Del. Bill Roop

Maddy summaryHB 2863 clarifies West Virginia sheriffs' authority to hire within their offices by amending civil service rules for deputy sheriffs. It explicitly allows sheriffs to appoint multiple chief deputies with county commission approval (per §7-7-7) and clarifies that current or future chief deputies and jailers retain all civil service rights, including having time in those roles count toward promotion eligibility. The bill does not change existing hiring standards but resolves ambiguity about seniority and appointment flexibility for these positions. It directly affects sheriffs, county commissions, and deputy sheriff staff across West Virginia counties.

Maddy summaryHB 3149 establishes a program to provide one-time, equal grants to all chartered American Legion posts in West Virginia without requiring applications or financial documentation. The Department of Veterans Assistance will distribute these grants equally to all eligible posts by October 1, 2026, using funds appropriated through the state budget process. The bill requires the Governor to include a dedicated budget line item for this purpose in the fiscal year 2026 budget and mandates a post-distribution report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by January 1, 2027. This program directly supports American Legion posts statewide, which provide community and veteran services, by offering streamlined, no-strings-attached funding.

Maddy summaryHCR 49 is a West Virginia legislative resolution (not a bill) requesting the Maryland General Assembly reject proposed changes to the North Branch Potomac River's water classification. It argues that designating the river as "Cold Water Aquatic Life" (instead of "Warm Water") would require West Virginia industrial facilities to install costly thermal controls like cooling towers to meet stricter discharge standards, imposing unnecessary costs. The resolution claims this would violate the U.S. Constitution's dormant commerce clause by unduly burdening interstate commerce, citing Supreme Court precedents like *Sporhase v. Nebraska*. It asks Maryland to withdraw the proposal and directs West Virginia's Attorney General to investigate the constitutional issues. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law affecting policy changes.)

Maddy summaryHB 2789, the "Michael Brandon Cochran Act," requires West Virginia hospitals to administer a C-peptide test (which measures insulin-related proteins) to ICU patients who are unconscious or have blood sugar below 50 mg/dl, regardless of diabetes diagnosis. It also mandates post-mortem C-peptide testing for patients who died after showing symptoms like brain damage, seizures, or disorientation during ICU care. Hospitals failing to comply face a $10,000 penalty per violation. The bill creates a grant program to help hospitals cover testing costs and staff training, funded through state appropriations and private donations.

Maddy summaryHB 3118 permanently increases the percentage of real estate transfer tax retained by West Virginia counties from 65% (starting July 2024) to 100% beginning July 2025. This directly affects county clerks, who will use the full retained amount for specific purposes: 20% for general county funds, 5% for improving election administration, infrastructure, and security (per Secretary of State standards), and 5% for electronic recording infrastructure compliance. The bill modifies existing tax retention rules without changing the tax rate itself. It ensures counties have dedicated funding streams for election and clerk operations through a fixed allocation structure.

Maddy summaryHB 2870 amends West Virginia's DUI statute to clarify that fleeing the scene after driving while impaired is treated as part of the DUI offense itself, not a separate violation. This change directly affects drivers who flee after being stopped for DUI, as it will subject them to enhanced penalties under existing DUI sentencing structures. The key mechanism adds fleeing while impaired to the definition of the offense, ensuring it triggers the same license revocation periods (up to life) and jail terms (e.g., 2+ years for bodily injury) as a standard DUI. The bill does not create new penalties but corrects a legal gap where fleeing was previously not counted toward DUI sentencing.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2815 increases minimum prison terms and parole eligibility requirements for certain murder-related offenses in West Virginia. It raises the minimum parole eligibility for second-degree murder from 10 to 20 years and for attempted first-degree murder from 3 to 10 years. The bill also increases the minimum sentence for attempted second-degree murder from 1 year to 5 years. These changes directly affect inmates convicted of second-degree murder, attempted murder, or related firearm offenses, delaying their potential parole consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 2923 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to install rumble strips on all double-yellow lined highways during any road upgrade project, beginning July 1, 2025. This mandate applies specifically to roadways marked with double yellow lines, which typically separate opposing traffic flows. The bill directly affects state highway maintenance operations and drivers traveling on these roads by adding a physical safety feature to reduce run-off-road collisions. It creates a concrete, enforceable requirement for highway upgrades rather than proposing new funding or altering existing traffic laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2869 clarifies that West Virginia judicial officers must explicitly consider a person's residency status when setting bail or release conditions for misdemeanor offenses. The bill specifically requires judges to evaluate whether the person is a West Virginia or U.S. resident, has community ties, and poses a flight risk. It applies to all misdemeanor cases except those listed in subsection (a)(1) (e.g., violent offenses, crimes against minors, or offenses involving stolen property over $250). The law adds residency status as a mandatory factor in the existing list of considerations under §62-1C-1a, alongside factors like criminal history and community safety. This change directly affects individuals charged with qualifying misdemeanors who seek release before trial.