Del. Tresa Howell

Maddy summaryHB 4666 requires medical examiners in West Virginia to review immunization and medical records for any person under 20 who dies suddenly and unexpectedly (including SIDS, SUID, SDY, or SADS cases). Specifically, examiners must document any immunizations or emergency countermeasures given within 90 days before death and report these cases to the national SUID/SDY registry. The bill applies directly to medical examiners and health departments handling such deaths, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 for failing to report. It mandates this review as part of autopsy procedures to improve data collection for sudden deaths in young people.

Maddy summaryHB 4670 creates a voluntary pilot program allowing West Virginia counties to opt out of the state's standard education funding formula and certain education code requirements. Participating counties would receive a fixed block grant equal to their current funding and gain control over staffing, salaries, class sizes, testing (including optional SAT/ACT), graduation requirements, and school calendars. The program excludes counties recently taken over by the state board or declared financially distressed, and requires a 2028 report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. This bill directly affects participating counties by shifting decision-making authority from state mandates to local control over education operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires anyone purchasing real estate in West Virginia to officially record their deed with the county clerk within three months of closing the transaction. It directly affects all property buyers who need to establish legal ownership through public records. The key provision sets a strict 90-day deadline for recording deeds, replacing any longer or unspecified timelines in current practice. This change applies to standard real property transfers, ensuring deeds are documented promptly in county records.

Maddy summaryHB 4665 expands West Virginia's tax deduction for retirement income to include retired law enforcement officers and first responders who worked out-of-state but performed roles equivalent to in-state positions. It modifies the state's tax code to allow these retirees to subtract up to $2,000 annually from their federal adjusted gross income, similar to existing deductions for in-state retirees. The bill requires the Tax Division to verify eligibility and establish a process for storing applicant information. This change directly affects retired police, firefighters, and other first responders who served outside West Virginia but qualify under the bill's defined roles.

Maddy summaryHB 4598 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data starting January 1, 2027. This data will show the reason for and date of each modification to voter records, such as address changes or registration status updates. The bill specifically amends existing law to mandate this addition to the subscription service, which currently provides basic voter list information. It directly affects subscribers who purchase the annual voter data subscription and the Secretary of State's office, which must implement the change.

Maddy summaryHB 4597 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners. It phases in higher exemption amounts: starting at $20,000, rising to $30,000 by 2028, $35,000 by 2030, and fully eliminating property taxes on the first $40,000 of home value by 2032. The exemption applies to homeowners aged 65+ or certified permanently disabled who reside in West Virginia for two consecutive years (with limited exceptions for returning military veterans or short-term out-of-state residents). This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4596 prohibits local governments (like cities, counties, and law enforcement agencies) from adopting policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill requires these entities to comply with federal immigration law enforcement or risk losing state funding - specifically, they have 90 days to fix violations after notice, and face funding denial for the next fiscal year if a court rules they intentionally violated the law. It directly affects local jurisdictions that might have previously limited information-sharing or collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to ensure local entities do not obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts through policy.

Maddy summaryHB 4555 would remove the sales tax on tax preparation services in West Virginia. This bill directly affects individuals and small businesses that pay for tax preparation assistance, as it eliminates the state sales tax currently applied to these services. The key mechanism is amending West Virginia’s tax code (§11-15-9) to explicitly exempt tax preparation services from the consumer sales and service tax, aligning them with existing exemptions for services like nonprofit educational materials. The policy change simplifies the tax burden for those seeking tax help, without altering tax rates or creating new administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryHJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to give the West Virginia Legislature authority to reduce or eliminate ad valorem taxes on business inventory and other tangible personal property. The amendment would allow the Legislature to set different tax rates for various property types (like vehicles or business equipment), exempt specific items from taxation, or classify property as real or personal for tax purposes. It does not change current tax rates but creates a legal framework for future legislative action. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and must comply with existing constitutional tax rate limits.

Maddy summaryHJR 20 proposes adding a new constitutional section recognizing the Holy Bible (66 books of Old and New Testaments) as "the divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document for our society and government" and requiring its "precepts" to be given "prominence and reverence" in West Virginia's public buildings, laws, policies, and schools. If approved by voters in 2026, this amendment would formally enshrine the Bible's role in state governance and public life. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee, awaiting further legislative action before a voter referendum. It does not mandate Bible instruction in schools but seeks to establish the Bible as a foundational reference for state policy.