Rep. Tom Clark

Maddy summaryHB 2940 prohibits parking meters at all designated handicapped parking spaces in West Virginia, requiring their removal within 90 days of enactment. It eliminates late fees and penalties for individuals with valid disability parking permits who have unpaid parking citations, though standard parking violations (like misuse of spaces or fire lanes) remain enforceable. The bill applies to all public and private entities operating parking meters, including municipalities and private property owners. Violations by these entities may result in fines up to $500, enforced by the West Virginia Attorney General.

Maddy summaryHB 2877 requires the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to provide the Tax Assessor with records of all personal property (such as registered vehicles) maintained by the DMV. This combines the DMV's records with the Assessor's office to streamline personal property tax assessments. The bill directly affects state agencies (DMV and Assessor's office) and aims to improve the accuracy of tax valuations for property owners. It is a procedural change focused on data sharing, not a modification to tax rates or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2896 would change how West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioners are selected. Currently appointed by the governor, the bill requires the three commissioners to be elected by voters starting in 2026, with elections held every four years alongside other statewide offices. The bill specifies that commissioners must appear on the general election ballot and establishes procedures for filling vacancies. This directly affects the PSC (which regulates utilities like gas, water, and electricity) and West Virginia voters who would elect these officials for the first time.

Maddy summaryHB 2923 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to install rumble strips on all double-yellow lined highways during any road upgrade project, beginning July 1, 2025. This mandate applies specifically to roadways marked with double yellow lines, which typically separate opposing traffic flows. The bill directly affects state highway maintenance operations and drivers traveling on these roads by adding a physical safety feature to reduce run-off-road collisions. It creates a concrete, enforceable requirement for highway upgrades rather than proposing new funding or altering existing traffic laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2862 exempts ambulances transporting patients for non-emergency appointments from paying tolls on West Virginia turnpikes. The bill amends state law to specifically exclude these vehicles from toll obligations under the electronic toll collection system. This change directly affects ambulance operators and emergency service providers using toll roads for scheduled non-emergency medical transports. The provision removes the requirement for these vehicles to pay tolls, though it does not apply to emergency response trips. The bill focuses solely on removing a financial burden for this specific type of vehicle during non-urgent patient transport.

Maddy summaryHB 2738 requires that when a public defender corporation in West Virginia employs six or more assistant public defenders (including the chief public defender), it must be split into two separate, independent public defender corporations. Both new corporations will operate under the same board of directors as the original. The bill also expands the circumstances under which the executive director, with approval from the Indigent Defense Commission, may create, merge, or dissolve public defender corporations - such as to improve legal representation quality, address conflicts of interest, or ensure efficient use of state funds. This directly affects public defender offices meeting the staffing threshold, altering their operational structure without changing funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2805 would increase penalties for contempt of court in West Virginia magistrate courts. It raises the maximum fine for a first offense from $50 to $100, for a second offense from $100 to $250, and for a third or subsequent offense from $100 to $500. The bill also increases the maximum jail time for third or subsequent offenses from 10 to 20 days. This directly affects individuals found guilty of contempt, such as those who disrupt court proceedings, threaten court personnel, or disobey court orders in magistrate court.

Maddy summaryHB 2809 changes West Virginia law to extend the time limit for minors to file medical malpractice lawsuits. Currently, only minors under 10 at the time of injury qualify for an extended filing period (until their 12th birthday or two years after the injury, whichever is longer, but no later than five years after turning 18). The bill would expand this eligibility to cover minors under 18 at the time of injury, meaning those aged 10-17 would now qualify for the extended period. This directly affects minors who were 10-17 years old during their medical procedure and are now seeking to file claims as adults.

Maddy summaryHB 2740 requires county school districts to have a second adult present on school buses when elementary-aged children (pre-kindergarten through 4th grade) are mixed with middle or high school students on the same route. This rule directly affects school bus operations in counties where such mixed-age transportation occurs. The bill mandates the second adult's presence solely for maintaining order and safety during transit, without altering existing bus route time limits. It applies to all current and new bus routes serving these age groups, effective upon passage.