Del. Daniel Linville

Maddy summaryHCR 103 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study West Virginia's participation in PJM Interconnection LLC, the regional electricity grid operator serving 13 states and D.C. The study will assess whether West Virginia ratepayers and utilities are well-served by PJM's management of wholesale electricity markets, including how investments in local power generation are valued and whether alternative regional options exist. It specifically examines PJM's impact on rising electricity rates, governance representation for West Virginia, and feasibility of forming a state-specific grid organization like Texas. The committee must report findings and recommendations to the 2026 legislature. This resolution does not change laws but directs a policy review affecting all West Virginia electricity consumers and utilities.

Maddy summaryHB 3294 creates legal protections for banks, broker-dealers, and investment advisors who intervene to prevent financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. It directly affects eligible adults (West Virginia residents 65+ or adults with significant mental impairments affecting financial decisions) and financial institutions. The bill allows these institutions to delay, refuse, or block transactions they believe risk financial exploitation, and requires them to report suspected exploitation to state agencies like the Department of Human Services. It provides legal immunity for institutions acting in good faith to protect eligible adults, without creating a duty to override customer instructions.

Maddy summaryHB 2816 clarifies that secondary legal sources - such as textbooks, treatises, or scholarly articles - do not constitute binding law or public policy in West Virginia. It specifies these sources are only persuasive when addressing causes of action, rights, or remedies, and only if they align with existing state law. The bill also allows circuit courts to certify novel legal questions (issues of "first impression") to the Supreme Court of Appeals for resolution. This directly affects courts and legal practitioners by setting clear boundaries for when external legal commentary may influence judicial decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 2948 removes a $9,500 loan value limit that previously prevented automobile dealers, licensed auto auctions, repair facilities, and towing companies from obtaining titles for abandoned or junked vehicles left on their property. The bill allows these businesses to secure titles for vehicles of any value that have been abandoned on their premises, eliminating the prior restriction. This change applies after standard notice procedures require owners and lienholders to be notified and given 10 days to reclaim the vehicle. The policy update simplifies title processing for businesses handling abandoned vehicles without altering existing redemption requirements.

Maddy summaryHCR 88 is a ceremonial resolution honoring two West Virginia first responders nominated for the Medal of Valor. It specifically recognizes Captain Donald Lawson (New Martinsville Police) for rescuing two people from carbon monoxide poisoning despite his own hospitalization, and Darrell Lambert (Lake Volunteer Firefighter) for entering a burning building without protective gear to save a trapped resident, sustaining burns in the process. The resolution formally confirms the Legislature's approval of their award and directs the House Clerk to send a copy to Governor Morrisey. This is a symbolic honor with no new policy or funding changes, directly affecting only these two nominees. It passed unanimously in both chambers on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific segment of Route 20 in Webster County (from the Upshur/Webster County line to Mount Zion Road) as the "U.S. Army Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke Memorial Road." It commemorates Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke, a WWII and Korean War veteran with multiple military awards, who was born in Upshur County and raised in Cleveland, Webster County. The resolution asks the Division of Highways to install signs identifying this road segment and directs the House Clerk to forward the resolution to the agency. This is a commemorative measure with no funding or policy changes, directly affecting the named road segment in Webster County.

Maddy summaryHB 3146 amends West Virginia law to reduce the minimum applicant requirement for military organizations seeking special license plates from 100 to 50. This change applies specifically to military organizations chartered by the U.S. Congress that want to offer special plates for their members. The bill requires these organizations to provide a guarantee of at least 50 applicants before the state division issues the plates. The policy change lowers the threshold for organizations to qualify, making it easier for them to obtain special plates while maintaining the $10 application fee and existing eligibility rules for individual military personnel and Gold Star spouses.

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 2736 creates an Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board to enforce rules preventing damage to underground utility lines during excavation. It directly affects excavators (e.g., construction crews) and operators of underground facilities (e.g., gas, water, or telecom companies). The bill establishes the board’s authority to investigate damage incidents, assess civil penalties, require training, and collect fines - which must be retained by the board (not the state general fund) for its operations. Key provisions clarify definitions of "damage," "excavation," and "underground facility" to standardize reporting and safety protocols. The law aims to reduce accidental utility line strikes during digging projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2456 establishes the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program under the Bureau for Public Health to provide state funding to pregnancy help organizations (excluding abortion industry organizations). The program funds capital improvements, new services, compliance with licensing standards, and staff training for eligible organizations. Funding is distributed through a fee-per-service model, with specific rates set by the managing agency. This bill directly affects pregnancy help organizations by providing targeted financial support for operational needs.