Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 2767 establishes a legal framework for worker cooperative corporations in West Virginia, enabling employee-owned businesses to form under specific rules. It requires these cooperatives to include "This corporation is a worker cooperative corporation" in their articles of incorporation and defines key terms like "capital account cooperative" (where net value is tracked per member) and "patronage" (measured by labor contribution, not stock ownership). The bill outlines how earnings must be distributed based on members' work (e.g., hours, wages, or jobs created) rather than shareholder profit, and allows for capital accounts to manage member equity and redemption terms. This directly affects workers seeking to create or join democratically run businesses focused on local economic stability and employee wealth, not investor profits.

Maddy summaryHB 2764 establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw West Virginia's congressional and state legislative district boundaries after each census. The commission, composed of six members (equal party representation with geographic balance across all congressional districts), must develop maps based on census data while following strict fairness criteria like population equality. It requires public comment periods on draft maps, prohibits current elected officials or lobbyists from serving, and mandates that the final plan be submitted to the full Legislature for approval. This bill directly affects how district lines are drawn for all West Virginia voters, shifting the redistricting process from the Legislature to a dedicated independent body.

Maddy summaryHB 2682 amends West Virginia's workers' compensation law (§23-4-2) but does not address occupational pneumoconiosis as its title suggests. The bill establishes specific rules for intoxication-related claims: employees are deemed intoxicated if blood alcohol exceeds 0.05% within two hours of an accident, or if nonprescribed drugs are detected. This affects workers filing injury claims, as intoxication can bar compensation or establish it as the cause of injury. The bill also clarifies that employers lose immunity from lawsuits only if proven to have acted with "deliberate intention" to cause injury, requiring specific proof of intent or prior knowledge of dangerous conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 2606 would increase payments to therapists and other non-state-employed professionals contracted to provide early intervention services through West Virginia's Birth-to-Three program by 25 percent. This applies to providers delivering services for children with developmental delays, effective July 1, 2025. The bill amends existing law to require this payment adjustment for all contracted services under the program. The change directly affects contracted service providers in the Birth-to-Three program, improving their compensation for delivering early intervention care.

Maddy summaryHB 2001 allows professionals already licensed in another state to obtain a West Virginia license without retaking exams, provided they hold a current, good-standing license in that state for at least one year and meet similar education/work requirements. It specifically applies to most occupational licenses (excluding law licenses and certain background checks) and covers individuals who relocate to West Virginia or accompany military spouses to a West Virginia military base. Licenses issued under this bill are valid only in West Virginia and do not qualify for interstate compacts. The bill requires applicants to pay state fees, have no disqualifying criminal history, and pass a state-specific law exam if required by the licensing board.

Maddy summaryHB 2486 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to analyze statewide school discipline data (including disparities by race, gender, and disability) and develop a statewide program to address disciplinary actions for K-12 students. County school boards must implement this program to improve disciplinary outcomes. The bill mandates annual reports on progress to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and requires the Department to publish discipline data on its public dashboard for transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the West Virginia State Department of Education to spend an additional $10 million from the state's general revenue surplus for the 2025 fiscal year. The funds are specifically designated for the "Communities in Schools" program, which provides support services to students. By adding this new appropriation item, the legislation allows the department to allocate money directly to this designated organization without changing other existing budgets. The bill was approved by the governor and enacted as part of the state's budget adjustments for that year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia Legislature to increase funding for the state's highway maintenance program. It specifically adds $150 million to the existing budget for the Department of Transportation's Division of Highways for the fiscal year ending in June 2025. The money will be drawn from the State Road Fund to cover road repair and upkeep costs. This action is a direct response to the Governor's request for additional financial resources to support infrastructure needs during that fiscal period.

Maddy summaryHB 219 directs the West Virginia General Assembly to allocate an additional $1,050,000 from the state's unspent surplus funds to the Public Defender Services for the fiscal year 2025. This funding is intended to support the department's operations and legal representation services for individuals who cannot afford attorneys. The bill does not alter the department's existing duties or eligibility criteria but simply provides extra financial resources to cover its budget needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the West Virginia Code to clarify how the School Building Authority distributes state and federal funds for school construction and major improvements. It establishes specific allocation rules, reserving up to 10 percent of available funds for statewide projects and up to 5 percent for multiuse vocational-technical education facilities. The legislation also requires that projects funded under these categories be submitted directly to the authority for evaluation and must align with approved comprehensive educational facility plans. Additionally, the bill sets aside a 2 percent emergency fund and ensures that the authority considers all other funding sources before approving new projects.