Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 5608 prohibits West Virginia insurance companies from using a person's credit history to make decisions about auto, home, or other personal insurance policies. It directly affects applicants and policyholders who might otherwise face higher premiums, denied coverage, or restricted payment plans based on their credit score. The bill bans insurers from refusing to provide coverage, increasing renewal rates, or requiring specific payment terms solely due to credit history. This would require insurers to base pricing and coverage decisions on factors other than credit, such as driving records or property risk.

Maddy summaryHB 5605 requires West Virginia legislators to pass annual drug tests for illegal drugs and unprescribed legal drugs to receive compensation or expense reimbursement. The bill mandates testing by December 31 each year, with legislators covering their own testing costs. Failure to pass or complete the test results in the loss of all legislative pay and reimbursements for that session. This policy directly affects all state legislators, linking their financial compensation to drug test compliance under the new provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds Juneteenth (June 19) as an official state holiday in West Virginia. It directly affects state government operations, including state employees and courts, by designating June 19 as a legal holiday. The bill specifies that if Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on the preceding Friday (unlike most other holidays, which would move to Monday). This change aligns with existing holiday rules for government closures but creates a unique observation rule for Juneteenth. The bill does not alter private business operations or other holiday observances.

Maddy summaryHB 5503 would provide a $5,000 annual salary increase to state mine inspectors, including electrical, underground, and surface mine inspectors, as defined in the existing law. The bill directly affects these specific inspectors by increasing their base pay on the effective date of the law. Key provisions require the salary adjustment to apply to all inspector categories covered under the current mine safety chapter. The bill focuses solely on the concrete policy change of raising salaries, with no additional provisions or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5485 would increase West Virginia's state minimum wage to $11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2027, from the current $8.25 hourly rate as stated in the bill's purpose note. This change applies to all employers in the state, including state agencies and departments, requiring them to pay at least $11.00 per hour to employees. The bill also specifies that employers must follow the federal minimum wage if it exceeds the state rate, though it does not change the federal rate itself. This represents a $2.75 per hour increase in the state's minimum wage.

Maddy summaryHB 5502 amends West Virginia's Human Rights Act to explicitly define "race" as including hair texture and protective hairstyles historically associated with race. This change directly affects employers and employees in West Virginia, clarifying that workplace policies targeting these traits may be lawful if justified by workplace health and safety or as a bona fide occupational requirement. The bill does not prohibit such policies outright but requires employers to demonstrate that rules impacting these traits serve a legitimate safety purpose. It updates the legal definition to align with existing protections while maintaining exceptions for valid safety or operational needs.

Maddy summaryHB 5479 prohibits law enforcement officers from concealing their identity (e.g., by wearing masks or face coverings) during routine, warrantless stops where a person is not under arrest and there is no probable cause for a crime. This applies to non-custodial investigative stops, such as when officers briefly question individuals in public without evidence of wrongdoing. Exceptions include undercover operations, safety risks to officers, emergencies, or when authorized by law. The bill aims to increase transparency and prevent intimidation during such encounters, but does not apply to arrests or stops supported by probable cause.

Maddy summaryHB 5473 creates a civil remedy in West Virginia for individuals harmed when a federal officer or employee violates constitutional rights while acting outside their official duties. It allows residents to sue such federal personnel in state court for constitutional violations (like free speech or due process) that exceed their lawful authority, but only when federal courts would not handle the case under 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d). The bill explicitly states it does not waive federal immunity or replace existing federal lawsuits, and applies only to conduct deemed "outside the scope of employment" under federal law. This policy change provides a state-level legal avenue for constitutional claims against federal actors in specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 5456 would amend West Virginia law to ensure West Virginia State Troopers permanently disabled in the line of duty receive disability pay that increases annually with the same raises they would have earned through seniority. Currently, their disability pay is calculated as 8.5% of a fixed salary amount (with a $15,000 annual minimum), but this bill would adjust that amount each year to reflect the trooper's potential future salary increases had they remained on active duty. This change directly affects troopers who become permanently and totally disabled while performing duty-related duties, ensuring their disability compensation grows alongside regular pay adjustments for active officers. The bill does not alter the base calculation method but mandates automatic annual adjustments based on seniority-based pay increases.

Maddy summaryHCR 17 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study pedestrian safety measures for the New River Gorge Bridge. It directs the committee to examine the feasibility, costs, and federal funding options for installing safety features, while ensuring Bridge Day events can continue. The resolution requires a 2027 report with findings and potential legislation, but does not mandate any safety changes or allocate funds. It directly affects the committee conducting the study and the Bridge Day Commission through consultation. This is a procedural request for research, not a bill implementing safety measures.