Del. Ray Canterbury

Maddy summaryHB 3072 requires new two-lane highways in West Virginia to use a "Super Two" design, which adds alternating passing lanes on rural roads to allow safe passing in both directions. This applies to all new road construction projects that do not need full four-lane infrastructure, meeting existing safety standards for lane width and shoulders. The design improves immediate traffic safety by reducing hazardous passing attempts while enabling future upgrades to four lanes with minimal modifications. It follows Texas' approach to cost-effectively enhance safety on existing two-lane corridors.

Maddy summaryHB 2019 waives the $10 one-time application fee for West Virginia's Veterans license plate for first-time applicants with an Honorable Discharge from any U.S. military branch. This directly affects new veterans applying for the specialty plate, removing a cost barrier for eligible applicants. The bill amends §17A-3-14b of West Virginia law to eliminate this fee while requiring applicants to still provide documentation of their military service. It does not change renewal fees or apply to existing plate holders.

Maddy summaryThis bill aligns West Virginia's public employee retirement systems with federal law by clarifying key terms like "bona fide separation from service" and updating definitions. It adds the Emergency Medical Service Retirement System to contribution pick-up provisions and modifies rules to allow retired public safety officers to cover qualified health insurance premiums from their retirement plans. These changes directly affect public employees enrolled in multiple retirement systems, including teachers, police, firefighters, and state workers, ensuring compliance with federal requirements for retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 3193 establishes a process for police officers and firefighters hired on or after July 1, 2015, to transfer from the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) to the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. It requires municipalities to elect participation in the new system by July 1, 2025, and notify eligible employees within 30 days of that election. Employees then have 90 days to choose to transfer, triggering a 60-day timeline for the state retirement agency to move their service credit and assets (with 7.5% annual interest) from PERS to the municipal system. This bill directly affects municipalities deciding to adopt the system and eligible post-2015 hires who may switch retirement plans.

Maddy summaryHB 3183 makes personally identifiable information (like Social Security numbers, addresses, medical details, and direct deposit info) for members, retirees, beneficiaries, and alternate payees of West Virginia's public retirement systems confidential and exempt from public disclosure under state law. This protects individuals from potential fraud or identity theft by preventing this sensitive data from being released through public records requests. The bill specifically exempts such information maintained by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board from disclosure requirements under West Virginia's freedom of information laws. Individuals affected can still access their own information directly.

Maddy summaryHB 3451 proposes a phased increase in the homestead property tax exemption for West Virginia residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled. Starting in 2027, the exemption for primary homes would rise from $20,000 to $40,000 over four years, contingent on a state constitutional amendment. To qualify, applicants must have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years (with limited exceptions for military veterans or returning residents), and cannot claim a similar exemption in another state. The bill also removes limits on property tax rates and levy rates, which would allow for higher property tax collections overall.

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 2542 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers to record audio during all investigation visits with individuals under investigation for child abuse or neglect allegations. This applies to every interaction between CPS staff and a person under investigation, with exceptions: audio recording must have the person's informed consent or a court order during home visits or private interviews. The bill mandates that CPS must conduct a face-to-face interview with the child within 14 days of receiving a report. This law directly affects CPS workers who must implement the recording requirement and families involved in active investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 3207 prohibits any intentional release of chemicals, substances, or devices into West Virginia's atmosphere with the purpose of altering weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. The law directly affects all entities conducting such activities within the state, including state agencies, federal entities acting under federal direction, and private organizations. It creates a new provision (§22-5-21) in West Virginia’s air pollution control code banning these atmospheric interventions. The prohibition takes effect 30 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 2681 requires all West Virginia high school students to learn proper American flag etiquette - including handling, folding, displaying, honoring, and retiring the flag - as part of their graduation requirements. This bill amends existing curriculum standards to add flag etiquette instruction to civics and history courses, mandating that students pass an exam on this topic before graduating. The requirement applies specifically to public high schools and builds upon current mandates for U.S. history, civics, and government education. The bill does not alter existing health or other curriculum standards but adds a new, specific knowledge requirement for graduation.