Del. Daniel Linville

Maddy summaryHB 2987, titled "Relating to the Consumer Data Protection Act," creates a "safe harbor" for businesses that implement written cybersecurity programs meeting specific standards. It directly affects businesses processing personal data for at least 100,000 consumers or deriving over 50% revenue from selling data for 25,000+ consumers, shielding them from punitive damages in data breach lawsuits if they maintain required administrative, technical, and physical security measures. The bill also grants consumers rights to access, correct, delete their personal data, and opt out of targeted advertising, while exempting government entities and providing limited immunity for universities offering cybersecurity programs. It establishes enforcement by the Attorney General and defines key terms like "personal information" and "data breach" to clarify scope.

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2856 allows broadband providers to install necessary equipment (like fiber lines) on land protected by conservation easements, without harming conservation values. It directly affects broadband companies and landowners with conservation easements by establishing three clear pathways to secure installation permission: modifying easement language, using a conservation plan detailing installation locations and depths, or seeking court approval for existing easements that block access. The bill preempts local ordinances and homeowner association rules that would otherwise prevent such installations, while clarifying that existing eminent domain rights for broadband providers remain unaffected. This policy change aims to expand broadband access in rural areas without compromising conservation protections.

Maddy summaryHB 2835 creates the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse, a statewide map-based data hub managed by the West Virginia GIS Technical Center. This hub will centralize geospatial information to help state agencies, local governments, and businesses plan infrastructure projects like broadband networks more efficiently, reducing duplication and speeding up installations. The bill requires agencies to follow standardized protocols for sharing location data while protecting confidential information, and establishes a special fund for operations. It directly affects state and local government entities involved in infrastructure planning and project permitting.

Maddy summaryHB 2502 requires West Virginia internet and telecom providers to automatically credit customers for service interruptions lasting five or more days (120 hours) when the outage isn't caused by the customer. Credits must be calculated proportionally to the days without service and applied in the next billing cycle. The Attorney General can enforce this by suing providers for excessive charges and imposing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Providers must also report monthly outage data (including credit amounts and geographic scope) to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, excluding mobile service disruptions.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name Dunloup Creek Bridge #2 (bridge number 10-025/00-000.06) in Fayette County as the "U.S. Army Private First Class Calvin Esco Spade Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge with this name. The resolution commemorates PFC Spade's service in the Korean War, his 15 years in the Army Reserves, and his post-military work with CSX Railroad in the Thurmond area. This is a symbolic naming request with no financial or regulatory impact, directly affecting only the bridge's official designation.

Maddy summaryHCR 94 is a request for the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study establishing an artificial intelligence (AI) elective course in West Virginia public high schools. The study would assess current AI education programs, identify gaps in student access, evaluate funding options, analyze AI’s impact on future industries, and recommend legislative or partnership actions. If implemented, the proposed course would teach foundational AI concepts (like machine learning), practical applications in fields like business and defense, and hands-on tool usage. This resolution does not create the course but asks for a study to inform future decisions. The committee must report findings by the 2026 legislative session.

Maddy summaryI notice a significant discrepancy in the information provided. The bill title states "Productive Energy Site Reclamation Waiver," but the bill text describes a "Consumer Data Protection Act" that establishes privacy standards for personal data processing. The actual content of the bill focuses on: - Creating a framework for controlling and processing personal data in West Virginia - Establishing consumer rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of data processing - Defining terms like "consumer," "controller," and "biometric data" - Setting requirements for businesses that control or process data for 100,000+ consumers or derive revenue from data sales This appears to be a mismatch between the stated title and the actual content of the bill. The bill text describes a consumer data protection law, not an energy site reclamation waiver.

Maddy summaryHB 3421 requires West Virginia coal-fired power plants to operate at a consistent 69% capacity level through 2040, maintain a 45-day on-site coal supply, and submit detailed operational plans to the Public Service Commission. It directly affects electric utilities operating coal plants by mandating they balance plant operations to preserve local jobs, stabilize energy costs, and avoid shutdowns without Commission approval. Key provisions include requiring utilities to provide supplemental plans for extending plant lifespans beyond retirement dates and preventing the use of securitized funds to close facilities. The bill also directs the Public Service Commission to coordinate West Virginia’s participation in regional energy markets to benefit ratepayers. These measures aim to secure coal generation as a stable energy source while protecting consumers from rate volatility.

Maddy summaryHB 2560 creates a certification program for "Infrastructure Ready Jurisdictions" in West Virginia, allowing counties or municipalities to qualify by adhering only to state-mandated permitting rules. Political subdivisions that meet this standard receive a 5% preferential scoring boost on all state infrastructure grant applications for projects within their certified boundaries. This benefit applies to both public and private projects but does not extend to uncertified municipalities - even if surrounding counties are certified. The bill requires the Department of Economic Development to establish certification rules and ensures the scoring preference does not override federal grant requirements. (Bill status: Passed House, pending in Senate as of March 2025.)