Del. Elliott Pritt

Maddy summaryHB 2723 would provide West Virginia public school teachers who earn National Board Certification with a $6,000 annual salary bonus. The bill also reimburses up to $600 for certification expenses incurred during the process. This bonus applies for up to 10 years per certification and is paid in addition to base salary through monthly installments. Teachers must verify certification through the West Virginia Department of Education to qualify.

Maddy summaryHB 2795 prohibits private entities receiving state funds (including contracts, grants, or incentives) from implementing specific policies or programs, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, allowing biological men in women's restrooms, or providing abortion-related benefits to employees. It requires these entities to submit an affidavit confirming they do not violate defined "substantial public policies," including bans on discussing "more than two genders" or requiring DEI training. Public entities must also avoid contravening these policies. Violations could result in loss of state funding or lawsuits, with enforcement handled by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryHB 2792 would amend West Virginia's personal income tax code to exempt Social Security benefits from state taxation. Specifically, it adds a provision (section §11-21-12(c)(7)) stating that Social Security benefits received under Title 42 U.S.C., Chapter 7, will no longer be included in taxable income for West Virginia residents. This change directly affects West Virginia residents who receive Social Security payments, as it reduces their taxable income for state tax purposes. The exemption applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and modifies the calculation of "West Virginia adjusted gross income" by removing Social Security benefits from the taxable base.

Maddy summaryHB 2649 expands existing school disciplinary rules to include elementary school students, removing the current grade limitation that only applied to students in grades 6-12. The bill modifies §18A-5-1 to allow elementary teachers to exclude students for disruptive behavior and follow the same procedures for reporting and disciplinary actions as middle/high school teachers. This directly affects elementary school teachers, students in elementary grades, and school principals who must now implement these procedures for younger students. The key change is extending the existing disciplinary framework - such as classroom exclusion, electronic reporting to WVEIS, and suspension protocols - to cover all elementary school students.

Maddy summaryHB 2685 would allow West Virginia county sheriffs to optionally appoint a Deputy Chief to their departments, provided the department has at least 25 sworn deputy sheriffs. The position would operate under the Chief Deputy but serve as an administrative augmentation, with sheriffs retaining full discretion to use or decline the role. The bill specifies that Deputy Chiefs would follow the same legal and operational rules as Chief Deputies, including state statutes and the federal Hatch Act. This change applies only to departments meeting the 25-deputy threshold and does not require sheriffs to create the position.

Maddy summaryHB 2656 (West Virginia, 2025) would forbid people from bringing dogs, cats, or other animals into grocery stores or food-selling retail establishments unless the animal is a registered service animal. This directly affects pet owners who typically bring animals into such stores, requiring them to ensure their pets are registered service animals to enter. The bill imposes fines of up to $500 for first violations and $1,000 for repeat offenses. The bill was introduced on February 20, 2025, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it is currently pending.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Victim's Fund to provide financial compensation to individuals harmed by actions or inactions of the court's Judicial Investigative Committee or other related divisions. Affected people can apply to the fund - administered by the Legislative Claims Commission - by detailing their case, with decisions on compensation made by the fund's oversight body. Applicants may appeal denied claims, and claims can be filed retroactively for incidents occurring up to 10 years before July 1, 2025. The fund targets specific harm caused by the court's internal operations, not general legal disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 2655 requires all traffic-control lights on West Virginia state highways to be reprogrammed with a 3-second pause between when one set of lights turns red and the opposite set turns green. This applies directly to state highway traffic signals managed by the state road commission, affecting drivers and traffic flow at intersections. The bill mandates that existing traffic lights be adjusted to include this pause period during signal transitions. It does not change traffic laws or impose new requirements on drivers, only modifying signal timing protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 2547 raises the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) threshold for retired municipal police officers, firefighters, and employees of water/sewage systems from $15,000 to $45,000 of their annual pension benefit. This means more of their retirement income will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the U.S. consumer price index, rather than just the first $15,000. The bill modifies existing law (§8-22-26a) to expand the portion of pension benefits subject to COLA increases, which currently caps adjustments at $15,000. It directly affects retirees in these specific public safety and utility roles who receive supplemental pension benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 2643 requires the West Virginia Parkways Authority to stop collecting tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike once all bonds for the project are fully paid or a trust fund for repayment is established. This applies only after the Turnpike is certified as being in good condition by the state Highway Division. Within 90 days of the final bond payment, the Authority must discontinue all tolls and remove toll facilities. The bill directly affects drivers using the Turnpike and shifts maintenance responsibility to the state Highway Division.