Del. Ray Canterbury

Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a study resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to examine whether West Virginia counties should direct a portion of new property tax revenue from large-scale investments (like manufacturing or energy projects) toward property tax relief for primary residence homeowners. The study would assess thresholds for "significant" revenue growth, prioritize relief for retirees, develop revenue allocation formulas, and analyze constitutional requirements for such a policy. It does not create new tax relief but evaluates feasibility and implementation details, including safeguards to maintain funding for schools and public safety. The committee must report findings by 2027, potentially leading to future legislation or constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 5675, the WV Reshoring Manufacturing Act, creates a tax credit for West Virginia businesses that replace imported goods with locally manufactured products. It directly affects businesses purchasing goods for resale or use in WV (eligible taxpayers) and manufacturers operating physical facilities in the state (qualified manufacturers). The bill provides tax credits equal to a percentage of the verified dollar value of imported goods replaced by WV-made goods, requiring independent CPA verification through "reshoring activity verification reports" for both initial and continued reshoring. Credits are time-limited, non-transferable, and expire after 10 years, with separate provisions for initial reshoring and repeat purchases of reshored goods. The program aims to reduce reliance on foreign imports by incentivizing local production, as documented in the Legislature's findings of $4.8 billion in imported goods purchased by WV businesses in 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 5191 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to install rumble strips on all double-yellow lined roads and highways. The bill mandates that a placement plan be developed by July 1, 2026, with implementation starting September 1, 2026, and completion by June 30, 2036. This directly affects state highway maintenance operations and drivers traveling on roads marked with double-yellow centerlines. The law focuses on a specific, measurable infrastructure change without altering driver behavior or road usage rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5573 creates a new Rural Medical Residency Program focused specifically on obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) for rural hospitals in West Virginia. The bill directs the Rural Health Initiative to fund this program using existing Rural Health Initiative resources or other legislative appropriations. It prioritizes OB/GYN care - a critical need in rural "health care deserts" where access is limited - as part of the state’s strategy to address shortages of primary care physicians. The program will operate within rural hospitals and align with the Rural Health Initiative Act’s goals to improve health care accessibility in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4426 creates a special State Road Construction Account within the State Road Fund to provide dedicated highway construction and maintenance funding for 10 specific West Virginia counties: Raleigh, Fayette, Wyoming, Mercer, Kanawha, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, McDowell, and Nicholas. The bill explicitly requires that funds from this new account must be in addition to, not reduce, existing highway funding those counties receive from the general State Road Fund. It ensures counties listed in the bill will not lose their regular highway funding simply because they receive money from this new account. The account will be used for highway projects in these counties as defined in specific transportation plans from 2017.

Maddy summaryHB 5431 reorganizes West Virginia's laws governing state bond debt by creating new rules for issuing refunding bonds and general obligation bonds. The bill requires the State Treasurer to recommend bond issuance before the state can issue refunding bonds (used to pay off existing debt), establishes debt service funds for each bond series, and mandates the Treasurer to select bond counsel and financial advisors. It exempts bond-related service selections from standard state purchasing rules, prohibits conflicts of interest with penalties, and moves existing bond debt management rules into a single, updated code chapter. This bill directly affects the State Treasurer's office and state debt management processes, streamlining how West Virginia issues and manages its bonded indebtedness.

Maddy summaryHB 5426 would add the Bradford Peat Pear (Pyrus calleryana) to West Virginia's official list of noxious weeds under the state's agricultural regulations. This designation directly affects farmers and landowners, as it would require measures to control or eradicate the plant to protect crops and agricultural land. The bill creates a new section (§19-12D-13) in the noxious weeds law, declaring the tree a "detriment to agriculture" and establishing it as a regulated weed. This policy change would trigger existing state requirements for managing noxious weeds, such as restrictions on sale, transport, and control methods.

Maddy summaryHB 5320, the "Welcome Act," aims to address West Virginia's housing shortage by changing how land is taxed during development. It allows property owners to keep their original tax classification for subdivided land until individual lots are sold, directly affecting homeowners and developers. The bill protects property owners' right to further subdivide land after initial sales, requires new parcels to include 24/7 access to a road (without mandating road construction), and limits local governments from imposing stricter road standards than the existing access road. These provisions apply to casual land divisions but not to formally recorded subdivisions with existing deed restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 5179 modernizes West Virginia's auctioneer licensing regulations. It directly affects licensed auctioneers, auction firms, and the Department of Agriculture by updating definitions (like "absolute auction" and "estate auction"), raising the required bond amount for auctioneers, and requiring fees to be set via legislative rules instead of administrative action. Key provisions include extending the time an apprentice auctioneer can operate after a license expires, clarifying complaint investigations, and directing civil penalties to the Department of Agriculture. The bill also revises exceptions for self-sellers (limiting personal property sales to once yearly) and clarifies advertising rules to prevent misleading promotions. These changes aim to streamline oversight while increasing accountability for auction professionals.