Del. Elliott Pritt

Maddy summaryHB 4944 establishes a new system for setting maximum salaries for West Virginia's 55 county school superintendents, effective July 1, 2027. The bill requires the state Department of Education to create a formula based on each county's student population, ensuring maximum salaries are prorated so that the per-pupil maximum is equal across all counties. This replaces current salary structures with a population-based standard, aiming for equitable funding per student. The salary schedule must be reviewed and revised at least every five years.

Maddy summaryHB 4940 ensures West Virginia teachers can use modern online fundraising platforms (like GoFundMe) to collect money for school-related activities without county board or school administrator interference. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that no county official may prevent teachers from using "crowd-sourcing or other meaningful current methods of fundraising." Schools must still publicly announce the fundraising purpose and designate the funds before starting, but the bill removes barriers to these methods. This directly affects K-12 teachers seeking to raise money for classroom supplies, field trips, or recognition programs through contemporary channels. The law does not change how funds are spent - only how teachers may legally collect them.

Maddy summaryHB 4937 requires West Virginia public school county boards to schedule one mandatory monthly half-day for staff planning time each school year. This provision applies directly to school staff (teachers, administrators) and is implemented using the existing "equivalent time" allowance under current law, which allows counties to add up to five days of instructional time by extending daily schedules. The bill mandates that at least one of these designated days must be used specifically for staff development activities like curriculum planning or professional meetings, without students present. This policy change ensures consistent time for educators to improve instruction, aligning with existing requirements for meeting the 180-day instructional calendar.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 4872) amends West Virginia law to establish clear guidelines for former deputy sheriffs who resigned (not retired) to seek reinstatement with their original department. It allows eligible former deputies to reapply within five years of resignation if they have no pending misconduct charges, reside in the same county, and pass a medical and psychological exam. The sheriff holds full discretion to approve or deny reinstatement, and successfully reinstated deputies would start at the lowest rank above probationary deputies. The bill specifically updates existing rules to replace a prior two-year window with a five-year limit for reapplication.

Maddy summaryHB 4896 would change West Virginia law to require the three members of the State Public Service Commission (PSC) to be elected by voters instead of appointed. Starting with the 2026 general election, these commissioners would appear on ballots as a separate office (listed under "State Ticket" per §3-5-13a), with elections held every four years. The bill also specifies that vacancies would be filled by the Governor, as currently required under §3-10-3. This directly affects West Virginians who vote in PSC elections and future commissioners who must now seek voter approval.

Maddy summaryHB 4899 requires all West Virginia hospitals and medical offices to send a notice to patients who were under 18 during a medical or surgical procedure when they turn 18. The notice informs them that if they later experience negative or adverse effects from that childhood procedure, they should contact the original provider. This bill amends the West Virginia Medical Practice Act (§30-3-7) to mandate this notification process, directly affecting former pediatric patients turning 18. It establishes a specific mechanism for providers to proactively share this information without altering medical standards or creating new penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 4903 provides a $6,000 pay equity salary adjustment over three years for specific correctional employees in West Virginia. It directly affects non-uniform administrative staff at the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (starting July 1, 2026), as well as all employees of the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and West Virginia Regional Jail Authority (with adjustments effective July 1, 2018-2020). The bill mandates annual $2,000 raises each July 1 for these employees, funded from general revenue for state divisions and a special jail fund for regional facilities. This policy aims to address recruitment and retention challenges by increasing base pay for these roles, without altering existing pay grade maximums.

Maddy summaryHB 4885 would repeal West Virginia's state excise tax on gasoline, which is currently added to prices at the pump. The bill removes this tax by repealing the existing law (§11-14C-5) that imposed the motor fuel excise tax. This change would eliminate the state tax component from gasoline prices, directly affecting both consumers (who would no longer pay this tax) and retailers (who would no longer collect and remit it). The bill is pending in the House Finance Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 4883 would exempt overtime pay from West Virginia's personal income tax. Currently, workers pay state income tax on overtime earnings, but this bill would remove that tax obligation. The provision applies directly to all West Virginia employees who earn overtime pay under state labor laws. This change would increase take-home pay for affected workers by eliminating the tax on overtime hours.

Maddy summaryHB 4873 changes the deadline for minors to file medical malpractice lawsuits. It removes the current rule requiring minors to file before their 12th birthday and replaces it with a new deadline: minors can file within five years after turning 18. This affects individuals who were under 18 at the time of their medical procedure and suffered injury. The bill specifically modifies Section (c) of West Virginia’s medical malpractice statute to extend the filing window for minors.