Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 5669, known as "Raylee's Law," temporarily blocks custodial parents or guardians accused of child abuse or neglect from withdrawing children from public or private schools to homeschool or resuming home instruction during an active Department of Human Services investigation. The restriction applies only while an investigation is ongoing and ends when the investigation is closed without finding abuse or if a court orders otherwise. The Department of Human Services must notify both the child's school and the parent/guardian in writing about this temporary restriction. The bill directly affects children in abuse/neglect cases where the alleged perpetrator is their custodial caregiver.

Maddy summaryHB 5475 would change West Virginia's Public Service Commission from an appointed body to an elected one. The bill requires three commissioners to be elected to six-year nonpartisan terms from three districts corresponding to the state's three congressional districts, with staggered terms for the first election cycle. It maintains existing requirements, including one commissioner needing a law license with at least 10 years of experience and prohibitions against financial ties to public utilities or holding other elected office. The bill eliminates the Governor's appointment authority and Senate confirmation process for commission members.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors the life and legacy of the late West Virginia legislator Larry D. Kump, who passed away on February 28, 2026. The resolution formally expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to Kump's family and acknowledges his service as a representative for Berkeley County across three different terms. It recognizes his career in criminal justice and mediation, his commitment to limited government, and his role as a devoted family member and church leader. The document is a ceremonial tribute rather than a law that changes policy or affects public programs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Capitol Building Commission and Department of Administration to assess and address hazardous trees along California Avenue and Kanawha Boulevard on the State Capitol Complex grounds. The resolution requests an immediate evaluation of trees that have caused property damage through falling limbs and broken trunks over the past two years. It specifically asks officials to trim trees back to the grass side of sidewalks or remove and replace hazardous trees to protect public safety and state property. This non-binding resolution directs state agencies to take preventative maintenance actions without mandating specific enforcement measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5210 comprehensively updates West Virginia's water infrastructure laws to support public water and wastewater utilities. It creates a voluntary "Struggling Utilities Improvement Pilot Program" to help six to ten struggling utilities address issues before reaching a "distressed" status, while prioritizing low-interest loans for public utilities over private ones. The bill requires mandatory training for municipal officials overseeing water systems, mandates reporting to county commissions, and establishes a new "improvement period" for utilities on the distressed watch list. It also modifies funding rules to prevent state support for utilities with serious regulatory noncompliance or financial audit issues, and allows public utilities to secure customer use contracts before project funding.

Maddy summaryHB 4027 is West Virginia's proposed budget bill for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027), appropriating state funds for agency operations. It establishes funding categories like "personal services" (salaries), "employee benefits," and "current expenses" to cover routine state operations, while defining how agencies must manage and report these funds. The bill requires agencies to collect specific revenue amounts ("from collections") to avoid budget shortfalls and outlines procedures for handling insurance premiums and other costs through designated funds. As a routine appropriations measure, it directly affects all state agencies and departments that rely on state funding for their annual operations.

Maddy summaryHB 5478 establishes a statewide pilot program distributing free, internet-free learning touchpads to eligible preschoolers in West Virginia to improve kindergarten readiness. The program targets children aged 3-4 who qualify based on family income (at or below federal poverty level), participation in programs like WIC or Head Start, or other risk factors identified by the state. Each touchpad kit includes preloaded early-learning apps, headphones, a protective case, and parent guides with daily activity suggestions and text-message tips. The West Virginia Department of Education will administer the program, partner with community organizations, and evaluate its impact on readiness metrics annually, while ensuring compliance with child privacy laws.

Maddy summaryHJR 40 proposes adding Article XV to the West Virginia Constitution, granting voters the power to directly propose new laws or constitutional amendments (initiative) and reject laws passed by the legislature (referendum). To use these powers, voters would need to gather signatures equal to 10% of the votes cast for Governor in their district or county, with statewide initiatives requiring signatures in two-thirds of counties. The bill specifies that initiative and referendum measures cannot propose laws the legislature couldn't enact, name specific individuals for office, or amend Article XV itself, and limits statewide initiatives to five per election. This would directly affect registered voters by creating new tools for direct participation in lawmaking, subject to the outlined procedural requirements.

Maddy summaryHJR 41 proposes a constitutional amendment to change West Virginia's legislative session schedule. It would alternate between a 60-day general session (every other year) where any bill can be considered, and a 30-day session (the following year) limited solely to passing the state budget. During 30-day sessions, lawmakers could only address budget-related matters unless the Governor issues a proclamation or a two-thirds vote of both chambers allows other business. The amendment aims to shorten legislative sessions every other year, with the stated purpose of "saving taxpayers money" by reducing session length. This is a procedural constitutional change affecting how the state legislature organizes its work and budget process.

Maddy summaryHB 5623, the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, prohibits licensed mental health providers in West Virginia from performing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. The bill specifically bans both direct conversion therapy and referrals to providers offering such services, covering clinical psychologists, social workers, school counselors, and other licensed professionals. Violations would be treated as unprofessional conduct, with first offenses resulting in written warnings and mandatory training, and repeat offenses leading to disciplinary action by licensing boards. This law directly affects minors under 18 and all mental health providers licensed in West Virginia who interact with youth clients.