Del. Jarred Cannon

Maddy summaryHB 4550 requires the state or its agencies to provide landowners with the property appraisal they used when making an initial offer to buy land in eminent domain cases. This applies to all eminent domain proceedings, such as when the government seeks to acquire private property for public projects like roads or schools. The bill mandates that the appraisal must be shared with landowners at the time of the first offer, increasing transparency in negotiations. This change directly affects landowners facing property takings and requires the government to disclose its valuation early in the process.

Maddy summaryHB 4595 would allow West Virginia to approve short-term job training programs for eligibility for federal Workforce Pell Grants. The bill requires the governor, working with the Workforce Development Board, to approve programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs (defined as those with earnings above 150% of the federal poverty level or identified in workforce projections). It establishes state rules for program approval and ensures alignment with federal requirements. This change would directly affect short-term training programs and their students seeking federal grant support for career-focused education. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4479 provides tax credits to West Virginia manufacturers that transform locally harvested wood into value-added products like veneer, engineered lumber, or wood pellets. The credits - ranging from $1.25 to $6 per ton of processed wood - apply to corporate or personal income tax based on volume tiers, with annual caps of $1.25 million for existing facilities and $2.5 million for new operations or expansions. To qualify, manufacturers must meet a "minimum transformation standard" (e.g., altering wood structure) using West Virginia-sourced feedstock, excluding basic handling like cutting or sorting. Credits are prorated based on the percentage of West Virginia wood used in production.

Maddy summaryHB 4480 modifies West Virginia's rules for access points to state highways used by commercial or industrial properties. It removes permit requirements for new access points, streamlining the process for businesses. The bill also creates standards for reviewing existing access points (especially those over 50 feet wide on highways with speed limits above 45 mph), allowing the Division of Highways to require safety changes like "no parking" signs based on traffic data. These changes directly affect property owners with highway-facing commercial or industrial properties.

Maddy summaryHB 4061 requires West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and other health insurers to pay mental health and behavioral health providers the same rate as medical/surgical providers for comparable services. This applies to licensed practitioners (like therapists and counselors) covered under the bill’s definitions of "serious mental illness." Insurers must submit claims using standard codes and identifiers, and cannot reduce payments to physicians to comply with this law. The bill directly affects mental health providers and insurers by mandating equal reimbursement rates for services like therapy and counseling, aligning them with physical health care payments.

Maddy summaryHB 2718 creates a State Advisory Council to study and provide recommendations on establishing a military college within the state. The council will consist of appointed state officials and community representatives who will examine feasibility, structure, and funding options for the college. This bill directly affects state education and military affairs officials responsible for forming the council and implementing its findings. As a procedural measure, it does not establish the college itself but sets up a formal process for future consideration. The bill became law on April 25, 2025 (Chapter 178, Acts of the 2025 Regular Session).

Maddy summaryHB 3133 allows West Virginia counties and municipalities to create formal agreements (memoranda of understanding) with property owners to demolish unsafe or dilapidated structures. It directly affects property owners with buildings deemed hazardous due to fire risks, lack of sanitation, or structural defects, and local governments responsible for public safety enforcement. The bill modifies existing law to require counties to establish an enforcement agency (including county engineers, health officers, and fire chiefs) to investigate unsafe conditions, issue citations, and initiate demolition through these agreements. This replaces older procedures requiring direct county action, streamlining the process for removing hazardous properties while ensuring fair hearing procedures for affected owners.

Maddy summaryHB 2344 requires drivers approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning lights (like emergency flashers, flares, or hazard lights) to either safely change lanes away from the vehicle or reduce speed to 15 mph on nondivided roads and 25 mph on divided highways. Violations carry fines up to $500, jail time up to 60 days, and license suspensions that increase with severity: 90 days for property damage, six months for injuries, and two years for fatalities. The law directly affects all drivers in West Virginia who encounter stationary vehicles with warning signals, such as construction crews or emergency responders. It becomes effective July 11, 2025, following its passage on April 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3014, which became law in April 2025, clarifies that hospital police officers in West Virginia are generally protected from civil and criminal liability for their official duties. This protection applies unless an officer acts outside their job scope, with malicious intent, in bad faith, or recklessly. The bill requires hospital police to meet law enforcement certification standards, take an oath, and post a bond before serving. It also defines their authority to enforce laws on hospital property and adjacent public roads under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 3187 establishes a West Virginia Task Force on Artificial Intelligence to study the impacts of AI on the state's economy, workforce, and public services. The task force, composed of state officials and industry experts, must analyze AI's effects on jobs, ethics, and regulatory needs, then submit recommendations to the legislature by 2026. This law directly affects state agencies responsible for implementing AI-related policies and provides a structured process for addressing emerging technology challenges. The bill became effective on July 31, 2025, after approval by the Governor.