Del. Margitta Mazzocchi

Maddy summaryHB 2689 requires websites that primarily offer pornography to verify the age of users before allowing access, aiming to prevent minors from viewing such content. It targets commercial entities where pornography constitutes a "substantial portion" of their content, mandating "reasonable" age verification methods. The bill creates civil liability for non-compliance, allowing lawsuits against violators, while exempting internet service providers from liability for hosting content they didn’t create. It defines "minor" as under 18 and "sexual material harmful to minors" using community standards and explicit content criteria. The law provides a five-year statute of limitations for civil actions and excludes certain news organizations from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 3300 requires medical professionals to ask patients in advance before appointments or procedures whether they consent to being treated by a medical resident (trainee) or having a resident observe. If a patient declines, a licensed physician must provide care instead, but this does not apply in emergencies. The bill directly affects patients receiving routine care in non-emergency settings and aims to ensure patient comfort and trust in their care team. It mandates that facilities obtain this consent prior to treatment, with no impact on emergency care. The law creates a concrete policy change by making advance consent for resident treatment mandatory.

Maddy summaryHB 3298 prohibits West Virginia colleges and universities from requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot to enroll in or attend in-person classes. This law directly affects students at these institutions by removing vaccination as a mandatory condition for in-person education. The key provision adds a new section to state law (§18B-14-12) that bans such requirements, making it illegal for any college or university in West Virginia to impose them. The bill does not change other health policies or apply to remote learning options.

Maddy summaryHB 3291 (West Virginia House Bill 3291) increases penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. It directly affects businesses and organizations in West Virginia that employ unauthorized workers, imposing escalating fines: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 plus up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also penalizes employers who provide false work status records or transfer assets to evade these requirements, with fines of $1,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. These provisions amend existing West Virginia law (§21-1B-5) to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized employment.

Maddy summaryHB 3218 creates a tax credit program to incentivize the rehabilitation of underutilized commercial, industrial, and residential properties across West Virginia. Businesses and property owners who invest at least $250,000 in renovation, increase property value by 30%, and create or sustain five full-time jobs within three years can claim a 25% tax credit (up to $2 million) on eligible costs for business and occupation or corporate income tax, plus a 50% property tax credit on increased value for up to five years. Additional credits of up to 15% are available for projects in rural or distressed areas (10%) or for brownfield/historic properties (5% each). The bill also establishes a fast-track permitting process for qualifying projects to streamline development approvals within 90 days.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's House Concurrent Resolution 84 is a symbolic statement opposing China's misuse of UN Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. It clarifies that UNGA Resolution 2758 only addresses which government represents "China" in the UN and never intended to settle Taiwan's political status. The resolution urges the UN to stop using the resolution to deny Taiwan participation in UN bodies and reaffirms that the U.S. "one China policy" does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. It emphasizes that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO or ICAO. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal force but expresses legislative position on diplomatic matters.

Maddy summaryHB 3171, the "Citizen and State Accountability Act," requires state and local government agencies to seek the Governor's approval before accepting certain grants. For grants over $1 million (defined as "major grants"), agencies must submit a detailed 60-day analysis covering costs, policy impacts, and compliance requirements to the Governor and a fiscal office. For smaller grants ($1 million or less, "minor grants"), agencies must notify the Governor one week before applying. The bill mandates public reporting of all grant applications and requires the Governor to provide written consent for major grants or block minor grants entirely, with all grant details recorded in a public database.

Maddy summaryHB 3217 requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to notify the public within 24 hours of any hazardous spill into state waters - including rivers, wells, or groundwater - released by entities like industrial facilities or chemical handlers. The bill mandates notifications include the spill location, substance type and quantity, health/environmental risks (like drinking water impacts), public precautions (e.g., water use restrictions), and cleanup steps, delivered via DEP websites, media, and emergency alerts. It also requires spill-reporting entities to immediately notify the DEP and Emergency Management Division, with potential civil penalties for failures to report. The DEP must maintain a public online database tracking all spills and remediation efforts. This directly affects environmental agencies, spill-causing entities, and communities near affected waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 prohibits public utilities (such as gas, water, and electric companies) from using funds paid by ratepayers to make political contributions or charitable donations. The bill bans these contributions to political candidates, campaigns, political action committees, and charitable organizations. Violations would be classified as criminal offenses with penalties. This applies to all public utilities operating in West Virginia under the state's regulatory code.

Maddy summaryHB 2542 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers to record audio during all investigation visits with individuals under investigation for child abuse or neglect allegations. This applies to every interaction between CPS staff and a person under investigation, with exceptions: audio recording must have the person's informed consent or a court order during home visits or private interviews. The bill mandates that CPS must conduct a face-to-face interview with the child within 14 days of receiving a report. This law directly affects CPS workers who must implement the recording requirement and families involved in active investigations.