Rep. Patrick Lucas

Maddy summaryHB 5570 proposes to exempt transportation companies (common or contract carriers) that move processed recycled materials for commercial or industrial businesses from certain state regulations. Specifically, it would remove requirements for vehicles transporting these materials from business customers to recycling facilities. The exemption applies only to "processed source-separated recycled materials" and does not eliminate safety or insurance rules that carriers must still follow. This bill directly affects waste haulers and businesses generating recyclable materials who use contracted transportation services.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5512 updates West Virginia's land records system to combat fraud and improve property owner protections. It defines "suspicious documents" (e.g., those with mismatched notary details, false claims about laws, or non-compliance with recording standards) and gives county recorders authority to refuse recording them, report to law enforcement, or notify the involved notary. The bill requires recorders to establish a free property alert system by January 1, 2027, allowing owners to receive notifications about documents affecting their property via mail, text, or email. It also protects recorders from monetary liability when correctly refusing to record suspicious documents and mandates educational materials for notaries on deed fraud prevention.

Maddy summaryHB 5504 defines "low-proof spirit alcohol products" as non-wine, non-beer beverages containing 0.5% to 15.5% alcohol by volume, packaged in containers of 25 ounces or less. The bill establishes new requirements for manufacturing, selling, and distributing these products, including specific tax rules and a grant of rulemaking authority to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. It directly affects businesses producing or selling such beverages, as well as the commission responsible for enforcement. The law replaces existing regulations to create a distinct category for these lower-alcohol products, which were previously covered under broader alcohol rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5468 would allocate $5,000 per deputy sheriff position in each West Virginia county from the state's general revenue fund, to be used exclusively for raising deputy sheriff salaries. Counties receiving these funds must spend them solely on pay increases for deputies, with no flexibility for other expenses like equipment or administrative costs. This bill directly affects all West Virginia counties that employ deputy sheriffs by creating a dedicated state funding stream specifically for their salary increases.

Maddy summaryHB 5467 would increase the retirement benefit calculation rate for West Virginia deputy sheriffs from 2.5% to 3.0% of their final average salary per year of service. This change would directly affect current and future deputy sheriffs who participate in the state's Deputy Sheriff Retirement System, increasing their monthly retirement income. The bill amends Section 7-14D-2 of the West Virginia Code to adjust the "accrued benefit" formula, which determines retirement payouts. The bill was introduced in the House on February 12, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Maddy summaryHB 5469 would require West Virginia sheriffs, as chief tax collectors for their counties, to receive an additional $15,000 annual payment after collecting 85% of all property taxes. This commission would be added to sheriffs' existing salaries and paid from the same tax funds they collect. The bill specifies that this payment would become a regular part of sheriffs' annual compensation, charged against the tax collection funds. It directly affects all county sheriffs in West Virginia who serve as tax collectors under current law.

Maddy summaryHB 5460, the Construction Cost Relief Act, provides a sales tax rebate for construction materials used in new single-family homes built for residential ownership in West Virginia. The rebate covers up to 30% of the home's sale price (or construction loan amount if the builder occupies the home), calculated using a county-specific housing index relative to the state average. Homeowners and builders must claim the refund within one year of construction completion using state forms, and the refund cannot be transferred to another party. This law applies only to new construction starting on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5403 establishes fire safety requirements for West Virginia agritourism businesses - such as farms hosting visitors for activities like hayrides, corn mazes, or petting zoos - that use facilities for occasional events. It mandates specific safety measures including multiple exits based on occupancy, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, carbon monoxide detection, and emergency evacuation plans, while prohibiting overnight lodging unless full fire codes are met. The bill applies to businesses using structures for visitor purposes but exempts certain facilities (like educational field trips) from full building code compliance, requiring only minimum fire safety standards. These rules apply to existing and new agritourism operations, with electrical and fire safety standards updated for new constructions.

Maddy summaryHB 5402 creates a refundable tax credit for West Virginia businesses operating qualified distribution centers. It allows these businesses to claim a dollar-for-dollar credit against state taxes for toll payments exceeding $150,000 made via the West Virginia EZ Pass system on ground transportation of finished, packaged retail goods. The credit requires using RFID Tag Readers or comparable systems approved by the West Virginia Parkways Authority to track eligible tolls. The credit applies to toll payments made in 2026 and future tax years, with the program effective July 1, 2026.