Del. Mark Dean

Maddy summaryHB 4589 clarifies that time limits for filing occupational pneumoconiosis claims do not restrict when workers can seek medical evaluations from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board. It directly affects coal miners and others diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (like black lung disease) who need to obtain board evaluations to pursue compensation. The bill explicitly states that standard claim filing deadlines (three years for diagnosis or exposure) do not apply to the evaluation process itself. This ensures claimants can access necessary medical assessments without being barred by the usual time limits for submitting formal claims.

Maddy summaryHB 4690 repeals five specific outdated sections of West Virginia's Education Code (§18-2E-5, §18-2E-12, §18-2I-1, §18-3-13, and §18-8-6). These sections relate to now-obsolete programs like the Office of Education Performance Audits, Mountain State Digital Literacy Project, professional development requirements, Behavioral Interventionists Pilot Program, and the High School Graduation Improvement Act. The bill directly affects the state's Education Code by removing redundant legal language, streamlining the code without altering current education policies or programs. This is a procedural repeal focused solely on eliminating outdated statutory references.

Maddy summaryHB 4646, the Remote Schools Support Act, provides targeted financial support to "extremely remote schools" in West Virginia to help maintain operations. It requires state funding for building operations, extreme weather preparedness, and professional development for staff at these schools, while prohibiting county boards from closing them. The bill defines "extremely remote schools" and mandates reporting to the Local Office of County Education Accountability (LOCEA). It also establishes a waiver process for schools meeting specific criteria, ensuring these isolated schools receive additional state aid to address unique challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 4549 requires West Virginia local governments to award public construction contracts over $50,000 to the lowest qualified responsible bidder - defined as the lowest-priced bidder meeting standards for ability, compliance with state laws, and a valid bid bond. The bill also permits political subdivisions (like counties, cities, and school boards) to enter into project labor agreements (pre-hire union contracts) for construction projects. Additionally, for projects exceeding $250,000, the winning bidder must provide a list of subcontractors performing over $25,000 in work within one business day of the bid opening. This directly affects local governments and contractors involved in public construction projects across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4548 requires employers on West Virginia public construction projects to hire at least 75% of workers from the local labor market, with flexibility for up to two non-local workers per project. If employers cannot find enough local workers, they must request a waiver from WorkForce West Virginia, which then permits hiring outside the area using the same qualifications and wage rates previously provided. The bill clarifies that the West Virginia Jobs Act applies to all public construction projects, including those managed by the West Virginia Development Authority. It also mandates the Division of Labor to create a public online database (redacting personal information) showing where workers reside on these projects, accessible for transparency. This directly affects construction employers receiving public contracts and public authorities overseeing such projects.

Maddy summaryHCR 11 is a West Virginia state resolution urging Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It seeks to propose amendments requiring that U.S. Representatives, Senators, federal judges (Article III), and Cabinet Secretaries be natural-born U.S. citizens with sole U.S. citizenship. The resolution does not change existing law but applies to Congress under Article V of the Constitution to initiate a convention focused solely on this citizenship requirement for those federal positions. This is a procedural step by West Virginia to join other states in seeking a constitutional amendment, not a legislative bill with immediate effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4571, the "Taxpayer Protection Act," prevents West Virginia residents from being wrongly classified as independent contractors instead of employees. It requires the Tax Commissioner to apply an "ABC" test to determine worker status: (1) absence of employer control, (2) work being unusual for the employer’s business, and (3) the worker operating as an independent business. Employers must prove all three criteria to classify a worker as an independent contractor; otherwise, the worker is presumed an employee for tax purposes. This ensures the state collects proper income taxes from employment relationships, directly affecting both workers (who may gain tax protections) and hiring businesses (which must comply with the classification rules).

Maddy summaryHJR 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow local governments (counties, municipalities) to approve additional tax increases specifically for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) with a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) instead of the current 60% requirement for all other tax increases. This change would apply only to levies limited exclusively to fire/EMS funding, with a three-year maximum duration and a cap preventing increases from exceeding 50% above existing tax rates. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and leaves the 60% threshold unchanged for all other tax increases. It does not alter existing tax exemptions or revenue distribution rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4555 would remove the sales tax on tax preparation services in West Virginia. This bill directly affects individuals and small businesses that pay for tax preparation assistance, as it eliminates the state sales tax currently applied to these services. The key mechanism is amending West Virginia’s tax code (§11-15-9) to explicitly exempt tax preparation services from the consumer sales and service tax, aligning them with existing exemptions for services like nonprofit educational materials. The policy change simplifies the tax burden for those seeking tax help, without altering tax rates or creating new administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4494 would exempt non-resident landowners (people who live outside West Virginia but own land here), their spouse, and their children living with them from needing a non-resident hunting license when hunting on their own West Virginia property. The exemption requires that the landowner's home state also allows West Virginia residents to hunt on their land without a license. It specifically excludes grandchildren from this exemption. The bill proposes a direct change to hunting license requirements for this specific group of landowners.