Del. Doug Smith

Maddy summaryHB 2238 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish and adjust fees for water pollution control permits. It directly affects businesses, industries, and facilities that require permits to discharge wastewater, such as manufacturing plants and utilities. The bill specifically approves a previously proposed regulatory rule (47 CSR 26) that outlines the fee structure for these permits, allowing the DEP to update fees as needed. This is a procedural authorization to formalize existing fee-schedule rules, not a change to pollution standards or permit requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2228 authorizes West Virginia's Office of Technology to establish a specific operational rule (163 CSR 04) that was previously developed and modified after committee feedback. The bill formally approves a rule filed in August 2024 and refilled in October 2024, which outlines the Office of Technology's plan of operation. This procedural bill affects only the Office of Technology itself, confirming its authority to implement this operational framework without changing substantive policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2235 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to issue a legislative rule (33 CSR 20) governing hazardous waste management. This rule, filed on August 28, 2024, will establish standards for handling hazardous waste and apply to businesses and facilities in West Virginia that manage such waste. The bill specifically enables the department to adopt this pre-drafted rule, which focuses on the regulatory framework for hazardous waste systems.

Maddy summaryHB 2236 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement a specific regulatory rule (47 CSR 02) that sets water quality standards for discharges into waterways. This rule, which was revised to address concerns raised by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, establishes requirements that industries and municipalities must meet to protect water quality. The bill directly affects entities that discharge wastewater by mandating compliance with these new standards. It finalizes the authorization for the DEP's previously developed rule, ensuring it takes effect without further legislative review.

Maddy summaryHB 2225 authorizes the Information Services and Communications Division to issue a legislative rule (161 CSR 01) detailing its operational plan. This procedural bill formally approves a rule previously filed in the State Register on November 12, 2024, without altering substantive policy. It directly affects the division’s internal operations by establishing a formal framework for its activities. The rule itself, not the bill, defines the specific operational requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2226 authorizes West Virginia's Information Services and Communications Divisions to create a formal rule governing how state agencies (referred to as "spending units") pay for telecommunications services like phone and internet. The bill enables these divisions to establish specific guidelines for such payments through the state rulemaking process. This rule would apply to all state agencies making telecommunications payments, without changing current payment practices. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on authorizing the rule's creation rather than defining its content.

Maddy summaryHB 2221 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Administration to implement a specific records management rule (148 CSR 12) governing how state agencies manage and preserve official records. This procedural bill does not create new policy but formally approves an existing rule filed in the State Register on March 27, 2024. It directly affects all state agencies required to follow standardized records management practices under this rule. The bill ensures consistent handling of public records across state government operations.

Maddy summaryHB 2227 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Administration to implement a specific regulatory rule (148 CSR 24) governing financial services reporting requirements. This procedural bill confirms the department's authority to enforce existing reporting standards for financial services companies operating in the state, without creating new requirements or altering current obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 2223 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Administration to implement an existing legislative rule (148 CSR 14) governing how records are managed at the state's Records Center. This procedural bill confirms the validity of a rule filed in March 2024, which the Department had already proposed under existing authority. It directly affects the Department of Administration and the Records Center by allowing them to operate under this specific rule for record management. The bill does not create new policy but formally authorizes the current rule's application.

Maddy summaryHB 2224 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Administration to create a rule (148 CSR 23) that defines when state agencies can be exempt from using the Fleet Management Division's fleet management services. The rule would establish specific criteria for exemptions, such as for agencies that manage their own vehicle fleets. This bill does not change existing fleet services but sets a formal process for determining exemptions. It directly affects state agencies that might qualify for these exemptions, potentially reducing their administrative requirements.