Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 3509 is a procedural appropriations bill that reallocates $41,159,321 in unused funds from the Department of Economic Development’s "Site-Ready Projects, SEED, Vo-Tech and Workforce Investments - Surplus" account. It directs these unspent FY2025 funds to be carried forward for use in FY2026, rather than returning them to the general treasury. This bill directly affects the Department of Economic Development’s Office of the Secretary, which manages economic development funding. The change involves no new policy or program but adjusts how existing unspent state funds are utilized across fiscal years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 3511) adds $13,099 for current operations and $66,100 for capital improvements to the Division of Culture and History's existing budget for fiscal year 2025. It uses unappropriated surplus funds from the State Fund, General Revenue (as recommended by the Governor) to cover these specific spending items. The funds will support the division's ongoing activities and facility projects during the 2025 fiscal year. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy or program.

Maddy summaryHB 3510 is a procedural bill that reallocates unspent funds within West Virginia's existing budget for the Department of Homeland Security. It adds $398,295 for the Fusion Center Surplus (fund 0430) and $378,771 for Current Expenses Surplus (fund 0443) under the Department of Homeland Security and its Emergency Management Division. The bill specifies that any unexpended balances from these accounts at the end of fiscal year 2025 will be carried over and reappropriated for use in fiscal year 2026. This is purely an administrative adjustment of existing surplus funds, not new spending or policy.

Maddy summaryHB 3310 requires all West Virginia utility companies to cover the full costs of maintaining, upgrading, and repairing their infrastructure - including pipes, cables, poles, and electrical lines - without passing these expenses to consumers through rate increases. The bill directly affects utility companies operating in the state and all customers who pay utility bills. Key provisions mandate that companies absorb these costs entirely, maintain records proving costs weren’t factored into future rate hikes, and prohibit any financial burden on consumers for infrastructure maintenance. This policy change ensures no rate increases can be justified by infrastructure costs alone.

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 3072 requires new two-lane highways in West Virginia to use a "Super Two" design, which adds alternating passing lanes on rural roads to allow safe passing in both directions. This applies to all new road construction projects that do not need full four-lane infrastructure, meeting existing safety standards for lane width and shoulders. The design improves immediate traffic safety by reducing hazardous passing attempts while enabling future upgrades to four lanes with minimal modifications. It follows Texas' approach to cost-effectively enhance safety on existing two-lane corridors.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for the Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) Crisis Recovery Network, which would provide long-term mental health counseling support to schools after crises like natural disasters or shootings. It recognizes that schools - especially rural ones - often lack sufficient counselors to address ongoing student and staff needs during recovery. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but affirms state participation in the existing SREB network, which coordinates specialized counselors and resources for schools in extreme need.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 10 is a non-binding resolution from the West Virginia House of Delegates urging Congress to extend enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act beyond 2025. These tax credits, established by the American Rescue Plan and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act, have helped over 64,800 West Virginia residents afford health insurance. Without extension, premiums would more than double for many residents, making coverage unaffordable and potentially forcing people to choose between health care and basic needs like housing and food. The resolution calls on West Virginia's congressional delegation to support extending these credits to maintain affordable health care access for state residents.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 9 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Governor and federal representatives to prevent federal job losses in the state. It highlights that over 17,000 West Virginians work for federal agencies and cites recent layoffs (200-250 at a Parkersburg facility) as a threat to local economies and state finances. The resolution calls for action to protect these jobs, arguing that losing them would harm communities, small businesses, and social services. It specifically urges state leaders to oppose federal workforce cuts, though it does not create new policy or funding mechanisms. The resolution was introduced on March 18, 2025, and referred to the Rules committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3500 creates the "Governor's Cup Challenge," an annual athletic competition between Marshall University and West Virginia University. The bill establishes a scholarship fund using 20% of revenue from these games (ticket sales, merchandise, etc.), with the winning school receiving 65% of the annual fund for in-state high school athletes who didn’t receive athletic scholarships to West Virginia colleges. It directly affects high school student-athletes in West Virginia who pursue higher education at in-state institutions without athletic scholarships. The fund is overseen by the vice chancellor for administration, with scholarships distributed annually based on the competition's outcome.