Del. Elliott Pritt

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHCR 83 is a memorial resolution naming a specific bridge in Kanawha County (WV 61 over Morris Creek, Bridge #20-061/00-000.32) the "Benny Filiaggi, III Memorial Bridge." It honors Benny Filiaggi III, a Montgomery Fire Department member for 49 years who served as Fire Chief and trained firefighters, requesting the Division of Highways install signs with this name. This is a procedural resolution with no policy changes, solely commemorating his service.

Maddy summaryHB 2679 allows retired deputy sheriffs in West Virginia to seek reinstatement with their former departments within five years of resignation, extending the previous two-year window. To qualify, applicants must have served over six months before resigning, have no pending misconduct charges, reside in the same county, and pass medical and psychological exams. The sheriff retains full discretion to approve or deny reinstatement, and successful applicants would be placed at the lowest rank above probationers. This bill directly affects former deputy sheriffs who left their positions voluntarily and wish to return to law enforcement in their home county.

Maddy summaryHB 2527 creates a tuition reimbursement program for West Virginia Corrections employees. It provides 20% annual tuition coverage for undergraduate courses at state colleges/universities, with full 100% reimbursement after five years of continued employment. Employees must first exhaust other financial aid (like Pell Grants), maintain academic progress, and prove employment to qualify. The program directly affects Corrections officers seeking to earn degrees while working.

Maddy summaryHB 2475 raises pay for special education staff in West Virginia. It matches the salary of Special Education Aides (Aide V) to Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teachers' pay scale and adds a 5% increase for those aides. It also provides a 10% pay increase for self-contained special education teachers. The bill defines a "critical vacancy" as a position needed for student safety or compliance, requiring certified staff to fill such roles immediately until a new hire is secured. This directly affects special education aides and teachers in self-contained classrooms across West Virginia school districts.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name Dunloup Creek Bridge #2 (bridge number 10-025/00-000.06) in Fayette County as the "U.S. Army Private First Class Calvin Esco Spade Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge with this name. The resolution commemorates PFC Spade's service in the Korean War, his 15 years in the Army Reserves, and his post-military work with CSX Railroad in the Thurmond area. This is a symbolic naming request with no financial or regulatory impact, directly affecting only the bridge's official designation.

Maddy summaryHB 3295 establishes a "Troops-to-Teachers" program to recruit veterans into teaching positions in West Virginia public schools. The bill requires the state superintendent to create this program specifically targeting veterans, including retirees, for teaching roles. Veterans will receive a hiring preference in public school employment, as outlined in existing law (§6-13-1). This program is integrated into West Virginia’s teacher certification framework under revised education code sections (§18A-3-1 and §18A-3-2a).

Maddy summaryHCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 0.5-mile stretch of Route 2 in Benwood (Marshall County) as the "Gold Star Mother Catherine Blake Highway." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the roadway with the name and two gold stars, honoring Catherine Blake who lost two sons in World War I - Edward Leo Blake (U.S.S. Cyclops, 1918) and William Thomas Blake (killed in action, 1918). The resolution commemorates Blake as Marshall County's only known "Double Gold Star Mother" and references the local American Legion post named in her sons' honor. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, solely focused on naming a highway segment.

Maddy summaryHCR 22 is a symbolic resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific road segment in Oak Hill, Fayette County as "James Monroe Ellis Memorial Road." The bill defines the road section between two intersections (with GPS coordinates) along Greentown Loop Road. It honors James Monroe Ellis, West Virginia's first Black attorney admitted to the state bar, who served in the legislature and died in Oak Hill. This resolution does not change laws or affect any policies - it is solely a commemorative gesture to memorialize Ellis's contributions.

Maddy summaryHCR 35 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to name a specific road segment in Fayette County as the "U.S. Air Force Sergeant Thomas Madison Oxley Memorial Road." It directly affects the portion of Main Street East between Patterson Avenue and Lochgelly Road (with specified coordinates) and honors Sergeant Oxley's military service, community leadership, and contributions to West Virginia. The resolution asks the highway department to install signs at both ends of the road segment to identify the memorial name. This is a procedural request without policy changes, currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee.