Del. Margitta Mazzocchi

Maddy summaryHB 5496 would create a new felony offense of "child torture" in West Virginia law, targeting individuals aged 16 or older who subject children to specific severe acts. The bill defines "torture" to include 12 concrete acts like breaking limbs, inflicting prolonged pain, depriving food/water, sexual abuse, or terrorizing a child to cause significant harm. If bodily injury occurs, offenders face 10-25 years in prison with no parole before 10 years served; if no injury occurs, sentences are 10-20 years with no parole before 8 years served. This bill directly affects perpetrators of severe child abuse and would establish new criminal penalties for these specific acts under West Virginia Code §61-8D-11.

Maddy summaryHB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 4769 requires West Virginia's Governor to develop comprehensive crisis preparedness plans for five specific threats: nuclear attacks, major energy grid disruptions (including cyber or physical attacks), prolonged cyberattacks on communications, invasion, and insurrection. The plans must include preventative measures, immediate response strategies, and recovery steps for each crisis type. The Governor must submit initial plans by November 2026, with annual updates to the legislature. This bill affects state government operations by mandating structured planning for high-risk scenarios, not individual citizens.

Maddy summaryHCR 18 is a symbolic concurrent resolution passed by the West Virginia legislature declaring that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is conducting an "illegal, asymmetric war" against the U.S. and West Virginia. It claims China uses "unconventional means" including fentanyl, engineered diseases, cyberattacks, and influence operations, and directs state officials to identify PRC-affiliated entities holding public debt since 2019 for debt forgiveness. The resolution invites other states to adopt similar declarations and urges coordinated state action against China. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws or alter policy but serves as a formal statement of legislative position.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 12 declares January 27, 2026, as Sexual Violence Awareness Day in West Virginia. The resolution recognizes West Virginia's high rates of sexual coercion victimization (ranking 5th nationally for women) and the significant impact of sexual violence on the state. It symbolically supports local victim services agencies and advocates working to address sexual violence, without creating new laws or funding. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5209 creates a state registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse (misdemeanor or felony) in West Virginia. It requires these individuals to register with the West Virginia State Police and pay an annual $125 fee, which funds mental health services for state police employees. The registry is integrated into an existing "Central Abuse Registry" that already includes records for child abuse, elder abuse, and sex offenses. This bill directly affects only those with final convictions for animal abuse crimes, not suspected abusers or general animal cruelty cases.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 4601 expands West Virginia's Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit from a minimum of six to at least 21 members, requiring each of the 21 State Police districts to contribute at least one retired officer. The bill establishes unit offices in every State Police district (located within Human Services offices) and allows honorably retired State Police officers to rejoin under specific conditions - without accruing pension rights and after completing required training in areas like firearms and child abuse investigation protocols. The unit must coordinate with Child Protective Services, maintain statewide statistical data on child abuse/neglect convictions (without identifying individuals), and submit annual reports to the legislature. This directly affects Child Protective Services offices, law enforcement agencies, and retired State Police officers who may rejoin the unit.

Maddy summaryHB 5113 requires healthcare providers in West Virginia to ask patients in advance if they consent to being treated by a medical resident (a doctor in training) or having a resident observe a procedure during routine appointments. If a patient declines, the appointment must be rescheduled with a licensed physician instead, applying only to non-emergency situations. This bill directly affects patients seeking routine care and healthcare facilities, ensuring they can choose their primary provider. Emergency or urgent care is exempt from this requirement, as stated in the bill's provisions.