Del. Bill Flanigan

Maddy summaryHB 3127 adds a 50-cent fee to every new vehicle registration and registration renewal in West Virginia. This fee, collected by the DMV, will directly fund the Deputy Sheriff’s Retirement Fund. The bill amends existing law to redirect these registration fees - paid by all vehicle owners - to support retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs. It does not change registration requirements or create new taxes beyond the specified fee. The policy change is limited to reallocating this existing fee stream to a specific retirement fund.

Maddy summaryHB 3103 would exempt the first $2,000 of retirement benefits received from West Virginia public employee systems, state teachers' retirement systems, or qualifying federal retirement systems from West Virginia personal income tax. This tax modification applies to retirees moving to West Virginia or already residing there, directly affecting individuals receiving these retirement benefits. The bill amends Section 11-21-12 of West Virginia's tax code to exclude this portion of retirement income from taxable income. It aims to encourage retirees to relocate to or remain in West Virginia by reducing their state tax burden on retirement income. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after its March 4, 2025, introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 3151, the Closed Captioning Act, requires public venues like restaurants, bars, hospitals, colleges, and government buildings to have at least half of their public-facing televisions display closed captions continuously during regular hours. It mandates that these venues prevent patrons from disabling captions and distribute captioned TVs so they are visible to all guests. Exceptions apply if no TVs are present or if available TVs cannot display captions. The bill defines "closed captioning" as on-screen text of audio content and takes effect upon passage. This law aims to improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in public spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 3069 creates a salary adjustment for West Virginia teachers based on regional housing costs. It provides a "market pay enhancement" to certified teachers in counties where base salaries fall below competitive levels relative to neighboring areas, calculated using median home prices from the National Association of Realtors. The enhancement amount is determined annually by comparing the median home price in a teacher’s county and adjacent counties (including border states) to West Virginia’s statewide median, then applying a percentage-based multiplier to the county’s average teacher salary. This adjustment applies only to teachers in counties where base pay is deemed insufficiently competitive, with the first calculation effective July 15, 2025, and updated every five years thereafter. The policy directly affects public school teachers in West Virginia counties facing regional pay disparities.

Maddy summaryHB 3050, the "Community School Funding Formula Revision Act," requires the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to review school closures and consolidations considered during the current year and the previous four fiscal years. Within 180 days of the bill's passage, WVDE must propose changes to the School Aid Formula intended to prevent at least 80% of closures that were due to financial or operational reasons. The bill mandates this review process to address the root causes of school closures without altering existing funding allocations, directly affecting how state education funding is evaluated and adjusted. It aims to stabilize school districts by modifying the funding formula to prevent future closures based on financial challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 3025 requires West Virginia's Secretary of Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive State Water Resources Management Plan by November 30, 2013 (per the referenced code section). The bill mandates the collection of detailed data on surface and groundwater resources, including inventory of watersheds, assessments of current and future water use by large users (like industries and utilities), and identification of areas where demand may exceed supply in "growth counties." Key provisions include tracking water withdrawals, evaluating conflicts between uses, and reviewing existing water management policies. This plan aims to guide future infrastructure planning and resource allocation for state agencies and water users.

Maddy summaryHB 3026 redefines "use" in West Virginia zoning law to include only domestic, farming, or activities on land where water was drawn (e.g., on-site water use), excluding commercial extraction or transport of water outside the state. It protects existing farms, manufacturers, and agricultural operations from new zoning restrictions on their current land uses, and prevents vacant land from being deemed abandoned after one year if not used for commercial water extraction. The bill ensures zoning ordinances cannot prohibit local land/water use for farming, domestic purposes, or non-commercial water activities, while explicitly excluding commercial bottling, storage, or pipeline transport.

Maddy summaryHB 2966 requires individuals and groups spending over $1,000 annually on independent election activities (like ads not coordinated with candidates) to disclose detailed information publicly. This includes the spender's name, the source of funds (reporting contributors who gave over $1,000), and specific details about each contribution (like donor occupation and employer). The bill mandates these disclosures within 48 hours for certain last-minute spending before elections, with tighter 24-hour deadlines for large expenditures targeting specific candidates. It directly affects political committees, advocacy groups, and donors engaging in election-related spending, aiming to increase transparency in campaign finance. The law also clarifies that federal entities must comply with these state disclosure rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2945 amends West Virginia's Sex Offender Registration Act to require registration for individuals convicted of specific abuse-related offenses, including sexual assault, trafficking for sexual servitude, and other listed crimes under state law. The bill clarifies that individuals without a permanent residence must use a "transient residence within the state" to meet registration requirements, ensuring all affected individuals can comply with the law. Key provisions mandate registrants to provide detailed personal information, including addresses, employment details, Internet accounts, phone numbers, and vehicle/drones, with updates required within 10 days of any change. This affects anyone convicted of qualifying offenses who is released from custody, placed on probation, or otherwise released from confinement.

Maddy summaryHB 2882 would allow West Virginia municipalities to suspend a driver's license if a person fails to pay traffic fines or related costs (like restitution or penalties) within 90 days of a court judgment, unless they establish a payment plan. The bill requires a $25 fee to set up a payment plan (payable in up to five installments) and calculates monthly payments at 2% of the person's annual net income or $10, whichever is greater. If payments are missed, a $10 late fee applies monthly, and after 90 days of non-payment, the court clerk may suspend the license or send the debt to collections (with a 25% fee cap on collections). This directly affects drivers with outstanding municipal traffic fines who do not comply with payment arrangements.