Del. Adam Vance

Maddy summaryHB 2439 allows regional jail wardens to require qualified inmates to maintain local cemeteries as part of their work program. It specifically permits inmates (excluding those convicted of sexual offenses or violent felonies) to perform cemetery upkeep, with requirements that public cemeteries must have local government approval and private cemeteries require landowner consent. The bill also provides liability protection for landowners and agencies involved in this work. This directly affects inmates in regional jails, local governments managing cemeteries, and cemetery landowners. The policy change modifies existing correctional work program rules to include cemetery maintenance as a permitted activity.

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 2522 lowers the eligibility age for annual retirement annuity adjustments under the West Virginia State Police Retirement System from 63 to 60 years. It directly affects current and future retirees who are 60 or older (previously only 63+), as well as surviving spouses receiving benefits under specified sections. The bill modifies Section 15-2A-7 to allow these individuals to receive an annual 1% adjustment to their retirement award, paid in equal monthly installments starting July 1 each year. The adjustment is not retroactive and supplements existing retirement benefits without changing the benefit amount itself. This change applies to retirees under Section 15-2A-6 and surviving spouses under Sections 15-2A-12 through 15-2A-14.

Maddy summaryHB 2442 repeals a West Virginia law (§55-2-1) that set a specific time limit for filing lawsuits to enter upon or recover lands. This change removes the existing deadline for property disputes involving land access or ownership, affecting individuals and entities involved in such legal actions. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates the current limitation period governing these cases. As a procedural repeal, it directly impacts how land-related lawsuits are filed in West Virginia courts.

Maddy summaryHB 2443 prohibits registered sex offenders in West Virginia from living within 3,000 feet of schools, childcare facilities, youth recreational areas, or playgrounds used by children under 18. It directly affects individuals required to register as sex offenders under state law. Exceptions include offenders in correctional facilities, under specific court orders (Title 41 MCA), or minors/wards under guardianship. The bill clarifies existing restrictions without creating new penalties, focusing solely on residential location limits.

Maddy summaryHB 2507 would change West Virginia law to allow Tier 2 teachers (those who joined the retirement system after June 1988) to use their full accrued annual and sick leave to extend health insurance coverage after retirement, rather than the current half-credit system. Currently, Tier 1 teachers (who joined before July 1988) receive full credit for their leave, while Tier 2 teachers only get half. The bill would align treatment for both groups by eliminating the reduced credit for Tier 2 teachers. This directly affects current and future Tier 2 teachers by improving their post-retirement health insurance benefits.

Maddy summaryHJR 15 is a constitutional amendment proposal (not a law) that would allow West Virginia lawmakers to create a future tax exemption for owner-occupied homes without mortgages. If adopted, it would permit the legislature to exempt from property taxes the value of residential property (including mobile homes) occupied by the owner as their primary residence, provided the property has no mortgage and the owner is a West Virginia citizen. The exemption would apply only to homes without mortgages - taxes would resume if a mortgage is later obtained. This amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election and does not change current tax appraisal processes. It is currently in the early legislative stage, referred to the House Finance Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2494 revises West Virginia's child labor laws by removing the requirement for 14- to 15-year-olds to obtain work permits. Instead, employers hiring children aged 14 or older must now secure an age certificate from the State Commissioner of Labor, which requires verifying the child's age using a birth certificate or official transcript. The bill repeals outdated provisions for work permits (§21-6-3, §21-6-4) and blanket permits (§21-6-8a), while maintaining penalties for violations (fines up to $1,000 or jail time for repeat offenses) and supervision permits for special cases. This change directly affects employers of minors aged 14+ and shifts verification responsibility to the Labor Commissioner.

Maddy summaryHB 2438 amends West Virginia law to remove the gender restriction in the state convict road force program, making all state inmates - regardless of sex - eligible to work on state road construction and maintenance projects. The bill changes existing law (§17-5-1) that previously limited eligibility to "all male persons convicted of a felony" by removing that language. This directly affects all incarcerated individuals serving felony sentences who may be assigned to road work under the supervision of the state Highway Commissioner. The key provision updates the statutory language to ensure gender-neutral eligibility for this labor program.

Maddy summaryHB 2520 changes West Virginia's school meal staffing rules by requiring one cook for every 110 meals prepared and served, effective with the 2026-2027 school year. This replaces the previous tiered system (which varied by meal volume) with a single minimum ratio for all public school districts. The bill directly affects school food service operations, as it sets a new standard for cook-to-meal ratios in school lunch programs. It also defines a school lunch as one full meal and other meals as three-fourths of a lunch for calculation purposes. The change applies to all schools following the new standard, without exceptions.