Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 3007 would increase salaries for sheriffs who have prior law enforcement experience. To qualify, sheriffs must submit a written request to their county commission before the effective date, and counties must demonstrate fiscal capacity to cover the raise through auditor certification. The bill amends existing law to establish this higher pay rate for sheriffs meeting the experience requirement, effective July 1, 2025. It does not apply automatically; sheriffs must proactively request the increase, and counties must prove they can afford it without relying on federal grants or unencumbered funds. This change directly affects sheriffs with qualifying experience in counties that meet fiscal criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2012 eliminates a requirement for certain businesses to make an accelerated tax payment for the first 15 days of June by June 20th. Specifically, it removes Section 11-15-16(g) from West Virginia law, which applied to taxpayers whose average monthly tax payments exceeded $100,000 in the prior year. This change simplifies the payment schedule for those businesses by ending the June 20th deadline for the early payment. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, removing this specific administrative requirement from the tax code.

Maddy summaryHJR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older in West Virginia. It would allow possession of up to two ounces of cannabis or four plants per person, permit the legislature to regulate sales and manufacturing, and require courts to dismiss or expunge prior convictions for possessing two ounces or less. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election before taking effect. This would directly affect adults 21+ and individuals with past cannabis possession convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2955 amends West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program to restrict state funding from covering costs for students attending out-of-state private schools or using services from out-of-state education providers. The bill directly affects Hope Scholarship students who currently use state funds for out-of-state education, requiring them to enroll in in-state private schools instead. It changes the program's funding rules by limiting "Hope scholarship funds" to eligible in-state education service providers and participating schools within West Virginia. This policy change ensures state scholarship dollars only support education within the state's public school system or in-state private schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2928 creates two tax credits for West Virginia residents aged 18-40: a credit equal to accumulated student loan interest (or $1,000 annually for graduates without loans) and a refundable child care credit matching federal dependent care deductions. It applies to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and requires taxpayers to have lived in West Virginia for at least three years. The bill directly affects young professionals with student debt or child care costs, offering cash payments for qualifying expenses. It does not change existing tax rates but provides new refundable credits to reduce state income tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 2887 would legalize cannabis production, sales, and adult consumption for individuals aged 21 and older in West Virginia, but only after counties hold voter referendums to approve local implementation. It establishes a regulatory framework where the Bureau of Public Health would issue licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sales, while the Department of Revenue would collect a special excise tax and manage local sales tax revenue for county governments. The bill preserves existing laws prohibiting underage use, driving under the influence, and workplace cannabis use, and requires cannabis products to be labeled and tested like alcohol. It explicitly states this law does not affect the current West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2893, the Second Look Sentencing Act, allows judges to reduce prison sentences for individuals who committed crimes before age 25 and have served at least 10 years. It directly affects incarcerated people meeting these criteria, enabling sentence modifications if they demonstrate no risk to public safety, readiness for reentry, and rehabilitation. The bill requires courts to consider factors like completed prison programs, victim input, mental health evaluations, and the defendant’s youth at the time of the offense before granting relief. Modifications may include reducing sentences to time served, adjusting consecutive terms, or granting parole eligibility, with a maximum of five years of supervised release post-release.

Maddy summaryHB 2766 creates a tax credit program to help low-income workers obtain vehicles by providing refundable tax credits to individuals and dealers. It allows individual taxpayers who donate eligible vehicles to qualified charities to receive up to $6,000 per vehicle, and licensed automobile dealers who sell or donate such vehicles to low-income workers to receive up to $6,000 per vehicle based on the discount from fair market value. Eligible vehicles must be safe (no salvage history, no open safety recalls, and with a 90-day warranty) and are provided to workers in households earning at or below 150% of the federal poverty level through qualified charitable organizations. The program has a maximum annual tax credit limit of $300,000 for 2021-2022 and $1 million for subsequent years, with the Tax Commissioner tracking claims.

Maddy summaryHB 2750 requires most health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, contraceptive devices, and related outpatient services without cost-sharing (like copays) for enrollees. It mandates coverage for up to a 12-month supply of prescribed contraceptives, including therapeutic equivalents (generic versions), and requires plans to cover alternatives if a provider deems a specific contraceptive medically inadvisable. The bill applies to health insurance plans covering prescription drugs or devices, affecting enrollees (not dependent children) who use these services. It repeals outdated language and amends coverage rules to ensure comprehensive access to contraceptive care under state law. The bill is currently in early committee review after introduction on February 21, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2765 amends West Virginia's medical cannabis law by clarifying definitions related to patient eligibility certification. It updates the definition of "certified medical use" to specify that it includes "enabling the patient to tolerate treatment for the serious medical condition" and revises other key terms like "patient," "caregiver," and "continuing care." The bill does not change who qualifies for medical cannabis but refines how eligibility and treatment are documented within the existing program. This procedural update directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and the Bureau for Public Health as they implement certification under the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. The bill was introduced on February 21, 2025, and referred to the House Health and Human Resources Committee.