Del. Mark Dean

Maddy summaryHB 2717 would repeal all existing laws requiring mandatory vehicle inspections in West Virginia. It directly affects vehicle owners who currently must obtain state inspections to register or operate their vehicles. The bill eliminates the legal requirement for inspections by removing sections of the state code that established the inspection process, including penalties for non-compliance. This change would end the state's requirement for vehicles to undergo safety or emissions inspections. The bill does not create new provisions but removes the current inspection mandate entirely.

Maddy summaryHB 2673 would require a criminal conviction (a guilty verdict) before law enforcement can seize an individual's property through civil asset forfeiture. This bill amends West Virginia's asset forfeiture laws to eliminate the current practice of taking property without a criminal conviction, directly affecting individuals whose property might be seized (e.g., cash, vehicles, real estate) and law enforcement agencies. Key provisions include requiring notice to all property owners, holding prompt post-seizure hearings, and protecting innocent owners from losing property. The bill also adds safeguards like mandatory receipts for seized items and limits on how long property can be held as evidence.

Maddy summaryHB 2633 permits hunters in West Virginia to use leashed dogs or dogs controlled via electronic collars to track and locate mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear. It requires hunters to maintain physical control (including through remote electronic collars) and accompany the dog handler, except when physically unable to do so. Professional dog handlers providing tracking services must hold an outfitter/guide license, and the hunter who fired the initial shot retains credit for the game toward their bag limit. The bill clarifies that using dogs for this purpose constitutes hunting and remains subject to all applicable wildlife laws and licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2632 increases retirement benefits for eligible West Virginia state employees and teachers. It provides a phased 5% raise over three years (2.5% in 2025, 1.5% in 2026, 1% in 2027) to retirees aged 70+ with at least 25 years of service who currently receive less than $1,000 monthly. The increase applies only to those retired before the bill's effective date and does not affect current employees. This change modifies existing retirement system rules under Sections 5-10-22n (public employees) and 18-7A-26y (teachers).

Maddy summaryHB 2554 requires all West Virginia high school students to pass two exams - a Civics examination and the United States Naturalization Examination - as a graduation prerequisite. This bill directly affects every high school student in West Virginia, making these exams mandatory for earning a diploma. The law amends existing education code to mandate these specific assessments, which must align with state civics and history standards. The Naturalization Examination is the same test immigrants take to become U.S. citizens, while the Civics exam covers U.S. government and history as outlined in the bill. Passing both exams is now required before students can graduate from high school.

Maddy summaryHB 2552 would reduce West Virginia's business and occupation tax rate by 2.5% for companies employing at least 75% West Virginia residents. This tax incentive directly affects businesses operating in the state that meet the workforce residency requirement. To qualify, companies must provide documentation proving 75% of their workforce resides in West Virginia, with the Tax Department issuing implementation guidance. The reduction applies to the 2025 tax year and all subsequent years.

Maddy summaryHB 2408 prohibits the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in all West Virginia elections. It bans RCV - which allows voters to rank candidates by preference and transfers votes in rounds - from being used for any local, state, or federal election by state, county, or local election offices. The bill defines RCV explicitly and declares any local government ordinance supporting it void. This directly affects all elections in the state and prevents future adoption of RCV methods. The bill is a direct legislative prohibition with no exceptions for specific offices or jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2553 exempts the first $20,000 of annual earnings from West Virginia state income tax for resident individuals and married couples filing jointly. It directly affects low-to-moderate income West Virginia residents by reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. The bill modifies the state's tax code to automatically subtract $20,000 from federal adjusted gross income when calculating taxable income for eligible filers. This change applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and does not require additional application.

Maddy summaryHB 2428 requires a court hearing with the respondent present and represented by counsel before a protective order can prohibit firearm possession in domestic violence cases. It mandates that such prohibitions only apply when there is clear and convincing evidence of an immediate danger to the petitioner, based on documented threats or sworn testimony, not as punishment. The bill also requires automatic appeals for respondents within 10 days if a firearm ban is included in the order. This directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders who might face firearm restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2407 would exempt overtime pay from West Virginia's personal income tax for full-time hourly employees. Specifically, it modifies the tax code to exclude income earned for work exceeding 40 hours per week from taxable gross income. This directly affects hourly workers who receive overtime compensation, reducing their state tax burden on that additional earnings. The bill amends West Virginia Code §11-21-12 to exclude overtime income from adjusted gross income calculations for tax purposes. It is currently in the House Finance Committee following its introduction on February 17, 2025.