Del. Bill Roop

Maddy summaryHB 2753 would extend the cooling-off period for former state legislators and other public officials seeking to become lobbyists, changing the current one-year restriction to five years. This bill directly affects individuals who leave public office and wish to work as lobbyists for private entities or government clients. The key provision is simply lengthening the mandatory waiting period before they can engage in lobbying activities. The change aims to reduce potential conflicts of interest by limiting immediate transitions from public service to lobbying roles.

Maddy summaryHB 2547 raises the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) threshold for retired municipal police officers, firefighters, and employees of water/sewage systems from $15,000 to $45,000 of their annual pension benefit. This means more of their retirement income will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the U.S. consumer price index, rather than just the first $15,000. The bill modifies existing law (§8-22-26a) to expand the portion of pension benefits subject to COLA increases, which currently caps adjustments at $15,000. It directly affects retirees in these specific public safety and utility roles who receive supplemental pension benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 2640 amends West Virginia law to increase the maximum age for appointment as a State Police trooper from 39 to 45 years. This change directly affects individuals seeking to join the West Virginia State Police as troopers. The bill modifies the existing qualification requirement in §15-2-7(c) of the code, removing the 39-year cap and replacing it with 45 years. The policy change aims to expand the pool of eligible applicants without altering other recruitment or qualification standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2612 clarifies that DNA records collected from individuals convicted under West Virginia law may be used to establish paternity in pending child abuse and neglect cases when a Circuit Court issues an order. The bill explicitly adds this specific use case to the list of permitted purposes for sharing DNA data, which already included law enforcement identification and research. This change directly affects child welfare courts and families involved in abuse/neglect proceedings by enabling faster paternity resolution. It does not alter existing uses of DNA records for criminal investigations or other purposes.

Maddy summaryHCR 53 is a House Concurrent Resolution (not a law) affirming West Virginia's constitutional right to legal standing in matters affecting its residents. It states the state recognizes no judicial authority that denies West Virginia's standing in issues impacting its people, citing the Tenth Amendment, the Declaration of Independence, and West Virginia's own Constitution. The resolution declares any effort to restrict this standing "illegal, void, and an attack on the sovereignty of the People and State." As a concurrent resolution, it expresses the legislature's position but does not create new law or directly affect residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2546 would eliminate West Virginia's observance of daylight saving time by permanently adopting Eastern Standard Time (EST) as the state's official time, effective July 1, 2025. This change would apply to all public schools, colleges, state agencies, and local governments, removing the need for biannual clock adjustments. The bill amends existing law to replace the current daylight saving time schedule with a fixed EST schedule, meaning the state would no longer advance or reset clocks in spring or fall. As a result, West Virginia would remain on EST year-round without seasonal time changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2540 requires the West Virginia state to reimburse counties for daily incarceration costs when an inmate’s conviction results in credit for time already served toward their sentence. This directly affects counties that house inmates who receive sentence reductions due to prior time served in custody. The bill amends §15A-3-16 of state code to establish a reimbursement process for these costs, replacing the current system where counties pay daily per diem fees. Previously, counties paid for all days incarcerated, but the state now covers costs for days not served due to time credit.

Maddy summaryHB 2526 requires West Virginia public schools to designate shared restrooms and changing areas exclusively for students based on the sex assigned at birth, as listed on their original birth certificate. It mandates that schools provide single-occupancy restrooms as a "reasonable accommodation" for students unable to use designated facilities, but prohibits access to restrooms designated for the opposite sex. Violations could result in fines up to $500 for school officials like principals or superintendents, with parents able to sue if students encounter opposite-sex individuals in designated areas without permission. The bill excludes accommodations needed under the Americans with Disabilities Act or for young children requiring physical assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 2488 directs West Virginia's Department of Transportation (WV DOT) to study the feasibility, costs, and effectiveness of installing suicide safety measures on the New River Gorge Bridge. The study must consult the Bridge Day Commission to ensure safety measures won't disrupt annual Bridge Day events and assess federal funding opportunities. WV DOT must submit a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 31, 2025, using state road funds, grants, or partnerships. This bill mandates a study only - it does not require installing safety systems or allocate permanent funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2506 amends West Virginia law to expand vehicle registration fee exemptions for veterans. It lowers the required service-connected disability percentage from 100% to 50% or greater for veterans to qualify, and adds recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross to the list of eligible veterans. The bill directly affects veterans with qualifying disabilities or military honors who own non-commercial vehicles. Key provisions include modifying existing exemption criteria (§17A-10-8(5)) and adding new eligibility under subsection (7) for specific medal recipients. This change would allow more veterans to avoid paying annual vehicle registration fees.