Rep. Eric Brooks

Maddy summaryHB 4774 amends West Virginia law to reduce the number of associate state superintendent of schools positions from two to one. The bill directly affects the State Department of Education's organizational structure by limiting this specific leadership role. It changes §18-3-9 of the Code of West Virginia to state that "there may be no more than one associate state superintendent of schools position." This is a procedural adjustment to staffing levels, not a policy change affecting schools or students.

Maddy summaryHB 4636 changes the official term "salesperson" to "sales agent" in West Virginia's real estate licensing code. This bill directly affects real estate professionals who work under a broker's supervision, updating terminology across multiple sections of the state code. The key mechanism is a simple terminology revision - replacing "salesperson" with "sales agent" in definitions and licensing requirements without altering any duties, qualifications, or regulatory processes. The bill does not create new requirements or change how real estate transactions are conducted.

Maddy summaryHB 4764 requires candidates for public office in West Virginia to disclose in their financial disclosure statement whether they owe unpaid city, county, state, or federal taxes. If the disclosure reveals unpaid taxes, the candidate is disqualified from running until those taxes are paid in full. Candidates must file this disclosure within 10 days of announcing their candidacy. This bill directly affects all candidates for elected offices, including local, state, and federal positions, by linking tax compliance to eligibility to run.

Maddy summaryHB 4766 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners from a flat $20,000 to 50% of a property's assessed value (capped at $20,000 if the property is valued below $40,000). This change directly affects homeowners aged 65 or older or certified as permanently and totally disabled who meet the state's residency requirements. The bill modifies existing law (§11-6B-3) to adjust the exemption calculation method while preserving the same eligibility criteria. It does not alter residency rules or other qualifying conditions for the exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 4773 would increase the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired state employees by 20% - not 15% as the title states - applying to retirees from the Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System who voluntarily retired in good standing. The bill requires the first full payment of this 20% adjustment to be issued by June 30, 2026, with benefits also shared proportionally to eligible beneficiaries. The adjustment is subject to IRS limits and mandates a legislative review every decade to assess future COLA increases.

Maddy summaryHB 4757 (West Virginia, 2026) prohibits requiring patients to receive, be administered, or disclose medical treatment history unless the manufacturer of the medical product is liable for death or serious injury caused by it. The bill directly affects patients and healthcare providers by blocking mandatory treatments or disclosure of medical product use, applying to all medical devices, drugs, and biologics. Its key mechanism requires manufacturer liability as a condition before any medical product use or disclosure can be mandated. The bill aims to establish privacy rights around medical treatments but does not create new penalties or enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 4758 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of first-degree murder or attempted first-degree murder in West Virginia. It increases the minimum prison term for attempted first-degree murder from 3 to 10 years and requires inmates convicted of these offenses to serve a longer portion of their sentence before becoming parole-eligible. Specifically, these individuals must serve at least three years or the maximum sentence imposed (whichever is less) before parole consideration, rather than the previous standard terms. The bill directly affects inmates serving sentences for murder or attempted murder of the first degree.

Maddy summaryHB 4727 would increase all state teacher salaries in West Virginia by 25% across every salary scale and experience level, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It directly affects all public school teachers paid under the state minimum salary schedule, including those with varying certifications (like A.B., M.A., or special education) and years of experience. The bill amends the existing salary schedule by adding 25% to every base salary figure shown in the table, such as raising a 0-year experience 4th Class teacher's salary from $39,057 to approximately $48,821. This is a direct pay increase applied uniformly to all teacher classifications without changing certification requirements or adding new benefit categories.

Maddy summaryHB 4671 requires West Virginia law enforcement to immediately transfer individuals determined to be in the country without legal immigration status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. For a second offense (if the same person is again found without legal status), the bill classifies it as a felony, mandating 3 to 5 years in state prison before deportation. The bill also prohibits state and local law enforcement from interfering with this process or overriding federal immigration policy. It directly affects individuals without legal immigration status who are apprehended by law enforcement in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4662 would add penalties for West Virginia inmates found in possession of illegal drugs or testing positive for drug use while incarcerated. For a first offense, it mandates adding six months to an inmate's current sentence (to be served consecutively), and for each subsequent offense, it requires adding one year consecutively. The bill also requires drug testing to begin after three months of incarceration, with ongoing testing based on equipment availability or suspicion. This law directly affects inmates in West Virginia correctional facilities who test positive or possess drugs during their sentence.