Del. Bill Roop

Maddy summaryHB 4344, the "Michael Brandon Cochran Act," requires West Virginia hospitals with intensive care units (ICUs) to administer C-peptide blood tests for unconscious patients or those with blood glucose levels at or below 49 mg/dl (regardless of diabetes diagnosis). It also mandates post-mortem C-peptide testing if a patient dies after showing symptoms like brain damage, seizures, or disorientation during ICU care. Hospitals failing to comply face $10,000 fines per violation, while a new grant program helps cover testing costs and staff training for participating hospitals. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to support these requirements, using state funds and private donations.

Maddy summaryHB 4716 amends West Virginia law to improve how the Industrial Access Road Fund is managed, directly affecting counties and municipalities that use the fund for industrial infrastructure. The bill establishes that 0.75% of state tax collections (or $3 million annually) will fund industrial access roads, with unspent funds needing to be spent within three years or reverting to the State Road Fund. It allows counties to coordinate with regional economic development groups to fund cross-county projects and requires financial guarantees (like bonds) for new industrial sites if construction isn't already underway. The bill ensures funds are used for road construction, safety upgrades, and federal project matching, prioritizing sites with confirmed or imminent industrial development.

Maddy summaryHB 4549 requires West Virginia local governments to award public construction contracts over $50,000 to the lowest qualified responsible bidder - defined as the lowest-priced bidder meeting standards for ability, compliance with state laws, and a valid bid bond. The bill also permits political subdivisions (like counties, cities, and school boards) to enter into project labor agreements (pre-hire union contracts) for construction projects. Additionally, for projects exceeding $250,000, the winning bidder must provide a list of subcontractors performing over $25,000 in work within one business day of the bid opening. This directly affects local governments and contractors involved in public construction projects across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4562 lowers the required service time from 25 to 20 years for certain retirees to qualify for a minimum $1,000 monthly retirement benefit under West Virginia's Public Employees and State Teachers Retirement Systems. It applies to retirees aged 70+ as of July 1, 2026, with at least 20 years of service (excluding time as elected officials, temporary legislative staff, or capped-salary educators), if their current benefit is below $1,000. Surviving spouses who chose a joint and survivor annuity with similar service would qualify for a $500 minimum benefit. The change only applies to those retired before the bill's effective date, not retroactively.

Maddy summaryHCR 11 is a West Virginia state resolution urging Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It seeks to propose amendments requiring that U.S. Representatives, Senators, federal judges (Article III), and Cabinet Secretaries be natural-born U.S. citizens with sole U.S. citizenship. The resolution does not change existing law but applies to Congress under Article V of the Constitution to initiate a convention focused solely on this citizenship requirement for those federal positions. This is a procedural step by West Virginia to join other states in seeking a constitutional amendment, not a legislative bill with immediate effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 for primary residences owned by residents who are 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. To qualify, homeowners must have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years before the tax year (with exceptions for returning military members or those reestablishing residency within five years). The exemption applies to the first $40,000 of a home's assessed value and becomes effective July 1 for the following tax year, though it terminates if the property is sold or transferred. Only one exemption is permitted per homestead, regardless of how many qualifying owners reside there.

Maddy summaryHB 4560 redirects the gas tax collected from fuel sold at marinas and boat docks in West Virginia to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division. The bill amends state law to require that these specific tax proceeds - currently part of the motor fuel excise tax - must now be allocated solely to the DNR Law Enforcement Division. This change does not create a new tax but shifts existing revenue from its current allocation to fund natural resource enforcement activities. The primary effect is providing the DNR Law Enforcement Division with a dedicated funding source from marina and boat dock fuel sales.

Maddy summaryHB 4584 establishes a market-based pay enhancement for West Virginia teachers in counties where the regional median home price exceeds the state average. It calculates an annual lump-sum payment for teachers in those counties by comparing regional home prices (including contiguous border counties/states) to West Virginia's statewide median home price, then applying a multiplier to the county's average teacher salary. The State Board of Education determines this adjustment every five years starting in 2027, certifies the amount to the State Auditor, and payments are distributed annually as taxable income. This directly affects certified teachers in specific counties with higher regional cost-of-living compared to West Virginia's average, aiming to make salaries competitive with neighboring areas.

Maddy summaryHCR 12 is a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose an amendment. It specifically seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution to establish a fixed number of nine justices on the Supreme Court, as Article III currently does not specify the number. The resolution cites Article V of the Constitution, which allows states to request such a convention, and urges Congress to fulfill this duty. This resolution does not change the Court's size itself but formally requests action from Congress and other states to pursue the proposed amendment.

Maddy summaryHJR 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow local governments (counties, municipalities) to approve additional tax increases specifically for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) with a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) instead of the current 60% requirement for all other tax increases. This change would apply only to levies limited exclusively to fire/EMS funding, with a three-year maximum duration and a cap preventing increases from exceeding 50% above existing tax rates. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and leaves the 60% threshold unchanged for all other tax increases. It does not alter existing tax exemptions or revenue distribution rules.