Del. Jimmy Willis

Maddy summaryHB 4534 creates West Virginia's Title Protection Act to shield property owners from fraudulent title claims. It ensures rightful owners retain full title to their property - even if someone files fake deeds or takes loans using their property - without facing financial liability. The bill requires county clerks to mail notices to owners whenever property transfers occur or deeds are filed/modified, acting as an early warning system for potential fraud. This directly affects homeowners vulnerable to title theft, where criminals might forge documents online to steal equity or saddle owners with unauthorized loans.

Maddy summaryHB 4540 requires municipalities and courts to send written notice at least 30 days before suspending licenses for unpaid traffic tickets, clearly listing both the fine owed and the administrative fee. It mandates that courts forward any collected administrative fees directly to the state division. The bill applies to most traffic violations (excluding parking tickets) and affects drivers who fail to pay citations in West Virginia. This changes how courts handle fee collection and license suspension notices for motor vehicle violations.

Maddy summaryHB 4496 requires creators and distributors of AI-generated media (such as videos, audio, or images) to include clear, visible disclosures identifying the content as artificial intelligence-generated. This applies to any public-facing media created or materially altered by AI, mandating specific disclosures like a 3-second on-screen label for videos or a spoken statement for audio content. Exceptions include internal research, basic AI-assisted editing (e.g., spell-check), and privately shared personal content. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day for organizations or $1,000 per day for individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students in West Virginia who complete a certified driver's education course to receive a "High School Driver Education Certificate" instead of taking the written and road skill tests at the DMV. Upon successful course completion, certified teachers issue the certificate, which waives these tests for six months. Students must still pay standard DMV license fees, and the certificate expires after six months, requiring full testing if not renewed. Out-of-state license transfers for applicants under 18 still require a full DMV test.

Maddy summaryHB 4506 allows West Virginia State Police members who joined the retirement system on or after July 1, 2015, to convert their accrued annual or sick leave into additional retirement credit. The bill specifies that each day of leave will count as one day of credited service toward retirement, with remainders of 10 days or more counting as a full month and less than 10 days being disregarded. This provision does not apply to members who joined before July 1, 2015, and the additional credit will not count against the annual service limit of 12 months. The change clarifies that leave-based credit can now be used by newer members under a 1:1 conversion rate.

Maddy summaryHB 4438 requires all West Virginia schools and school contractors to conduct background checks on applicants for positions involving direct contact with children. It mandates that applicants provide written consent for schools to verify their employment history, including any past abuse investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions related to misconduct. Schools must review this information using a standardized form from the education department and confirm the applicant’s employment eligibility before hiring. Violations, such as providing false information, can result in denied employment or professional discipline.

Maddy summaryHB 4441 requires anyone applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) in West Virginia to be able to read and speak English. This applies specifically to new CDL applicants seeking a license in the state. The bill amends existing law (§17E-1-9) to explicitly add this language requirement alongside other existing standards like passing knowledge/skills tests and meeting federal regulations. It does not affect current CDL holders or change other existing qualifications for obtaining a CDL.

Maddy summaryHB 4082 requires the West Virginia State Board of Education to submit a complete, annual budget to the Legislature for review. This budget must detail all funds received and spent by the Board, including all educational spending. The bill directly affects the State Board of Education, mandating greater transparency in how education funds are allocated. It does not change funding levels or education programs, but ensures the Legislature receives comprehensive budget information each year. This procedural requirement aims to improve legislative oversight of education spending.