Rep. Daniel Linville

Maddy summaryHB 5168 establishes two new funds to increase emergency medical services (EMS) funding across West Virginia. The County Emergency Medical Services Fund supports counties with dedicated EMS taxes or fees, while the All County Emergency Medical Services Fund provides uniform support to all counties. The bill transfers $6 million annually from the state lottery fund to the renamed EMS Salary Enhancement, Crisis Response, and Mental Health Treatment Fund (for worker salaries and crisis services) and $3 million each to the two new funds. These funds must be used exclusively to boost EMS worker salaries, improve crisis response, and support mental health services to help retain staff.

Maddy summaryHB 5638 establishes the West Virginia Cybersecurity Office within the Office of Technology, led by a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), to manage the state's cybersecurity program. It requires most state agencies (excluding higher education, the State Police, constitutional officers, the Legislature, and Judiciary) to follow standardized cybersecurity practices, conduct risk assessments, and implement security controls for protecting information systems. The CISO is tasked with developing agency-wide cybersecurity policies, creating a risk management service to clarify agency responsibilities, and setting cyber risk standards based on federal and industry best practices. The bill aims to strengthen the state's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats across government operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4087 establishes the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance Partnership to strengthen academic, cultural, and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland. It creates a formal partnership requiring five four-year universities and five two-year colleges in West Virginia to collaborate with Irish institutions. The bill provides for five $50,000 grants to fund joint programs between these institutions. This partnership is governed by a commission with specific membership rules, including legislative and community representatives. The bill directly affects West Virginia higher education institutions and their Irish counterparts through structured collaboration and grant opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 4976 amends West Virginia law to clarify requirements for special license plates for commercial vehicles (Class G). It requires organizations seeking such plates to collect applications from at least 50 Class G vehicle owners and submit all associated fees (first-year registration, design, and annual costs) within six months of approval. The bill establishes a $25 initial application fee and a $15 annual fee for these special plates, which must be paid by applicants. If the minimum 50 applications aren't met within six months, the organization must wait two years before reapplying.

Maddy summaryHB 4198, the E-Verify Requirement Act, requires all employers in West Virginia - including businesses, government entities, and public agencies - to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm employees' work authorization. It replaces criminal penalties with fines for knowingly employing unauthorized workers ($100-$10,000 per violation depending on offense count) and allows license suspension or revocation for repeat violations. The bill also creates a "safe harbor" for employers who use E-Verify, shielding them from penalties for failure to verify status. It repeals a provision denying business expense deductions for non-compliance but maintains financial penalties and licensing consequences for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 4012 reduces regulatory requirements for utility companies building or maintaining electric power generation and transmission facilities in West Virginia. The bill waives the need for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for projects approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, streamlining approvals for these projects. It also shortens the Public Service Commission’s decision timeline, reducing the maximum processing time for large projects (over $50 million) from 400 days to 270 days. This directly affects utility companies seeking to develop or upgrade electric infrastructure within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4026 requires West Virginia electric utilities to include detailed analyses of advanced transmission technologies in their integrated resource plans filed with the Public Service Commission. This affects all utilities operating in the state that submit these plans, including major providers like American Electric Power and Dominion Energy. The bill mandates comprehensive assessments of technologies such as advanced conductors, dynamic line rating, and power flow controls, covering their economic feasibility, technical viability, potential benefits, and deployment schedules. These analyses must address how such technologies improve grid efficiency, reliability, and safety for customers. The requirement applies to all new or updated resource plans filed after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4772 requires West Virginia's Medicaid agency to verify enrollee status monthly by matching Medicaid records against state death records (from the Office of Vital Statistics) and the federal Social Security Death Master File. If a person has died, their Medicaid coverage must be terminated immediately, effective the date of death, stopping all future payments. The bill mandates data-sharing agreements with federal agencies, annual audits by the state Inspector General, and yearly reports to the legislature on the number of deceased enrollees removed and estimated cost savings. This directly affects deceased Medicaid recipients (whose records are automatically removed) and aims to prevent unnecessary payments, saving state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 4471 requires all rental properties in West Virginia to have approved sewage systems instead of straight piping sewage. It specifically applies to landlords of rental properties, including those previously used as primary owner-occupied homes that are now rented. The bill mandates that these properties must update plumbing to current standards and install approved sewer systems. This policy directly affects landlords and rental property owners by setting new infrastructure requirements for sewage handling.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution formally recognizes President Donald J. Trump for various policies and actions that the West Virginia House of Delegates claims have benefited the state. The document highlights specific initiatives including regulatory reforms in the energy sector, tax relief measures, funding for rural healthcare, and programs aimed at reducing prescription drug costs and establishing investment accounts for newborns. It also cites border security improvements and drug control efforts as contributing factors to public safety and economic well-being. The resolution expresses appreciation for these actions and requests that the formal recognition be sent to the President.