Rep. Doug Smith

Maddy summaryHB 4241 authorizes West Virginia's Insurance Commissioner to implement a rule requiring fingerprinting for applicants seeking insurance producer and adjuster licenses. The bill makes official an existing rule draft (114 CSR 02A) that was filed with the State Register on April 16, 2025. This requirement will directly affect individuals applying for these specific insurance licenses by adding a fingerprinting step to their application process. The change streamlines the licensing procedure without altering the rule's content.

Maddy summaryHB 4334 authorizes the West Virginia Rehabilitation Services agency to promulgate a specific legislative rule related to the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Act Board. This procedural bill formalizes an existing rule (198 CSR 01) that was filed in the State Register on March 31, 2025, without changing the underlying services or eligibility requirements. It directly affects the administrative process for managing personal assistance services under the Ron Yost Act but does not alter benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Racing Commission to implement an existing rule (178 CSR 01) governing thoroughbred racing operations. It approves a rule the Commission had drafted, revised after committee feedback, and resubmitted for approval. The rule directly affects thoroughbred racing entities like tracks, owners, and participants who must comply with its regulations. This is a procedural step to finalize administrative rules, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish specific emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. It directly affects industrial facilities that release these pollutants into the air, such as manufacturing plants and chemical producers. The authorization applies to a proposed rule (45 CSR 34) the DEP already filed in July 2025, allowing the department to finalize it through standard regulatory procedures. The bill does not set the actual standards but enables the DEP to proceed with rulemaking under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 4236 authorizes West Virginia's Alcohol Beverage Control Administration to adopt a specific rule (175 CSR 02) concerning private clubs, following modifications to address legislative committee feedback. The rule, originally filed in July 2025 and revised in September 2025, governs how private clubs operate under state alcohol regulations. This bill does not change club rules itself but formally approves the existing administrative rule for implementation. It directly affects private clubs operating in West Virginia by clarifying their compliance requirements under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 4333 authorizes West Virginia's Division of Natural Resources to implement a specific rule (58 CSR 56) governing special migratory game bird hunting. This rule, previously filed in the State Register on March 31, 2025, sets regulations for hunting seasons, bag limits, and methods for migratory birds like ducks and geese. The bill legally authorizes the rule to take effect by amending state code, making it enforceable. It directly affects hunters of migratory game birds in West Virginia by establishing the regulatory framework for their activities.

Maddy summaryHB 4218 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Health to implement a revised fee schedule for environmental chemistry laboratory services. The bill specifically updates Appendix A of regulatory code 64 CSR 51, replacing the existing fee structure with detailed charges for tests like metal analyses ($20 per metal), organic compound testing ($125 for EPA-regulated VOCs), and package rates (e.g., $60 for metals regulatory groups). This directly affects laboratories providing environmental testing services to the state, as it establishes the specific fees they must charge for these services. The bill does not create new services or policies but formalizes an updated administrative fee structure that was previously modified and refiled.

Maddy summaryHB 4324 authorizes West Virginia's Division of Forestry to establish rules for certifying managed timberland under existing regulations (22 CSR 06). The bill directly affects timberland operators who seek certification for sustainable forest management practices. It formalizes the Division's authority to promulgate these certification rules, which were previously modified and refiled after addressing legislative committee feedback. The change streamlines the certification process without creating new obligations for landowners.

Maddy summaryHB 4263 authorizes West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create and implement a specific rule about required auto insurance. The bill formally approves a rule (designated as 91 CSR 13) that was modified after feedback from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee and refiled in September 2025. This rule will govern the state's compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance requirements for drivers. The bill itself does not change insurance standards but grants the DMV the authority to establish and enforce these rules. It directly affects all drivers in West Virginia who must carry auto insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing rule to add an expiration date of August 1, 2036, for third-party dispute mechanisms under West Virginia law. It directly affects how these dispute resolution services (used in legal cases) are established and qualified. The key provision extends the current rule's validity until 2036, after which it will no longer apply. The bill makes no changes to the operational requirements of the dispute mechanisms themselves.