Rep. David Green

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Capitol Building Commission and Department of Administration to assess and address hazardous trees along California Avenue and Kanawha Boulevard on the State Capitol Complex grounds. The resolution requests an immediate evaluation of trees that have caused property damage through falling limbs and broken trunks over the past two years. It specifically asks officials to trim trees back to the grass side of sidewalks or remove and replace hazardous trees to protect public safety and state property. This non-binding resolution directs state agencies to take preventative maintenance actions without mandating specific enforcement measures.

Maddy summaryHB 4971 requires new high-voltage electric transmission lines (400kV or greater) needing West Virginia Public Service Commission approval to include a substation near industrial parks if the line runs within five miles of one. It limits this requirement to one substation per 40-mile segment of the line within the state, with the substation needing completion within two years after the line becomes operational. The law applies to transmission developers and the Public Service Commission, aiming to boost economic development by linking grid infrastructure directly to industrial areas. Key provisions include evaluating substation locations based on expected job creation and tax benefits, and prohibiting route choices designed to avoid industrial park proximity.

Maddy summaryHB 4958 establishes the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program to support Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties (the "Southern Coalfield" area), which have suffered economic decline due to coal industry challenges. The bill creates a Revitalization Council - including county commissioners, state agency heads, and college representatives - to coordinate resources, prioritize economic development, and develop strategies for these counties. Key provisions include requiring annual reports, authorizing reduced-cost access to state property/equipment for qualifying businesses, and directing the Division of Economic Development to facilitate incentives. The program operates for five years with no new state positions created, focusing on streamlining existing state and partner resources for community revitalization.

Maddy summaryHCR 20 designates Gary's water and wastewater systems for emergency state intervention under West Virginia's utility program, directly affecting Gary residents who face aging infrastructure, water quality issues, and financial instability. The resolution requires a state team to conduct an emergency assessment within seven days, classifies the systems as Tier 4 (highest emergency tier), and prioritizes them for up to $3 million in emergency repairs from the Distressed Utilities Account. It mandates monthly progress reports to the legislature and sets a 6-month preliminary evaluation, serving as a pilot for the state's utility intervention program. The resolution does not delay ongoing Public Service Commission ownership proceedings for the systems.

Maddy summaryHB 5642 creates the State Utility Accountability and Improvement Program to support water and wastewater utilities in West Virginia, particularly those facing financial or operational challenges. It establishes a State Utility Management Corps to provide direct assistance, authorizes temporary management (conservatorships) for struggling utilities, and creates a Priority Utility Docket for faster public service commission reviews. The bill also expands the Distressed Utilities Account for financial aid, sets up a tiered reclassification system for rate adjustments, and requires annual utility assessments for transparency. These provisions apply directly to public water and wastewater utilities across the state, aiming to improve service reliability and long-term sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 5640 reforms West Virginia's tax sale process by creating two distinct tracks: one for owner-occupied homes (maintaining current protections) and another for non-owner-occupied properties like rentals or commercial buildings (eliminating the right to buy back the property after sale). The bill requires an independent title examination for non-owner-occupied properties to ensure accurate owner notification, strengthens notice requirements, and sets new procedures for purchasers, including providing mailing addresses and paying for notices. It also limits legal challenges if notice is not properly delivered, focusing on streamlining sales while ensuring fair processes for non-owner-occupied properties.

Maddy summaryHB 5639 amends West Virginia Code §3-1-9 to clarify procedures for filling vacancies and electing members to political party committees. The bill requires that in each magisterial district, county executive committees must elect one male and one female member (or two of each in three-district counties), and specifies that unfilled gender-designated seats become at-large positions if insufficient candidates of a required gender are available. It also establishes that vacancies on party committees must be filled by the relevant county executive committee following specific guidelines for gender and district representation. This bill directly affects how West Virginia political parties organize and staff their county and district-level committees.

Maddy summaryHB 5641 requires all state, county, municipal, and government-controlled entities (like boards or commissions) to publicly share financial data through West Virginia's Checkbook system or an approved similar platform. Entities must update financial records within two months of transactions and prominently link to this data on their websites and social media annually. Non-compliance incurs penalties: $500 per quarter for failing to participate, plus escalating monthly fines of $50 per month beyond the two-month deadline for late reporting. The law takes effect for all entities by the start of their 2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 5590 requires certified high impact data centers (HIDCs) in West Virginia to disclose anticipated water usage before construction and submit projected withdrawal volumes to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill limits DEP review to water quantity only, denying approval only if withdrawals would reduce water supply below levels needed to meet existing lawful demands (e.g., public water systems, agriculture, or other users) during droughts. HIDCs must also report actual annual water usage, comparing it to projections, and may use existing reports to satisfy this requirement. The bill explicitly states it does not create new permitting, expand water quality regulations, or apply to power plants or microgrids.

Maddy summaryHB 5601 redirects $1 million from West Virginia's Civil Contingent Fund to the Office of Resiliency for disaster case management services. It creates a new grant program requiring competitive awards to organizations with a physical office in West Virginia, operational capacity to serve residents, and experience in disaster recovery. The bill defines "disaster case management" as hands-on support for households - including needs assessments, FEMA assistance, housing navigation, and recovery planning - to help them access federal, state, and nonprofit resources after disasters. Organizations receiving grants must coordinate with Long-Term Recovery Organizations and meet reporting requirements, with funds exclusively for case management services administered through the Disaster Recovery Trust Fund.