Del. Eric Brooks

Maddy summaryHB 4665 expands West Virginia's tax deduction for retirement income to include retired law enforcement officers and first responders who worked out-of-state but performed roles equivalent to in-state positions. It modifies the state's tax code to allow these retirees to subtract up to $2,000 annually from their federal adjusted gross income, similar to existing deductions for in-state retirees. The bill requires the Tax Division to verify eligibility and establish a process for storing applicant information. This change directly affects retired police, firefighters, and other first responders who served outside West Virginia but qualify under the bill's defined roles.

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 summaryHB 4566 increases penalties for drivers who flee the scene of a crash causing injury or death in West Virginia. It raises fines and prison terms based on severity: up to $1,000 or one year in jail for bodily injury, up to $2,500 or three years for serious injury, and up to $5,000 or 20 years for death (with death occurring within one year of the crash). The bill also mandates a one-year license revocation for convicted offenders. It defines "serious bodily injury" as injury creating substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or prolonged health impairment, and names the law "Erin’s Law."

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 4557 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally blocking public streets, highways, or sidewalks used by the public, defining "obstruct" as making passage impassable, unreasonably inconvenient, or hazardous. It directly affects individuals who protest by blocking roadways, including those who ignore law enforcement requests to move. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties ($500+ fine, 1+ month jail) for basic violations, and felony penalties ($1,000+ fine, 3 months-3 years jail) for repeat offenses, blocking emergency vehicles, or obstructing hospital access. The law applies to any person acting without legal authority to block public passageways.

Maddy summaryHB 4559 would eliminate a current prohibition against killing bears using bait during overlapping deer and bear hunting seasons in West Virginia. This change directly affects hunters who use bait for deer during seasons when bear hunting is also permitted. The bill amends §20-2-22a to remove the restriction that currently bans bear kills via bait during these concurrent seasons, while maintaining other existing bear hunting rules like tagging requirements and prohibitions on hunting cubs or small bears. The policy change specifically targets the bait restriction during joint deer-bear seasons, without altering other regulations governing bear hunting.

Maddy summaryHB 4598 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data starting January 1, 2027. This data will show the reason for and date of each modification to voter records, such as address changes or registration status updates. The bill specifically amends existing law to mandate this addition to the subscription service, which currently provides basic voter list information. It directly affects subscribers who purchase the annual voter data subscription and the Secretary of State's office, which must implement the change.

Maddy summaryHB 4597 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners. It phases in higher exemption amounts: starting at $20,000, rising to $30,000 by 2028, $35,000 by 2030, and fully eliminating property taxes on the first $40,000 of home value by 2032. The exemption applies to homeowners aged 65+ or certified permanently disabled who reside in West Virginia for two consecutive years (with limited exceptions for returning military veterans or short-term out-of-state residents). This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4596 prohibits local governments (like cities, counties, and law enforcement agencies) from adopting policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill requires these entities to comply with federal immigration law enforcement or risk losing state funding - specifically, they have 90 days to fix violations after notice, and face funding denial for the next fiscal year if a court rules they intentionally violated the law. It directly affects local jurisdictions that might have previously limited information-sharing or collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to ensure local entities do not obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts through policy.