Del. Jordan Bridges

Maddy summaryHB 3115 expands expungement eligibility in West Virginia to include individuals who plead guilty to certain misdemeanors after successfully completing pre-trial diversion or deferred adjudication programs. It allows these individuals to petition a circuit court for the removal of all related arrest, charge, and misdemeanor conviction records, treating the matter as if it never occurred. The process requires a 60-day waiting period after program completion, no filing fees, and mandates agencies to certify expungement within 60 days. This applies only to qualifying misdemeanors and excludes felony convictions, domestic violence cases involving family members, and records held by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 3109 clarifies that time limits for filing occupational pneumoconiosis claims (typically three years from exposure or diagnosis) do not restrict a claimant's ability to request an evaluation from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board. This bill directly affects workers or their families seeking medical evaluations for pneumoconiosis-related conditions. The change ensures claimants can access the Board's evaluation process without being barred by standard filing deadlines, while leaving the actual compensation filing deadlines unchanged. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 2884 repeals §11-6J-3 of West Virginia's code, which previously established a special valuation method for specialized high-technology property. This change directly affects businesses owning such property by removing the specific ad valorem tax valuation rule that applied to it. The bill makes no new provisions or changes to tax rates - it simply eliminates the existing special valuation provision. The repeal means high-technology property will now be valued under standard property tax rules instead of the prior specialized method.

Maddy summaryHB 3074 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data. This data shows monthly changes to voter records (like additions, deletions, or address updates) as a "delta" from the previous month. The bill directly affects organizations and individuals who purchase this subscription for noncommercial purposes, such as election monitoring or research. The Secretary must provide this data within 30 days via a secure digital platform, making it part of the standard subscription package. The change does not alter subscription fees or eligibility but adds transparency about voter record modifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals West Virginia's outdated dog tax by removing sections of the state code (§19-20-1, §19-20-2, and §19-20-11) that previously required dog owners to pay a tax. It directly affects dog owners in West Virginia who were subject to this tax under the existing law. The bill eliminates the requirement for dog owners to pay this tax and removes the administrative processes for collecting it. No new provisions or mechanisms are added - only the repeal of the existing tax.

Maddy summaryHB 3055 requires West Virginia's Public Service Commission to hold hearings on rate adjustment requests from public electrical utilities and issue recommendations to the Legislature, shifting final approval authority from the Commission to the Legislature. This bill directly affects public electrical utilities, which must now seek legislative approval for rate changes instead of direct Commission approval. The key mechanism changes the Commission's role from decision-maker to advisory body, mandating it to review rate requests and forward recommendations to lawmakers for their final decision. This policy change alters the regulatory process for utility rates without altering the Commission's existing duties to ensure fair rates and service reliability.

Maddy summaryHB 3050, the "Community School Funding Formula Revision Act," requires the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to review school closures and consolidations considered during the current year and the previous four fiscal years. Within 180 days of the bill's passage, WVDE must propose changes to the School Aid Formula intended to prevent at least 80% of closures that were due to financial or operational reasons. The bill mandates this review process to address the root causes of school closures without altering existing funding allocations, directly affecting how state education funding is evaluated and adjusted. It aims to stabilize school districts by modifying the funding formula to prevent future closures based on financial challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 3021 requires West Virginia's Department of Commerce to develop a "competition plan" allowing electricity consumers to choose among multiple utility providers within the same geographic area. The bill mandates that any approved deregulation plan must include specific disclosures for consumers: energy sources used, federal/state subsidies received, environmental management practices, and detailed rate options. It also sets technical requirements for utility operators, including a 75% average daily utilization rate and 10% reserve capacity beyond peak demand to ensure grid reliability. Additionally, the bill separates grid maintenance responsibilities from utility operators, requiring utilities to contract with independent maintenance providers and include those costs in consumer rates.

Maddy summaryHB 3005, the West Virginia Consumer Privacy Act of 2025, requires businesses to obtain explicit consumer consent ("opt-in") before selling or sharing their personal financial information. It directly affects West Virginia consumers and businesses like financial institutions, credit reporting agencies, mortgage lenders, and brokers that handle consumer financial data. The law mandates that businesses clearly disclose what information is being shared and gives consumers control over their data to prevent identity theft and unsolicited marketing. Violations carry fines of up to $10,000 per offense, with additional penalties for bad-faith lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 3019 requires West Virginia public school districts to provide parents with specific information whenever sending school immunization-related notices. Schools must include two key items: the FDA's patient package insert for each required vaccine and details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (with its website link). This notification must be sent to parents of new students before enrollment and to all current students' families at least once yearly. The law applies to all public school districts in West Virginia and aims to ensure parents receive clear, factual information about immunization requirements and available resources.