Del. Jeff Campbell

Maddy summaryHB 3414 automatically establishes a $100 Smart 529 savings account for every newborn in West Virginia who resides in the state at birth or is adopted by West Virginia residents. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to share birth data with the State Treasurer within 90 days of birth, triggering the grant to cover college costs at eligible institutions. It creates the "Mountaineer Scholars Grant Program," with funds drawn from the Savings Plan Trust Fund to provide one-time grants plus investment earnings for qualified higher education expenses. The program applies to children born after December 31, 2024, and excludes parents who opt out.

Maddy summaryHB 2774, the "Coach Protection Act," amends West Virginia law to increase penalties for assault and battery against athletic officials and participants during sports events. It establishes minimum jail terms (5 days for assault, 10 days for battery) and fines ($250-$500 for assault, $500-$1,000 for battery), explicitly defining "athletic official or participant" to include coaches, referees, players, and team supervisors. The bill also authorizes school boards to ban convicted offenders from all state school sports events for at least one year, with violations treated as trespassing. This directly affects individuals who commit violence at sports events, schools enforcing bans, and participants in organized sports.

Maddy summaryHB 3266 amends West Virginia's compulsory school attendance law to establish specific requirements for families choosing home instruction. It requires parents to submit a notice of intent, provide proof of educational qualifications (like a high school diploma or college degree), and have children assessed annually through standardized tests, public school testing programs, or certified teacher-reviewed portfolios. The bill also specifies that county boards may deny home instruction requests only after a court order showing clear evidence of educational neglect. This directly affects families opting for home schooling, ensuring they meet state educational standards while maintaining county oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 3328 requires hospitals and healthcare facilities to provide effective communication tools for deaf or hard-of-hearing patients and their families when ASL interpreters aren't available on staff. Specifically, facilities must offer technology like hearing loops, captioning services, or video relay systems to enable communication. The bill also mandates that any ASL interpreters used must be approved by the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This applies to all hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and extended care centers under West Virginia law, aligning with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Maddy summaryHB 3078 establishes a 15 mph speed limit in licensed childcare zones during childcare hours (when children are entering or leaving). It defines childcare zones as all licensed childcare property, including grounds and 125 feet of adjacent streets or highways, similar to existing school zone rules. The bill requires the West Virginia Division of Highways to install signage marking these zones and applies the speed restriction during childcare operation times. This directly affects drivers passing near licensed childcare facilities during drop-off/pick-up periods, mirroring the safety measures already in place for school zones. The bill does not change existing speed limits outside these designated zones.

Maddy summaryHB 3314 would require West Virginia to pay teachers in grades 7-12 an additional $25 per day for each student in their class beyond a 30-student limit, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. This applies to core academic classes but excludes physical education, band, chorus, strings, theater, dance, and other artistic performance courses. The bill amends the state's teacher salary schedule to add this incremental pay for qualifying large classes, without changing base salary rates. It directly affects middle and high school teachers in subject areas with class sizes exceeding 30 students during the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 3315 adds two new salary increments to West Virginia's teacher pay scale: "Bachelor's Plus 30" (for teachers with a bachelor's degree and 30+ years of experience) and "Master's Plus 60" (for those with a master's degree and 60+ years of experience). These new salary steps will be included in the existing State Minimum Salary Schedule, effective for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. The bill directly affects teachers who meet these specific degree and experience thresholds, providing them with higher salary placement without altering current pay levels for other experience ranges. It creates two additional columns in the salary table to reflect these new pay tiers for eligible educators.

Maddy summaryHB 3221, the Burial Equity Act, expands burial benefits in West Virginia state cemeteries to include eligible former National Guard and military reserve members (such as Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Active Guard Reserve), their spouses, and dependent children. It sets specific eligibility criteria: four years of service, two years of West Virginia residency before death (or service in West Virginia units), and a non-dishonorable discharge, with retroactive application for deaths after March 15, 2022. The bill creates a Burial Equity Grant Program administered by the Veterans Affairs department, offering up to $1,000 per family to cover burial costs on a first-come, first-served basis. It also establishes a dedicated Burial Equity Fund, initially funded with $50,000 from the legislature, to support these grants using state appropriations, federal funds, and private donations.

Maddy summaryHB 3236 requires West Virginia's Secretary of Health to establish a new long-term psychiatric and mental health facility specifically designed to serve homeless individuals. The bill mandates this facility as part of state-owned health infrastructure, directly affecting homeless residents needing sustained mental health care. Key provisions include the Secretary adopting operational rules for the facility and implementing performance metrics by January 1, 2025. This policy change creates a dedicated state-run resource for homeless individuals with mental health needs, rather than relying on existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 3254 establishes the Summer Feeding for All Program to ensure West Virginia students have access to nutritious meals during summer and other non-school periods. It requires each county public school system to conduct an annual survey of students' food access when school is closed and compile a list of community food resources (including charities and religious groups) for families. County school boards may develop local initiatives - such as mentorship programs or entrepreneurship opportunities - to deliver meals and must provide training for feeding site operators. They are also required to report survey results and program activities annually to the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition.