Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 5606 establishes a tax credit for West Virginia residents who remain in-state after graduating from a West Virginia college or university. The credit allows individuals or their employers to reduce their personal income tax liability by up to 50-75% of eligible student loan payments made while working in West Virginia (based on degree level and transfer status). It covers loans included in the graduate's original financial aid package, requires payments to be made during residency, and permits unused credits to carry forward for up to 10 years. This policy directly affects recent WV graduates and their employers, aiming to incentivize retention in the state through tax relief on student debt.

Maddy summaryHB 5609 creates a tax credit for retail food distributors who donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations. It allows a credit equal to 10% of the original retail value of donated food (up to $5,000 annually), applicable against business or personal income taxes. Distributors must maintain receipts proving the donation value, and the Tax Commissioner must develop rules and notify businesses about the credit. The bill directly affects food retailers and distributors by incentivizing food donations to combat waste, while nonprofits receiving the food are not directly impacted by this provision. This complements existing liability protections under West Virginia's Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

Maddy summaryHB 5539 would allow West Virginia employers (both public and private) to give hiring preference to unemployed coal miners who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a miner must have worked in coal mining for at least five years, been unemployed as a coal miner for over one year, not be retired, and not have been fired for cause (like safety violations). Employers could prioritize these miners only if they meet all job-specific knowledge, skills, and eligibility requirements. The bill aims to support coal miners displaced by industry changes by creating a legal pathway for targeted hiring. This is a proposed policy change, not yet enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 5610, titled the "Granting Relatives Access to Monitor Act" (GRAM'S Act), allows residents of West Virginia long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes) or their authorized representatives (like guardians or attorneys in fact) to install electronic monitoring devices (cameras or audio recorders) in their rooms. To do so, the resident or representative must pay for the device and installation (excluding electricity), complete a facility-provided form, and obtain consent from other residents sharing the room. The bill requires facilities to provide consent forms and prohibits unauthorized monitoring, with violations treated as license violations subject to criminal penalties. This directly affects residents seeking monitoring for safety, their families, and long-term care facilities managing these requests.

Maddy summaryHB 5574 updates ethics rules for West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioners. It requires commissioners to publish their financial statements online annually, revises criteria for determining actions in the "public interest," and removes outdated provisions like §24-1-1a and §24-1-1b. The bill also makes PSC members subject to the state's code of judicial conduct. These changes directly affect PSC commissioners by increasing transparency and aligning their conduct standards with judicial ethics.

Maddy summaryHB 5607 would amend West Virginia's PROMISE Scholarship Program to cover full tuition, room, and board for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at state institutions of higher education, replacing the current $4,750 annual cap for these students. This change applies to new recipients and continues existing awards for STEM students who received the scholarship before January 1, 2010. The bill does not alter other eligibility requirements, such as maintaining a 3.0 grade point average or applying for federal student aid. The policy directly increases financial support for eligible STEM students at West Virginia's public colleges and universities.

Maddy summaryHB 5542 would repeal West Virginia's right-to-work law (specifically sections §21-5G-1 through §21-5G-7) that prohibited requiring union membership as a condition of employment in workplaces where a union is the bargaining representative. This bill directly affects workers and labor unions in West Virginia workplaces covered by collective bargaining agreements, removing barriers to fair cost allocation for representation. The key provision eliminates legal restrictions that forced unions to represent non-members without charging fees, allowing voluntary agreements where employees who benefit from union representation may be required to pay dues. The change aims to restore the ability for unions and employees to negotiate fair cost-sharing arrangements under existing labor law.

Maddy summaryHB 5586 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for classroom teachers in West Virginia, effective for the 2024-2025 school year and continuing thereafter. The bill sets specific minimum salary amounts based on teachers' years of experience (0-26+ years) and educational qualifications (Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degrees). This policy change directly affects all public school classroom teachers in West Virginia by creating a standardized pay structure with different rates for various experience levels and education levels. The bill amends §18A-4-2 of the Code of West Virginia to implement this new salary framework.

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 5584 requires West Virginia county school boards to provide one day of in-service training annually to school service employees preparing for mandatory competency tests. These tests determine qualification for specific job classifications, such as cafeteria managers or secretaries, as defined by state law. The training must help employees meet the test requirements, which are designed to align with job duties without altering the tests or passing standards. This bill applies directly to county school boards and their employees who must take the annual competency tests.