Del. Eric Brooks

Maddy summaryHB 4507 would exempt the salaries of certain first responders from West Virginia's state personal income tax. It directly affects law enforcement officers, paid firefighters, correctional officers, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel as defined in existing state law. The bill adds a new provision to the tax code stating these workers' salaries are not subject to state income tax. This change applies only to their earned income from these specific roles, not other income they may receive.

Maddy summaryHB 4444 would impose penalties on West Virginia delegates attending a Convention of States (a proposed meeting to amend the U.S. Constitution) who exceed their assigned authority. Delegates who deviate from their mandate would face mandatory immediate recall, fines of $100,000 to $500,000, up to 10 years in prison, and voided votes. The bill directly affects state delegates selected to represent West Virginia at such conventions. It establishes these consequences to ensure delegates strictly adhere to their pre-defined roles during constitutional convention proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 4432 establishes new tenant protections and landlord notice requirements for residents in factory-built home rental communities (including mobile homes, manufactured homes, modular homes, and house trailers). It defines "good cause" for eviction, requiring landlords to provide written notice before terminating tenancy for reasons like rent arrears or lease violations, and clarifies that tenants cannot be deemed to have abandoned their home due to catastrophic events like floods or tornadoes. The bill also defines key terms like "factory-built home rental community" and "good cause" to standardize protections. These changes directly affect tenants and landlords in multi-unit factory-built home communities across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4420 increases the West Virginia Parkways Authority's membership from seven to eleven members by adding two representatives each from Kanawha, Fayette, Raleigh, and Mercer counties. The bill maintains existing representation with two members from each congressional district and one at-large public member, while expanding regional coverage to include these specific counties. This change directly affects the authority's governance structure, ensuring county-level representation in its decision-making. The bill also includes standard provisions for member terms, qualifications, and administrative procedures, without altering the authority's core responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4436 requires that child abuse and neglect investigations by West Virginia's Child Protective Services (CPS) must conduct face-to-face interviews with children at designated Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), where available. This directly affects children involved in CPS cases, CPS workers, and local CACs that would serve as the mandated interview location. The bill amends existing law to specify that interviews must occur at a CAC under county protocol, aiming to provide a more child-friendly environment during sensitive questioning. It does not create new centers but mandates using existing ones when accessible, focusing on improving interview conditions for child safety.

Maddy summaryHB 4424 allows landowners or lessees whose property is damaged by deer or other wildlife to hire a third-party hunter to kill the animals using a bow and arrow. Landowners must report the damage to wildlife authorities, who will investigate and issue a permit enabling the hiring of a hunter. The hunter must follow the same bow and arrow restrictions as during regular hunting seasons, such as minimum bow poundage requirements. This bill does not change hunting seasons but provides a specific method for landowners to address property damage.

Maddy summaryHB 4153 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire interns or apprentices in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and skilled trades. Eligible employers receive a 50% tax credit on wages paid to qualifying interns/apprentices, up to $10,000 per person annually (capped at $150,000 total per employer yearly). To qualify, positions must include at least 120 hours of structured training and exclude retail, food service, janitorial, and general administrative roles. Employers must apply for certification through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and report details annually to claim the credit.

Maddy summaryHB 4162 creates a tax credit program to encourage property rehabilitation in West Virginia. It provides businesses and property owners a 25% credit (up to $2 million) on eligible renovation costs or a 50% credit on increased property value (annual for 5 years), requiring a $50,000 investment, 30% value increase, and 5 years of active commercial use. Additional credits (up to 15% total) apply for projects in rural areas (population <50,000, high unemployment, or designated zones), brownfield sites, or registered historic properties. The program is budget-neutral, capped at $50 million annually, and requires annual reporting on investments, jobs created, and property use.

Maddy summaryHB 4164, the "Election integrity and People’s vote protection act," requires poll workers at each West Virginia precinct to manually count physical ballots using the electronic voting machines' printed audit trail after polls close on election day. This manual count must be reconciled with the electronic tally to verify accuracy and detect discrepancies, involving election officials and authorized observers. The bill directly affects poll workers, county election offices, and the Secretary of State, who must develop training for implementation. It mandates this process for all elections using electronic voting machines, aiming to enhance transparency without changing voting methods.

Maddy summaryHB 4163 requires all West Virginia public agencies to maintain a publicly accessible online database tracking Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and outcomes. It protects the privacy of individuals making FOIA requests by mandating that their names, contact details, and other personal information be redacted from all public records and databases. Agencies must update their online FOIA logs within 90 days of the law’s passage and face penalties, including potential damages of up to $5,000 per violation, for failing to redact personal information. This bill directly affects government agencies handling FOIA requests and all residents who submit such requests.