Rep. Brandon Steele

Maddy summaryHB 2206 (West Virginia) increases criminal penalties for human trafficking offenses, directly affecting individuals convicted of trafficking adults or minors. The bill raises prison terms: for trafficking adults, it sets a 15-40 year sentence (up from 3-15 years), and for minors, 25-100 years (up from 5-20 years), with fines up to $300,000. It also restricts parole eligibility - no parole for offenses involving minors, and only half the sentence served for aggravating circumstances (e.g., targeting vulnerable youth). Additionally, the bill mandates restitution for victims and provides immunity from prosecution for juvenile victims.

Maddy summaryHB 3319, the "Restoring Sanity Act," prohibits West Virginia public schools and state universities from requiring instruction, course content, or statements about specific concepts deemed "factual" or "beliefs" related to race, gender, or sexuality. It bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and redirects funds from such offices to merit scholarships for lower-income, first-generation, or in-state students. The bill also requires schools to report complaints about violations and prohibits employees from being required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it conflicts with their biological sex, while clarifying that using biological sex-based pronouns does not create legal liability. These provisions apply directly to school districts, public charter schools, the West Virginia Board of Education, and state universities.

Maddy summaryHB 3301 would amend West Virginia law to prohibit any requirement that a person receive or use a medical product, such as vaccines or treatments. It also bans penalties or denial of benefits for refusing a medical product or for declining to disclose whether one has been used. The bill would override existing health regulations to ensure individuals cannot be forced to use medical products or face legal consequences for refusing them. This applies broadly to all medical products and all state laws, effectively blocking mandatory use in public health contexts.

Maddy summaryHJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to formally establish West Virginia citizens' powers of initiative, referendum, and recall. It would add Article XV to the state constitution, reserving these direct democracy tools for voters to propose laws, reject legislation, and remove officials at all government levels. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2028 general election and would amend existing sections on legislative power (Article VI) and constitutional amendment procedures (Article XIV). This change would codify existing practices into the state constitution, ensuring these powers are explicitly reserved to registered voters.

Maddy summaryHB 3066 requires West Virginia's Corrections Commissioner to create an "Orange Alert" system that notifies registered crime victims within a 40-mile radius when a prisoner escapes or is released from a state correctional facility or jail. Victims must proactively register to receive these alerts, with registration details published in local newspapers. The bill mandates this system for all state correctional facilities and jails, making registration the victim's responsibility rather than automatic notification. This policy change establishes a formal notification framework but does not require automatic alerts for all victims.

Maddy summaryHB 3291 (West Virginia House Bill 3291) increases penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. It directly affects businesses and organizations in West Virginia that employ unauthorized workers, imposing escalating fines: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 plus up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also penalizes employers who provide false work status records or transfer assets to evade these requirements, with fines of $1,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. These provisions amend existing West Virginia law (§21-1B-5) to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized employment.

Maddy summaryHB 3091 updates West Virginia's legal framework for the State Guard, establishing it as a distinct force separate from the National Guard. The bill requires the Governor to organize the State Guard by September 2025, authorizing it to defend the state, respond to emergencies (including natural disasters), and maintain order during crises. It specifies that members must be U.S. citizens aged 16 or older (including women), supplemented by reserve militia if needed, and mandates an annual budget line item through the Adjutant General's office. The bill revises multiple code sections to formalize membership rules, funding mechanisms, and operational requirements for this state military force.

Maddy summaryHCR 65 is a West Virginia legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress and Department of Energy to fulfill federal obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 regarding spent nuclear fuel. It highlights that over 90,000 metric tons of spent fuel are stored at 76 sites nationwide, with taxpayers bearing $9 billion in costs and nuclear customers having prepaid $46 billion for disposal, yet no permanent repository exists. The resolution specifically requests Congress and the DOE to implement recommendations from the Blue-Ribbon Commission, streamline regulations, and establish a deep geologic repository. It directly affects nuclear utilities, taxpayers, and communities hosting nuclear sites that face long-term storage challenges. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, aiming to prompt federal action on a decades-old policy gap.

Maddy summaryHB 2626 establishes a $2,000 monthly housing allowance for five West Virginia constitutional officers: the Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Agriculture, and State Treasurer. This allowance, effective starting in 2026, must be used to cover housing costs in Charleston, the state capital. The bill adds this provision to existing salary statutes, requiring the allowance to be spent specifically on housing within the seat of government. It does not change the officers' base salaries but provides a dedicated housing stipend for those residing in the capital.

Maddy summaryHB 2624 modifies West Virginia's larceny laws by raising the monetary thresholds for classifying offenses. It increases the threshold for grand larceny (felony) from $1,000 to $2,500 and sets petit larceny (misdemeanor) at amounts under $2,500. The bill also creates a new "aggravated grand larceny" category for thefts of $25,000 or more, carrying a 3-15 year prison sentence and up to $100,000 in fines. For standard grand larceny, it eliminates the option of a one-year jail term and raises the maximum fine from $2,500 to $10,000. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of theft crimes by altering sentencing ranges based on the value of stolen property.