Rep. Michael Amos

Maddy summaryHJR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit service in five specific West Virginia constitutional offices to three consecutive terms, effective January 1, 2029. It directly affects the Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Agriculture. The amendment prevents any individual from serving more than three consecutive terms in these roles for terms beginning after January 1, 2029, while grandfathering terms served prior to that date. The proposed change must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2405 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who homeschool or send children to private schools for primary and secondary education. It provides a credit equal to the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer, regardless of how many children are homeschooled or in private school. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship are excluded from this credit. The State Tax Commissioner must establish rules for claiming the credit, which reduces income tax liability but does not impose new education regulations on homeschooled children.

Maddy summaryHB 2969 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners. The bill raises the exemption amount from $20,000 to $30,000 immediately, with further increases to $35,000 by 2028 and $40,000 by 2030. This exemption applies to the first $30,000 (and higher amounts over time) of a home's assessed value for primary residences owned by residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled. To qualify, applicants must meet residency requirements, including being a West Virginia resident for two consecutive years prior to the tax year, with exceptions for military service and returning residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2895 sets the assessed value of business machinery, equipment, and inventory used directly in business operations, plus all personal motor vehicles, to $0 for property tax purposes starting July 1, 2025. This policy change directly affects businesses that own such equipment or inventory, as well as owners of personal vehicles (which are typically not business property but are included in the bill). The key mechanism is a flat $0 valuation for these specific property types, removing them from the standard ad valorem property tax calculation. This represents a significant tax relief for affected businesses and vehicle owners by eliminating property tax liability on these items.

Maddy summaryHB 2923 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to install rumble strips on all double-yellow lined highways during any road upgrade project, beginning July 1, 2025. This mandate applies specifically to roadways marked with double yellow lines, which typically separate opposing traffic flows. The bill directly affects state highway maintenance operations and drivers traveling on these roads by adding a physical safety feature to reduce run-off-road collisions. It creates a concrete, enforceable requirement for highway upgrades rather than proposing new funding or altering existing traffic laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2813 sets a maximum limit of 75 grams of carbohydrates served to elementary school students during any school day. It directly affects all West Virginia county school boards and elementary schools, requiring them to implement this limit in their nutrition programs. The bill mandates that schools must not exceed this 75-gram daily carbohydrate threshold, with non-compliance resulting in reduced funding for school lunch programs. This policy change specifically targets the quantity of carbohydrates in school meals, without altering other nutritional standards or meal types.

Maddy summaryHB 2734 requires all West Virginia public K-12 schools to display their annual school report cards on their official websites. It also mandates that county boards of education use the state's existing electronic system for collecting and reporting school data to the state education department. This ensures parents and community members can easily access school performance information online without needing to request it. The bill applies directly to every public school and county school board in the state, standardizing how school accountability data is shared publicly.

Maddy summaryHB 2778, titled "To remove the taxation on burials, funerals and cremation," creates a tax exemption for funeral, cremation, and burial services in West Virginia. The bill directly affects funeral homes, cremation providers, and burial services by removing existing sales and service taxes on these specific services. Key provisions exempt these services from taxes under West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax code, as defined in §30-6-1 et seq. This policy change eliminates a tax obligation for providers of these end-of-life services.

Maddy summaryHB 2739 would remove the mandatory helmet requirement for motorcycle operators and passengers in West Virginia. It specifically amends §17C-15-44 of the state code, which currently requires helmets meeting ANSI Z90.1, DOT FMVSS 218, or Snell safety standards. This change would directly affect all motorcycle riders and passengers who previously had to wear helmets meeting those specifications. The bill does not alter other safety provisions in the same section, such as requirements for eye protection or vehicle equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 2728 requires all health insurers in West Virginia to cover biodentical hormone treatments when determined medically necessary by a licensed physician after proper evaluation of symptoms or test results. The bill applies to all group and individual health insurance policies, including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations, effective January 1, 2025. Insurers must provide coverage on an expense-incurred basis, treating biodentical hormones similarly to pharmaceutical alternatives. This policy change directly affects patients seeking hormone therapy and insurers offering health coverage in the state.