Del. Evan Worrell

Maddy summaryHB 3184, the Local Government Freedom Act, requires West Virginia local governments to award construction contracts over $25,000 to the "lowest qualified responsible bidder" rather than allowing them to use pre-hire union agreements (project labor agreements). The bill defines "lowest qualified responsible bidder" as the bidder meeting all legal requirements and offering the lowest price, while prohibiting political subdivisions from entering into project labor agreements for most construction projects. It also sets a $500,000 cap on open-ended maintenance contracts and mandates specific bonding requirements for bidders. This bill directly affects cities, counties, and school boards when procuring construction work.

Maddy summaryHB 3185, the Taxpayer Protection Act, prevents employers from misclassifying workers as independent contractors when they should be treated as employees for tax purposes. It requires West Virginia’s Tax Commissioner to apply an "ABC test" to determine worker status: whether the worker has no employer control, performs unusual work for the business, and operates as a separate business. Employers must prove all three criteria to classify a worker as independent; otherwise, the worker is presumed an employee. This directly affects individual taxpayers (workers) and employers who may have misclassified workers, ensuring the state collects proper employment taxes. The bill aims to clarify tax obligations without changing tax rates or creating new revenue streams.

Maddy summaryHB 3165, the Streaming Rights and Equality Act, sets maximum fees for streaming high school sports in West Virginia: $250 per football game and $100 for other sports, with annual increases capped at 5%. It requires publicly funded high schools to allow West Virginia-based streaming producers to broadcast events at these rates, ensuring equal access statewide. The bill mandates that schools cannot deny local producers access to regular-season or playoff games if fees are paid, and requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to make championship events available to local producers under the same terms as regular season. Violations incur penalties, including double the streaming fee for non-compliance or failure to provide required on-camera oversight during events.

Maddy summaryHB 2383 replaces West Virginia's West Virginia Contraband Forfeiture Act with a new Criminal Forfeiture Process Act. It applies specifically to property used in or derived directly from felony violations of controlled substance laws (e.g., drug crimes), shifting forfeiture procedures from separate civil processes to the criminal court handling the underlying case. Key provisions define terms like "contraband" (unlawful items like drugs), "innocent owner" (someone unaware their property was used in a crime), prohibit civil forfeiture, and ban transferring seized property to federal agencies for federal forfeiture. This directly affects law enforcement agencies and individuals whose property is linked to drug-related felony convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2631 requires all medical providers in West Virginia - including doctors, dentists, and chiropractors - to orally explain all treatment options, potential complications, and side effects to patients before proceeding with any medical care. This directly affects patients seeking treatment and healthcare providers who must obtain a patient’s signed acknowledgment after providing this information. The bill establishes penalties for noncompliance, including fines up to $500 for intentional violations, with lesser penalties for unintentional first-time failures. It aims to ensure patients receive clear, verbal information to make informed decisions about their care.

Maddy summaryHB 3003 allows West Virginia county commissions to increase pay for elected county officials (like sheriffs, clerks, and assessors) when justified by new duties or rising property values. It requires county auditors to certify the county has sufficient funds before raises can be paid, and officials must submit written requests for the increase. The bill cites that since 2015, officials have taken on more responsibilities without pay adjustments, and higher property valuations now justify potential salary changes. This applies to all counties that meet the fiscal certification and request requirements, effective July 1, 2025. The changes aim to align compensation with evolving county responsibilities and economic conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 2954 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine side effects and injuries to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that professionals administering vaccines receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill creates a public reporting mechanism allowing individuals, including parents, to submit vaccine-related concerns directly to the Bureau. The Bureau must then produce an annual report for the West Virginia Legislature summarizing this data. This legislation directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and parents by expanding vaccine safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2482 allows youth hunters (under 16) and hunters with a Class Q special hunting permit (for handicapped individuals) to take one antlered deer during the state's Special Youth Deer Season. This change applies the deer taken during this special season toward the hunter's regular firearms deer season bag limit. The bill specifically excludes holders of Class XS licenses from this privilege during the special season. It modifies existing hunting regulations to expand harvest opportunities for these specific groups during designated seasons.

Maddy summaryHB 2796 establishes state standards for school breakfasts and lunches to align with federal nutrition guidelines, requiring all West Virginia school districts to provide meals meeting USDA-defined "nutritionally adequate" criteria, including limits on added sugar and sodium. It mandates elementary schools to adopt approved breakfast delivery systems (like Breakfast in the Classroom) and implement the "Feed to Achieve" initiative, which aims to offer free healthy meals to all elementary students where feasible using community donations and funding. The bill also requires schools to track meal participation and report annually to state legislative committees on the initiative's impact and effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 2652, the "Protection of Shared Physical and Digital Property from Warrantless Searches Act," requires government agents to obtain a person’s consent or a judicial warrant based on probable cause before searching or seizing digital or physical information shared with third parties (like banks, cloud services, or service providers) for goods or services. It directly affects all West Virginia residents who share personal information with third parties to access everyday services, such as financial or digital accounts. The bill defines "shared property" to include digital records and physical documents held by third parties for service provision, and explicitly rejects the current "Third Party Doctrine" that allows warrantless access to such information. It establishes that individuals retain constitutional privacy protections for shared information, requiring government action to follow standard warrant procedures. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary committee after being introduced on February 20, 2025.