Del. Elliott Pritt

Maddy summaryHB 4559 would eliminate a current prohibition against killing bears using bait during overlapping deer and bear hunting seasons in West Virginia. This change directly affects hunters who use bait for deer during seasons when bear hunting is also permitted. The bill amends §20-2-22a to remove the restriction that currently bans bear kills via bait during these concurrent seasons, while maintaining other existing bear hunting rules like tagging requirements and prohibitions on hunting cubs or small bears. The policy change specifically targets the bait restriction during joint deer-bear seasons, without altering other regulations governing bear hunting.

Maddy summaryHB 4571, the "Taxpayer Protection Act," prevents West Virginia residents from being wrongly classified as independent contractors instead of employees. It requires the Tax Commissioner to apply an "ABC" test to determine worker status: (1) absence of employer control, (2) work being unusual for the employer’s business, and (3) the worker operating as an independent business. Employers must prove all three criteria to classify a worker as an independent contractor; otherwise, the worker is presumed an employee for tax purposes. This ensures the state collects proper income taxes from employment relationships, directly affecting both workers (who may gain tax protections) and hiring businesses (which must comply with the classification rules).

Maddy summaryHB 4620 establishes requirements for clothing and necessity allowances for children in foster care in West Virginia. It defines "adequate wardrobe" as appropriate, seasonally suitable clothing in good condition and sets a minimum $375 initial clothing allowance for new placements, plus up to $175 for supplementary needs like illness or damaged items. The bill requires placement providers (foster parents, kinship caregivers, or residential providers) to assess a child's existing wardrobe and necessities at intake, update an inventory periodically, and use a reloadable card as the primary payment method for approved items. It directly affects children in state custody and their caregivers by ensuring access to essential clothing and supplies during foster care. The law specifies that initial allowances cover immediate needs only, not full outfitting, and outlines three payment options for the Department of Human Services.

Maddy summaryHJR 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow local governments (counties, municipalities) to approve additional tax increases specifically for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) with a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) instead of the current 60% requirement for all other tax increases. This change would apply only to levies limited exclusively to fire/EMS funding, with a three-year maximum duration and a cap preventing increases from exceeding 50% above existing tax rates. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and leaves the 60% threshold unchanged for all other tax increases. It does not alter existing tax exemptions or revenue distribution rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4565 would amend West Virginia law to exempt insurance producers who have held an active license for 20 years or more from completing additional continuing education (CE) hours beyond the standard requirements. This change directly affects experienced insurance agents selling life, health, property, casualty, or other permitted insurance lines. The bill modifies existing rules (§33-12-8) by removing the biennial CE hour requirement for these long-tenured professionals, while maintaining standard CE obligations for others. It does not alter CE requirements for new agents or those with fewer years of licensure. The exemption applies only to producers who meet the 20-year threshold, not to those selling specific products like credit insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 4621 requires West Virginia circuit courts to include specific written findings of fact and conclusions of law in all juvenile child abuse and neglect court orders. This bill directly affects judges and legal proceedings in cases involving child welfare, mandating that courts explicitly state the factual basis and legal reasoning for their decisions. The key provision amends existing statutes to ensure courts document key determinations - such as whether abuse/neglect occurred and why custody decisions were made - rather than issuing general orders. This change aims to increase transparency and accountability in family court rulings without altering the underlying legal standards or services provided.

Maddy summaryHB 4553 creates a tuition reimbursement program for West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation employees. It provides 20% annual tuition coverage at state colleges for undergraduate studies, increasing to 100% after five years of continued employment. To qualify, employees must prove employment, apply for other financial aid (like Pell Grants) first, and maintain academic progress. The reimbursement only covers tuition after other aid sources are exhausted, and the state may set additional limits.

Maddy summaryHB 4619 creates a special revenue account within West Virginia’s Department of Human Services to fund expanded in-state residential treatment capacity for children, directly targeting youth currently placed out-of-state (over 10% of children in care). It establishes a Commission composed of agency leaders and stakeholders to study current placement practices, in-state facility capacity, and strategies to reduce out-of-state placements - focusing on older youth in juvenile justice systems. The Commission must develop recommendations on improving collaboration between child-serving agencies, promoting community-based alternatives, and making in-state placement availability accessible via an online system. These recommendations will guide future funding decisions and policy changes to build a more integrated, cost-effective system for at-risk children and families.

Maddy summaryHB 4617 requires West Virginia's Bureau of Social Services to formally document its existing policies as official legislative rules. The bill mandates filing a complete policy manual covering child protective services, foster care, youth services, licensing, and casework standards by July 1, 2026. Subsequent updates to these policies must also follow the legislative rule process. This is a procedural requirement - changing how policies are documented, not the policies themselves - and directly affects the Bureau of Social Services' administrative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 4551, the West Virginia Safe Trucking Act 2026, requires non-domiciled commercial drivers (those not residents of West Virginia) operating commercial vehicles in the state to present a valid work visa and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or passport) starting July 1, 2026. This applies specifically to drivers holding non-domiciled commercial driver licenses or learner permits, as defined by federal regulations. Violations carry fines up to $2,500 for drivers per offense and up to $3,000 per violation for commercial carriers employing non-compliant drivers. The bill amends existing licensing standards to add these requirements and penalties, focusing on verifying legal work authorization for commercial truck drivers.