Rep. Roy Cooper

Maddy summaryHB 5678 amends the Build WV Act to replace a $150 million total project cost cap with a $2 million annual cap on new tax credit liability for projects approved in each fiscal year. It specifically allows smaller rural projects to qualify for credits while clarifying the cap applies only to new project approvals, not existing projects. The bill also establishes a Build WV Credit Reserve Fund (starting at $2 million) to cover refundable tax credits for completed projects, requiring annual adjustments based on demand and usage. These changes directly affect companies seeking Build WV tax credits by altering how credits are calculated and capped, with the reserve fund ensuring payment for approved credits.

Maddy summaryHB 5677 establishes the Coalfield Career Pipeline Program to expand workforce training in West Virginia's coalfield counties. The bill authorizes mobile career and technical education units, paid apprenticeships, certification programs, and employer partnerships focused on priority industries like commercial driving, healthcare, construction, and emerging energy trades. It prioritizes collaborative applications involving schools, workforce boards, and local governments. The program aims to directly support residents in these economically transitioning communities by connecting them to in-demand jobs.

Maddy summaryHB 5191 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to install rumble strips on all double-yellow lined roads and highways. The bill mandates that a placement plan be developed by July 1, 2026, with implementation starting September 1, 2026, and completion by June 30, 2036. This directly affects state highway maintenance operations and drivers traveling on roads marked with double-yellow centerlines. The law focuses on a specific, measurable infrastructure change without altering driver behavior or road usage rules.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4003 creates the WV First Small Business Growth Act, offering tax credits to investors who fund certified "growth funds" that invest in eligible West Virginia small businesses. The program, administered by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, provides a 15% annual tax credit (after the first two years) against insurance premium taxes for qualified investments. To qualify, growth funds must use 100% of investment proceeds within three years to make "qualified investments" in businesses with fewer than 250 employees operating primarily in West Virginia. This directly affects growth investors (who receive tax credits), growth funds (which must be certified), and eligible small businesses receiving capital.

Maddy summaryHB 5455 directs all mandatory fees from special license plates in West Virginia to the State Road Fund for road maintenance. It adds a voluntary donation option at registration or renewal, allowing drivers to contribute to programs related to their plate's theme (e.g., military, education, or environmental causes). Donations must be clearly marked as optional, separate from fees, and distributed only to the designated program. The bill requires the DMV to disclose these details to applicants and report annual fee and donation totals to the legislature. This affects all drivers purchasing special license plates and ensures road funding remains primary while offering optional support for themed causes.

Maddy summaryHB 4458, known as "Joel’s Law," creates a legal process for involuntary treatment of individuals with substance use disorders who pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. It requires a petition from a family member, friend, or guardian to a West Virginia Circuit Court, accompanied by a guarantee to cover treatment costs, and sets strict criteria: the person must have a substance use disorder, present an immediate danger, and be likely to benefit from treatment. The bill establishes a 72-hour emergency treatment option and a formal court process for 60- to 360-day treatment orders, including medical examinations and a hearing within 14 days. This law directly affects individuals meeting these specific danger criteria and their families, while ensuring procedural safeguards like court oversight and cost accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 creates a 30% transferable tax credit for nonprofit organizations that convert existing hotels, motels, or commercial buildings into housing for homeless veterans. The credit covers 30% of qualified redevelopment costs (like renovation and infrastructure) but excludes land acquisition, and can be applied against corporate income, personal income, or business franchise taxes. Nonprofits can sell or transfer the unused credit to other taxpayers to generate funding, with credits carrying forward up to 10 years. This aims to incentivize supportive housing without creating new state spending or entitlements, targeting veterans facing homelessness through adaptive reuse of underutilized properties.

Maddy summaryHB 5426 would add the Bradford Peat Pear (Pyrus calleryana) to West Virginia's official list of noxious weeds under the state's agricultural regulations. This designation directly affects farmers and landowners, as it would require measures to control or eradicate the plant to protect crops and agricultural land. The bill creates a new section (§19-12D-13) in the noxious weeds law, declaring the tree a "detriment to agriculture" and establishing it as a regulated weed. This policy change would trigger existing state requirements for managing noxious weeds, such as restrictions on sale, transport, and control methods.

Maddy summaryHB 5320, the "Welcome Act," aims to address West Virginia's housing shortage by changing how land is taxed during development. It allows property owners to keep their original tax classification for subdivided land until individual lots are sold, directly affecting homeowners and developers. The bill protects property owners' right to further subdivide land after initial sales, requires new parcels to include 24/7 access to a road (without mandating road construction), and limits local governments from imposing stricter road standards than the existing access road. These provisions apply to casual land divisions but not to formally recorded subdivisions with existing deed restrictions.