Del. Jordan Maynor

Maddy summaryHB 4661 would allow the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally killing a law enforcement officer or first responder (including firefighters, EMTs, and correctional staff) while they are performing their duties. The bill amends West Virginia's murder sentencing code to add this scenario as an aggravating circumstance requiring physical evidence like DNA or a confession, rather than circumstantial proof. If this aggravating circumstance is proven beyond reasonable doubt and no mitigating factors outweigh it, a jury may impose the death penalty; otherwise, the sentence is life without parole. This directly affects defendants convicted of first-degree murder in these specific cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4659 transfers oversight of most childcare services in West Virginia from the Department of Human Services to the West Virginia Department of Education. It requires residential child-care centers, day-care centers, and family day-care facilities to obtain licenses, certifications, or registrations from the Department of Education instead of the previous agency. The bill also updates requirements for evacuation plans, facility registrations, and exemptions (like public schools or summer camps) while maintaining existing standards for care. This change directly affects childcare providers operating under state oversight, shifting their regulatory authority to the education department.

Maddy summaryHB 4486 establishes fines for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers in West Virginia. It directly affects businesses and organizations that employ individuals without proper immigration authorization. The bill sets tiered penalties: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 or up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. Additional penalties apply for falsifying records or transferring assets to evade these requirements. The bill amends existing law to strengthen enforcement against employers who knowingly violate immigration hiring rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4496 requires creators and distributors of AI-generated media (such as videos, audio, or images) to include clear, visible disclosures identifying the content as artificial intelligence-generated. This applies to any public-facing media created or materially altered by AI, mandating specific disclosures like a 3-second on-screen label for videos or a spoken statement for audio content. Exceptions include internal research, basic AI-assisted editing (e.g., spell-check), and privately shared personal content. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day for organizations or $1,000 per day for individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 4401 would lower the taxable wage base for unemployment insurance from $9,500 to $8,500 per employee per year. This means employers in West Virginia would pay unemployment taxes only on the first $8,500 of wages paid to each employee annually, rather than the current $9,500 threshold. The bill directly affects all West Virginia employers contributing to the state's unemployment insurance fund. It modifies the calculation method under West Virginia law for determining taxable wages, without changing unemployment benefit amounts or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 4482 would update West Virginia’s tax rates for e-cigarettes, e-cigarette liquids, vaping systems, and related accessories, while increasing penalties for tax violations. The bill specifically targets sellers and manufacturers of these products by raising excise tax rates and imposing stricter financial penalties for non-compliance. It amends the state’s tobacco tax code (§11-17-4b) to explicitly cover vaping devices and components, replacing outdated language. This directly affects businesses selling e-cigarettes and vaping products within West Virginia. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 4078 would repeal §55-2-1 of West Virginia's code, which currently sets a time limit for lawsuits seeking to enter or recover land. This change would remove a specific statute of limitations for land-related legal actions, directly affecting property owners or parties involved in land disputes who might otherwise face time restrictions. The bill's key mechanism is the complete removal of this code section, eliminating the deadline for filing such lawsuits. As a procedural repeal, it does not create new rules but alters existing legal procedures governing land claims.

Maddy summaryHB 2451 exempts home-based business owners (specifically sole proprietors and independent contractors) earning under $2,500 annually in gross revenue from requiring a municipal business license, provided they don't maintain a permanent physical location within city limits. It also establishes a revenue threshold for exempting small businesses from municipal business and occupation taxes. The bill amends existing tax codes to clarify these exemptions and creates the "Small Business Protection Act" to formalize these changes. This directly affects low-revenue home-based entrepreneurs in West Virginia municipalities. The law takes effect July 11, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3513 limits liability for businesses serving alcohol in West Virginia by clarifying when they can be held responsible for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. It states that licensees (like bars or clubs) are generally not liable unless they knowingly serve minors or visibly intoxicated customers. The bill also sets a $1 million cap on medical expenses for claims against businesses with at least $1 million in liquor liability insurance and prohibits punitive damages exceeding twice the compensatory award. This directly affects alcohol licensees, private club owners, and property lessors by reducing their legal exposure in alcohol-related injury cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2548 clarifies the specific responsibilities of the state superintendent when implementing state education rules. It directly affects the state superintendent's office and education agencies by defining exactly how they must handle rule adoption and enforcement. The bill specifies that the superintendent must provide written guidance to school districts on rule implementation timelines and procedures. This change removes ambiguity in current processes, ensuring consistent application of education regulations across the state.