Del. Elliott Pritt

Maddy summaryHB 4884 changes how West Virginia calculates child support payments by shifting from using parents' adjusted gross income to their net pay (after mandatory deductions like taxes). The bill allows parents to deduct up to 25% of their net pay for student loans used for their own education, with strict disclosure requirements for any changes to loan payments. This directly affects parents legally responsible for child support payments in the state. The bill modifies multiple sections of child support law to implement this net pay calculation method and student loan deduction provision.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4902 provides a 3% salary adjustment for non-uniform administrative staff in West Virginia's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) who have at least three years of continuous service, effective July 1, 2026. Employees with less than three years of service will receive the same 3% adjustment after completing three years, calculated based on their salary at that time. The bill directs that funding for these increases come from the DCR's general revenue appropriations and specifies that adjustments will take effect even if they exceed standard pay grade maximums. This change directly affects DCR non-uniform administrative staff by creating a separate pay structure for their roles.

Maddy summaryHB 4892 expands West Virginia's Literacy-Based Promotion Act to cover students in grades 4 through 8, requiring the State Board of Education to implement evidence-based literacy support systems. It mandates professional development for teachers and literacy coaches focused on scientifically backed reading instruction, including phonics, decoding, and vocabulary strategies. The bill also requires universal reading screenings three times yearly and annual reports on program implementation. These changes directly affect 4th-8th grade students and their educators by providing structured intervention resources to address reading difficulties.

Maddy summaryHB 4880, "The Deployed Servicemembers Protection Act," protects West Virginia service members deployed for 30+ days (including National Guard on state duty) and their families. It prohibits spouses from selling property/vehicles over $10,000, closing joint accounts, withdrawing over 50% from accounts, or removing children without the service member’s written consent during deployment and for two months afterward. The bill also requires returning children to the home of record within one week of the service member’s return. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to 30 days in jail, $5,000 fines, or civil liability. The law incorporates existing federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4891 requires all utility companies in West Virginia (including those providing water, electricity, and gas) to cover the full cost of maintaining, upgrading, and repairing their infrastructure - such as pipes, cables, poles, and lines - without raising customer bills. The bill prohibits companies from including these infrastructure costs in requests for rate increases or other charges to consumers. Utilities must also keep records proving these costs were not factored into any rate justification. This directly affects every utility company serving West Virginia residents by shifting infrastructure expense responsibility from customers to the companies themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 4889 increases retirement benefits for eligible West Virginia state retirees and their beneficiaries. It provides a 10% phased increase (over three years starting July 1, 2026) to monthly benefits for retirees aged 70+ with at least 25 years of service who currently receive less than $1,000 per month, and for beneficiaries of joint survivor annuities receiving less than $500 per month. The bill applies only to those retired before the bill's effective date and does not affect benefits retroactively.

Maddy summaryHB 4856 requires all rebates from state agency purchasing cards (P-cards) to be directed entirely to the PEIA Rainy Day Fund, replacing current allocations. Currently, rebates are split between multiple funds (e.g., Purchasing Improvement Fund, Entrepreneurship Fund, Hatfield-McCoy Authority, and State Parks), but this bill eliminates those other transfers. The bill amends WV Code §12-3-10d to mandate that all remaining rebate funds - after any necessary operational costs - be transferred to the PEIA fund within three days of receipt. This directly affects state agencies using P-cards, as their card spending rebates will now solely support the PEIA fund’s stability.

Maddy summaryHB 4875 would increase the minimum monthly pay for all West Virginia state school service personnel by 25% across every salary grade. This applies to employees working more than 3.5 hours daily (full-time equivalent) and half that rate for those working 3.5 hours or less, affecting roles like custodians, cafeteria workers, aides, and specialized staff listed in the pay scale. The bill amends §18A-4-8a of West Virginia law to implement this across all experience levels and job classifications, effective July 1, 2024. The change directly affects all state school service employees covered under the current minimum pay scale structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises West Virginia's legal framework for the State Guard, establishing a formal structure to operate alongside the National Guard. It requires the Governor to create five regional regiments by September 2026, each with headquarters, battalions, medical units, and engineering teams staffed by volunteers aged 16+ (open to all genders). Members must complete 12 hours of monthly training, including at least one 8-hour block, with coordination allowed with local emergency services. Funding will be managed through a dedicated annual budget line item, with unused funds carrying over to future fiscal years.

Maddy summaryHB 4890 would provide a 10% annual pay increase for non-uniformed administrative staff and personnel at West Virginia's Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, effective July 1, 2026. This adjustment aims to address staffing challenges by helping retain current workers and attract new employees to these correctional facilities. Funding would come from general revenue for the Division of Corrections and Juvenile Services, and from a special revenue fund for the Regional Jail Authority, avoiding additional general fund appropriations. The bill also requires that the pay increase be applied even if it exceeds the current maximum pay grade for an employee's position.