Del. Josh Holstein

Maddy summaryHB 5165 creates the West Virginia Rural Property Safety and Clean Land Act, establishing clear standards for waste accumulation on rural private properties in unincorporated areas. It defines "excessive accumulation" as specific thresholds (e.g., 200+ square feet of waste, 5+ cubic yards of debris, or more than three visible junk vehicles) and prohibits these conditions after written notice and a 30-90 day cure period. Property owners face civil fines up to $5,000 annually per property for noncompliance, while willful violations posing immediate health risks may result in misdemeanor charges. The law explicitly exempts agricultural operations, farm equipment, and permitted industrial activities, and prohibits enforcement based on aesthetics or neighborhood complaints.

Maddy summaryHB 5161 creates the West Virginia Rural Mobility and Transportation Access Act to improve transportation access in rural areas. It establishes a grant program funded by federal funds (like FTA Section 5311), state appropriations, and private donations to support local providers - such as counties, nonprofits, and private companies - in offering on-demand rides, flexible shared transit ("micro transit"), and coordinated mobility services. The program prioritizes counties with limited existing service, encourages innovative models, and requires coordination among transportation, health, and human service providers without the state operating vehicles or drivers. It directly affects rural residents (outside urban areas with 50,000+ population) who lack reliable access to jobs, healthcare, and essential services.

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 5097 requires West Virginia hospitals to provide effective communication assistance for deaf and hard of hearing patients and their families. Specifically, hospitals without an on-staff American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter must offer technology solutions like hearing loops, captioning services, or video relay systems. The bill mandates that any ASL interpreters used must be approved by the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Noncompliance can be reported to licensing authorities, and the law takes effect upon passage. This directly affects all hospitals operating under West Virginia's healthcare regulations serving patients with hearing or speech impairments.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4697 requires West Virginia high schools to inform 11th and 12th grade students placed in "free" or "teacher-assistant" periods about available online college course opportunities. This applies specifically to students not enrolled in a regular class during those periods, such as during unscheduled free time or while assisting teachers. Schools must provide information on accessible online college courses but do not need to guarantee enrollment or cover costs. The bill aims to expand access to college-level coursework for high school students in non-traditional class settings. It adds this requirement to existing education code provisions without altering current course mandates.

Maddy summaryHB 4152, the Workforce-Education Partnership Act, allows West Virginia business owners to contract employees to vocational programs or high school classes while the employees retain full-time status and benefits. Businesses receive a 100% tax credit on wages paid during participation, capped at $50,000 per business annually and $5 million statewide yearly. Employees must meet program qualifications and cannot replace certified teachers in core subjects, but may provide specialized training in fields like trade skills or healthcare. The law ensures fiscal responsibility through strict caps and uses existing state resources to minimize administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to allow parties (complainants or respondents) in Human Rights Commission (HRC) discrimination cases to transfer their cases directly to circuit court. It affects individuals or organizations involved in HRC complaints by providing an option to bypass HRC proceedings and seek resolution in judicial court. The change modifies existing procedures under §16B-17-10, enabling parties to "remove the matter" to circuit court instead of proceeding through the HRC's investigation and hearing process. This is a procedural adjustment with no new substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4985, the "Strategic and Critical Resources Act," defines specific minerals (like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements) as critical to West Virginia's security and economy. It prohibits local governments outside cities from regulating the extraction of these resources or the development of related facilities, preempting local ordinances. The bill also restricts foreign adversaries (entities designated by federal law) from owning or controlling land used for extracting these resources. Importantly, the law does not override federal environmental regulations or state building codes, and it aligns with existing federal restrictions on foreign ownership.