance report deadlines for West Virginia legislators during legislative sessions. It requires that reports due while the Legislature is in session (regular, extraordinary, or special) be filed seven days after the session ends, instead of the original statutory date. This applies only to legislators and ensures no late fees or penalties are applied for reports filed under this extension. The bill aims to align reporting requirements with legislators' session duties without reducing transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 4762 amends West Virginia's veterinary licensing laws to create reciprocity for veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed in other states. It allows professionals with active, unrevoked licenses from states with "substantially equivalent" requirements to practice in West Virginia without re-taking exams, provided they submit documentation of good standing. The bill also establishes new pathways for graduates of foreign veterinary schools and creates special permits for participants in international credentialing programs. These changes directly affect licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians seeking to practice across state lines, simplifying the process to meet existing licensing standards.

Maddy summaryHB 4761 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of murder or attempted murder in West Virginia. It increases the minimum time inmates must serve before becoming parole-eligible: 20 years for second-degree murder (up from 10), and 10-40 years for attempted first-degree murder (up from 3-15) or 5-20 years for attempted second-degree murder (up from 1-3). The bill also adds provisions allowing prosecutors and victims' families to attend parole hearings remotely or in person. These changes directly affect inmates serving sentences for these specific violent offenses. The bill does not alter sentence lengths but restricts early release opportunities for these crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when West Virginia holds its presidential primary election. Currently, the law requires the presidential primary to be held on the third Tuesday in February every four years (starting in 2028). HB 4751 would instead move this primary to the second Tuesday in May every two years, beginning in 1986 (though this date appears to be an error, as the bill was introduced in 2026). The change directly affects West Virginia voters participating in presidential primaries by altering the timing of the election. This is a procedural adjustment to election scheduling with no other policy provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4746, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits West Virginia state agencies from entering contracts with advertising or marketing firms that use media monitoring organizations to rate news sources for bias or misinformation. It requires all companies bidding for state advertising contracts to provide written certification they comply with this rule, and mandates agencies to obtain such certification before renewing existing contracts. The law specifically targets firms that assess content accuracy or bias (like fact-checkers), but excludes those measuring audience size or compiling news clippings. It applies to all state contracts executed on or after July 1, 2026, affecting state departments, universities using state funds, and advertising agencies seeking state business.

Maddy summaryHB 4714 creates a program allowing county jails and Regional Jail Authorities to involve inmates in voluntary litter cleanup on public lands like highways, roads, and parks. Inmates participating earn sentence reduction credits, with strict safety requirements including proper equipment, supervision ratios, and compliance with occupational regulations. The program is funded through the Litter Control Fund, and proceeds from recyclable materials collected during cleanups must be returned to that fund. The bill also mandates educational materials for schools about litter reduction and requires local governments to develop recycling plans for public facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4713 exempts cash tips received by workers from West Virginia's personal income tax. This directly affects service industry employees, such as servers and bartenders, who earn cash tips. The bill adds a new section to the state tax code (§11-21-12o) stating that cash tips from any source are not subject to income tax. The change applies only to cash tips, not digital or non-cash tip payments.

Maddy summaryHCR 12 is a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose an amendment. It specifically seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution to establish a fixed number of nine justices on the Supreme Court, as Article III currently does not specify the number. The resolution cites Article V of the Constitution, which allows states to request such a convention, and urges Congress to fulfill this duty. This resolution does not change the Court's size itself but formally requests action from Congress and other states to pursue the proposed amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 4613 establishes the State Resiliency Office and requires the State Resiliency Officer to update West Virginia's Flood Resiliency Plan every two years (by June 30 in even-numbered years). The plan must include recommendations for high-impact flood prevention measures and prioritize the five most critical flood prevention projects in each regional planning zone, with estimated costs for each project. The State Resiliency Officer must also provide quarterly reports to the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding, coordinate flood mitigation efforts with federal and state agencies, and maintain a centralized website for flood-related information. This bill directly affects the State Resiliency Office, the Governor's office, and the legislative committee, aiming to improve statewide flood preparedness and resource allocation.