Del. Tristan Leavitt

Maddy summaryHB 3417 would require the West Virginia State Police to cover the cost of incarcerating individuals they arrest until those individuals are convicted of a crime or released. Currently, counties pay for the incarceration of people arrested by local law enforcement, but this bill shifts that financial responsibility to the state police for arrests they make. The bill amends state law to specify that when an inmate is arrested by the state police, the state police must pay the per diem cost for housing in a jail facility. This change would directly affect the state police budget and reduce counties' financial obligations for cases initiated by the state police.

Maddy summaryHB 2774, the "Coach Protection Act," amends West Virginia law to increase penalties for assault and battery against athletic officials and participants during sports events. It establishes minimum jail terms (5 days for assault, 10 days for battery) and fines ($250-$500 for assault, $500-$1,000 for battery), explicitly defining "athletic official or participant" to include coaches, referees, players, and team supervisors. The bill also authorizes school boards to ban convicted offenders from all state school sports events for at least one year, with violations treated as trespassing. This directly affects individuals who commit violence at sports events, schools enforcing bans, and participants in organized sports.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows West Virginia's Supreme Court of Appeals to temporarily recall retired circuit court judges, family court judges, and Supreme Court justices under specific circumstances, such as a sitting judge's prolonged illness, vacancy, or heavy caseload. It sets daily pay limits ($430 for most judges, $325 for family court judges) and requires that combined pay and retirement benefits in a year not exceed a sitting judge's annual salary, unless the Chief Justice certifies extraordinary circumstances. Retired judges recalled for service may also be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred during their temporary assignments. The bill clarifies the Supreme Court's authority to manage judicial staffing needs while maintaining compliance with federal retirement plan rules.

Maddy summaryHB 3182 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to provide foster children with their own luggage (suitcase, backpack, or similar container) when moving between placements, rather than using trash bags. This applies to all children entering foster care or changing placements, with the luggage belonging to the child and not the department or foster family. The department must maintain a luggage supply, track instances where trash bags were used instead, and submit annual reports to the legislature detailing these cases and inventory practices. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and formalizes a previously listed right (§49-2-126(22)) with specific operational requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2885 would allow West Virginia public employees who joined the retirement system on or after July 1, 2015, to use their unused sick leave toward retirement credit. Currently, these employees cannot apply unused sick leave to increase their retirement service time, unlike those who joined before that date. The bill removes this exclusion, permitting them to convert unused sick leave into retirement credit at the existing 2:1 ratio (two workdays for each sick day), without changing the current calculation method. This change directly affects newer state employees seeking to boost their retirement benefits through accrued sick time.

Maddy summaryHB 3054 prohibits West Virginia municipalities from requiring larger minimum lot sizes for properties with accessory dwelling units (ADUs, like backyard cottages) compared to standard single-family homes in the same zoning district. This bill directly affects local governments that create zoning ordinances and homeowners seeking to add ADUs. The key provision removes a specific requirement from zoning rules that would otherwise mandate bigger lots for ADU properties, allowing more flexibility in housing development. The bill does not change other zoning regulations but targets this one provision to support accessory housing options.

Maddy summaryHB 2971 updates West Virginia's back-to-school sales tax holiday by increasing the price limits for exempt items. It raises the maximum price for clothing to $150 (from $125), school supplies to $60 (from $50), instructional materials to $25 (from $20), laptops/tablets to $600 (from $500), and sports equipment to $180 (from $150). The holiday remains active during the first Sunday of August plus the preceding Friday and Saturday and the following Monday. This change directly affects West Virginia consumers purchasing qualifying school items during this period, excluding business or trade purchases.

Maddy summaryHJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead exemption from $20,000 to $50,000. This would exempt the first $50,000 of assessed value on residential property (or mobile homes) owned by qualifying residents - those aged 65+ or permanently disabled - as their primary residence. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election to take effect. If passed, it would directly reduce property tax burdens for eligible homeowners.

Maddy summaryHB 2698 would remove West Virginia's legal requirement for vehicles to undergo periodic safety and emissions inspections. This change directly affects all vehicle owners in the state, eliminating the need for annual inspections at designated stations and removing associated fees. The bill repeals all existing provisions (§17C-16-1 through §17C-16-9) that mandated inspections, required inspection certificates, or imposed penalties for non-compliance. If enacted, vehicles would no longer need to be inspected to remain legally registered or operated.

Maddy summaryHB 2658 would require county commissions to oversee all fire departments within their county when a county fire board does not exist and the departments are not already managed by a city government. The bill amends West Virginia Code sections 7-1-3d and 7-1-3 to clarify that county commissions assume administrative responsibility for these fire departments. This change aims to create consistent oversight for fire services in counties without a dedicated fire board, replacing fragmented management. The bill does not alter funding, create new departments, or affect fire departments already under municipal control.