Del. Josh Holstein

Maddy summaryHB 4153 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire interns or apprentices in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and skilled trades. Eligible employers receive a 50% tax credit on wages paid to qualifying interns/apprentices, up to $10,000 per person annually (capped at $150,000 total per employer yearly). To qualify, positions must include at least 120 hours of structured training and exclude retail, food service, janitorial, and general administrative roles. Employers must apply for certification through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and report details annually to claim the credit.

Maddy summaryHB 4162 creates a tax credit program to encourage property rehabilitation in West Virginia. It provides businesses and property owners a 25% credit (up to $2 million) on eligible renovation costs or a 50% credit on increased property value (annual for 5 years), requiring a $50,000 investment, 30% value increase, and 5 years of active commercial use. Additional credits (up to 15% total) apply for projects in rural areas (population <50,000, high unemployment, or designated zones), brownfield sites, or registered historic properties. The program is budget-neutral, capped at $50 million annually, and requires annual reporting on investments, jobs created, and property use.

Maddy summaryHB 4164, the "Election integrity and People’s vote protection act," requires poll workers at each West Virginia precinct to manually count physical ballots using the electronic voting machines' printed audit trail after polls close on election day. This manual count must be reconciled with the electronic tally to verify accuracy and detect discrepancies, involving election officials and authorized observers. The bill directly affects poll workers, county election offices, and the Secretary of State, who must develop training for implementation. It mandates this process for all elections using electronic voting machines, aiming to enhance transparency without changing voting methods.

Maddy summaryHB 4094 would repeal three sections of West Virginia law (§19-20-1, §19-20-2, and §19-20-11) that imposed a tax on dogs. This bill directly affects dog owners in West Virginia who currently pay this tax under existing code. The key mechanism is the removal of the legal requirement for the dog tax by eliminating these specific code provisions. As a result, dog owners would no longer be subject to this tax obligation.

Maddy summaryHB 4184 would exempt safe gun storage devices (such as gun safes, lock boxes, and secure storage containers) from West Virginia's state sales tax. This change applies directly to individuals purchasing these devices for personal firearm storage. The bill amends West Virginia's tax code (§11-15-9) to add "safe gun storage devices" to the list of exempt items, meaning buyers would no longer pay the standard 6% state sales tax on these purchases. The policy change is limited to the tax treatment of these specific storage products.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead exemption from $20,000 to $50,000. This exemption currently protects the first $20,000 of assessed value on a primary residence (or mobile home) from property taxes for homeowners aged 65 or older, or permanently disabled residents. The change would reduce property taxes for qualifying homeowners by exempting an additional $30,000 of their home's assessed value. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4099 prohibits West Virginia from recognizing driver's licenses issued by other states to individuals who cannot prove lawful presence in the U.S. (such as licenses marked for undocumented immigrants or issued exclusively to them). It makes these licenses invalid for driving in West Virginia, requiring law enforcement to issue citations for driving without a valid license when such a license is presented. The state’s motor vehicle department must maintain an online list of out-of-state license types deemed invalid under this law. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who hold out-of-state licenses and would be unable to legally operate vehicles in West Virginia under this policy.

Maddy summaryHB 4052, known as the HALO Act, makes it a misdemeanor to approach within 14 feet of a first responder after being warned not to, if the person intends to interfere with their duties, threaten them with harm, or harass them. The bill defines "first responder" to include police officers, correctional probation officers, and emergency medical personnel. It criminalizes specific actions like disrupting emergency operations or causing emotional distress, with penalties under existing obstruction laws. The law aims to protect first responders at active emergency scenes by creating clear boundaries for public conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 2344 requires drivers approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning lights (like emergency flashers, flares, or hazard lights) to either safely change lanes away from the vehicle or reduce speed to 15 mph on nondivided roads and 25 mph on divided highways. Violations carry fines up to $500, jail time up to 60 days, and license suspensions that increase with severity: 90 days for property damage, six months for injuries, and two years for fatalities. The law directly affects all drivers in West Virginia who encounter stationary vehicles with warning signals, such as construction crews or emergency responders. It becomes effective July 11, 2025, following its passage on April 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 establishes a system allowing law enforcement officers to earn in-service training credits for completing approved professional development courses. It directly affects law enforcement officers in the state by creating a standardized way to accumulate credits toward career advancement or salary milestones. The key provision requires state agencies to maintain a list of approved training programs and track officer participation. This law, now enacted as Chapter 159 of the 2025 Regular Session, replaces previous informal credit systems with a formal, state-administered process. It focuses on improving officer qualifications through structured, documented training rather than altering operational procedures.