Del. Mike Pushkin

Maddy summaryHB 5264 establishes a legal framework for "workers cooperative corporations" in West Virginia, allowing businesses to be organized with employees as owners. The bill defines key terms like "capital account cooperative" (where assets are tracked per member) and "collective board cooperative" (where all worker-members serve on the board), and requires corporations to state in their founding documents that they are worker cooperatives. It sets rules including limiting individual investment to $5,000 per member, requiring profit distribution based on member contributions (like hours worked or wages), and mandating that dissolved cooperatives distribute assets based on patronage or capital contributions. This directly affects businesses seeking to transition to employee ownership, providing a clear path for their formation and operation under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 5252 creates an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw West Virginia's congressional and state legislative district lines after each census, directly affecting how voting districts are drawn for elections. The commission, composed of six members (three from each major party with geographic diversity), must develop maps following strict criteria like population equality, publish draft maps for public comment, and submit final proposals to both legislative chambers for approval. Members receive no salary but are reimbursed for expenses, and the process requires transparency through public input and adherence to constitutional requirements. The bill aims to replace partisan redistricting with a structured, impartial process overseen by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

Maddy summaryHB 5262 provides a tax credit for commercial building owners in West Virginia who pay for renovations to achieve certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system or the Green Globes Building Initiative. The credit equals the actual cost of renovations and improvements needed for certification, minus any reimbursements received. Eligible taxpayers (commercial building owners) can apply this credit against corporation net income tax, business franchise tax, or personal income tax, with unused portions carryable for up to three years. This policy directly supports commercial property owners seeking to adopt sustainable building practices through financial incentives.

Maddy summaryHB 5257 removes language requiring specific state funding appropriations for education services for children and adults in correctional facilities and regional jails. It amends West Virginia Code §18-20-5 to eliminate the current requirement that such education must be funded through dedicated state budget allocations. This change allows the State Board of Education, Department of Education, and State Superintendent to provide educational services in these facilities without needing separate annual funding bills. The bill directly affects incarcerated youth and adults who would continue to receive educational opportunities under existing state and federal requirements, contingent on available funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how West Virginia calculates enrollment for state funding at alternative and year-round schools. Instead of using standard enrollment figures, it requires using the school's maximum enrollment date multiplied by 1.5 (150%) to determine funding eligibility. This adjustment ensures these schools receive funding based on their highest student count during the year, rather than average enrollment. The change directly affects alternative schools and year-round programs when calculating their state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5258 creates a 17-member Juvenile Justice Reform Oversight Committee to monitor West Virginia's juvenile justice system. The committee, including state officials, agency representatives, and community stakeholders, will track youth reoffending rates, calculate state savings from reduced out-of-home placements (averted costs), and produce annual reports with recommendations for reinvesting those savings into community-based alternatives to incarceration. It also establishes a Juvenile Justice Account in the state treasury to hold these saved funds. The bill directly affects state agencies like the Division of Juvenile Services and Department of Health and Human Resources, requiring them to provide data and participate in the oversight process.

Maddy summaryHB 5255 requires manufacturers of new manufactured homes sold in West Virginia to honor all express warranty obligations and bear the full cost of repairs or replacements for defects. It directly affects consumers who purchase manufactured homes for personal use, ensuring they can enforce warranties without dealer interference. Key provisions mandate manufacturers to repair or replace homes that fail to meet warranty standards after reasonable attempts, and require dealers to disclose significant pre-delivery repairs to consumers. The bill prohibits manufacturers from shifting warranty costs to dealers through agreements, making such terms void.

Maddy summaryHB 5243 would amend West Virginia law to allow bars to purchase liquor directly from distilleries or mini-distilleries located within 10 miles of the bar, provided the liquor was produced at that facility. This change would streamline the supply chain for locally made alcohol, potentially lowering costs for bars and supporting small distilleries. The bill requires distilleries to pay a 5% fee and an $0.80 per case fee to the state, and to contribute 2% of sales to nearby retailers (capped at $15,000 annually). It would primarily affect small distilleries and bars in rural West Virginia, where the 10-mile radius is common.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 5187 changes how West Virginia's Public Service Commission members are selected, shifting from gubernatorial appointments to non-partisan statewide elections starting July 1, 2026. Initial elections will feature staggered terms (two, four, and six years), with all future members serving six-year terms. The bill also requires utilities to provide customers with notice of proposed rate increases and increases the discount rate for low-income residents on utility costs. These changes directly affect utility consumers, Commission members, and utility companies operating in West Virginia.