Del. Tresa Howell

Maddy summaryHB 3127 adds a 50-cent fee to every new vehicle registration and registration renewal in West Virginia. This fee, collected by the DMV, will directly fund the Deputy Sheriff’s Retirement Fund. The bill amends existing law to redirect these registration fees - paid by all vehicle owners - to support retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs. It does not change registration requirements or create new taxes beyond the specified fee. The policy change is limited to reallocating this existing fee stream to a specific retirement fund.

Maddy summaryHB 3140 requires West Virginia government agencies to create and maintain a public online database tracking all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and outcomes. It directly affects public bodies (like state agencies) that handle FOIA requests, mandating they redact requesters' names and contact information from the database - except in specific cases like government officials' requests, public interest overrides, or explicit consent. The bill requires the Secretary of State to update all public FOIA databases within 90 days of enactment to comply with these redaction rules, and failure to redact personal details would trigger penalties under existing law. This changes how agencies currently manage FOIA request records by standardizing public access while protecting requester privacy.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (HJR 34) proposes changing West Virginia's constitution to give the legislature greater flexibility in taxing tangible personal property. It would allow the legislature to exempt specific property types (like motor vehicles) from ad valorem tax, reduce tax rates for certain items, set different tax rates for different property categories, or classify property as real vs. personal for tax purposes. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect. It does not enact a specific tax reduction but creates a constitutional framework for future legislative action on property taxation.

Maddy summaryHB 3147 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines actively working with officers as "law-enforcement officers" for legal protection purposes. This makes it a felony to kill or injure a police canine while it is on duty, treating such acts as equivalent to assaulting a human officer under §61-2-10b. The bill directly affects police canine units and individuals who attack them during official duties. Key provisions redefine "law-enforcement officer" to include canines during active service and establish felony penalties mirroring those for harming human officers. It does not grant canines employee status or workplace protections.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's HB 2006 defines "sex," "male," and "female" in state law based on biological characteristics observed at birth, stating there are only two sexes. It specifies that "female" refers to individuals with reproductive anatomy for producing ova, and "male" refers to those with anatomy for producing sperm, while clarifying that intersex individuals ("DSD conditions") do not constitute a third sex. The bill aims to preserve single-sex spaces like women's restrooms, changing rooms, and domestic violence shelters by requiring state institutions to classify people based on this biological definition. It explicitly states the law cannot be enforced in conflict with the *Grimm v. Gloucester School Board* court ruling, which protects transgender students' access to facilities matching their gender identity.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for adopted adults in West Virginia and their children or grandchildren to request their original birth certificates from the State Registrar. It requires a written request and sworn affidavit of paternity or adoption, while keeping adoption records sealed from public view. The original birth certificate would be provided to eligible individuals, with adoption documents remaining confidential except for court orders, vital statistics administration, or specific legal proceedings. This changes current policy by creating a formal pathway for access to birth records that were previously restricted.

Maddy summaryHB 3074 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data. This data shows monthly changes to voter records (like additions, deletions, or address updates) as a "delta" from the previous month. The bill directly affects organizations and individuals who purchase this subscription for noncommercial purposes, such as election monitoring or research. The Secretary must provide this data within 30 days via a secure digital platform, making it part of the standard subscription package. The change does not alter subscription fees or eligibility but adds transparency about voter record modifications.

Maddy summaryHB 3050, the "Community School Funding Formula Revision Act," requires the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to review school closures and consolidations considered during the current year and the previous four fiscal years. Within 180 days of the bill's passage, WVDE must propose changes to the School Aid Formula intended to prevent at least 80% of closures that were due to financial or operational reasons. The bill mandates this review process to address the root causes of school closures without altering existing funding allocations, directly affecting how state education funding is evaluated and adjusted. It aims to stabilize school districts by modifying the funding formula to prevent future closures based on financial challenges.

Maddy summaryHJR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment to recognize the Holy Bible (including all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) as the "divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document" for West Virginia society and government. If approved, it would require the Bible to be given "a place of prominence and reverence" in state public buildings, laws, policies, and schools. This is a procedural resolution seeking voter approval in the 2026 general election to add the amendment to the state constitution, not an immediate policy change. The bill does not alter current laws but aims to establish constitutional recognition of the Bible as the state's moral and historical foundation.

Maddy summaryHB 3019 requires West Virginia public school districts to provide parents with specific information whenever sending school immunization-related notices. Schools must include two key items: the FDA's patient package insert for each required vaccine and details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (with its website link). This notification must be sent to parents of new students before enrollment and to all current students' families at least once yearly. The law applies to all public school districts in West Virginia and aims to ensure parents receive clear, factual information about immunization requirements and available resources.