Rep. Stan Adkins

Maddy summaryHB 5665 amends West Virginia's ethics code to require House and Senate clerks to record individual roll call votes in the journal when a legislative vote concerns a member's direct personal or financial interest and more than one-third of members present vote using a voting machine. This provision increases transparency for votes involving potential conflicts of interest by mandating specific documentation of electronic votes. The bill does not change existing conflict-of-interest rules but adds a new record-keeping requirement for such circumstances. It directly affects legislative clerks (who must implement the recording) and members who may vote on matters involving their personal interests.

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 5512 updates West Virginia's land records system to combat fraud and improve property owner protections. It defines "suspicious documents" (e.g., those with mismatched notary details, false claims about laws, or non-compliance with recording standards) and gives county recorders authority to refuse recording them, report to law enforcement, or notify the involved notary. The bill requires recorders to establish a free property alert system by January 1, 2027, allowing owners to receive notifications about documents affecting their property via mail, text, or email. It also protects recorders from monetary liability when correctly refusing to record suspicious documents and mandates educational materials for notaries on deed fraud prevention.

Maddy summaryHCR 17 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study pedestrian safety measures for the New River Gorge Bridge. It directs the committee to examine the feasibility, costs, and federal funding options for installing safety features, while ensuring Bridge Day events can continue. The resolution requires a 2027 report with findings and potential legislation, but does not mandate any safety changes or allocate funds. It directly affects the committee conducting the study and the Bridge Day Commission through consultation. This is a procedural request for research, not a bill implementing safety measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5340 creates a new property tax classification for timberland leased for carbon credits, requiring the lease to generate at least $10,000 annually in carbon credit income. Landowners with 10 or more contiguous acres of timberland meeting the state's "managed timberland" definition (including sustainable forest management plans) can apply for this classification through the Tax Commissioner's certification. Once certified, the property will be assessed under this new tax classification for property tax purposes, with the classification remaining stable unless the land's use changes or the property's tax class shifts between Class III and IV. This aims to provide tax consistency for landowners participating in carbon credit programs while encouraging sustainable forest management.

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.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.