Del. Mike Pushkin

Maddy summaryHB 2503 establishes a clothing allowance program for children in foster care in West Virginia. It requires placement providers (foster parents, kinship caregivers, or residential care providers) to assess each child's clothing and necessity needs at initial placement, providing an initial allowance of at least $375 for an adequate wardrobe and approved necessities (non-clothing items like hygiene products), with supplementary allowances of $175 for extraordinary needs like illness or damaged items. The bill mandates that placement providers maintain a child's clothing inventory throughout care and outlines three payment methods: a reloadable instant card (issued within 48 hours), child welfare worker purchasing cards, or reimbursement for provider-purchased items. This policy directly affects children in foster care and their caregivers, ensuring consistent access to essential clothing and supplies through defined financial support.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 updates West Virginia's child welfare laws to improve reporting and oversight of child abuse and neglect cases. It requires immediate reporting via a 24-hour hotline or web system with a case identifier, mandates a backup reporting system by July 1, 2023, and creates a Critical Incident Review Team to analyze serious cases. The bill also permits the Foster Care Ombudsman access to case details (including reporter identity) and changes public access to abuse reports to align with the team's reporting guidelines. Additionally, it adds new requirements for the child welfare dashboard and ensures confidentiality for reporters.

Maddy summaryHB 3173 would temporarily cap electricity rates for all West Virginia utility customers at current levels until July 1, 2026. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to set these rates immediately upon passage and prohibits increases except for adjustments related to fuel and purchased power costs. This directly affects all residential and business electricity users, particularly lower-income households and elderly residents who face high energy costs as their largest expense. The cap aims to provide immediate relief from rapid rate hikes that have outpaced other states, though rates will return to standard regulatory processes after July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3507 requires counties participating in a 10-county pilot program to ensure every public school has at least one qualified mental health professional (QMHP). A QMHP is defined as a professional registered with the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling, and the bill explicitly classifies school counselors as QMHPs for this purpose. The pilot program, to be administered by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education and Accountability, will operate for two years in 10 designated counties. This policy change directly affects public school students and staff in those 10 counties by mandating mental health support access in every school. The bill does not apply statewide but is limited to the designated pilot counties.

Maddy summaryHCR 67 is a procedural resolution requesting that West Virginia's Division of Highways name a new bridge in Kanawha County the "U.S. Army 2LT Darwin Keith 'Gus' Kyle Memorial Bridge - a Medal of Honor Recipient." The bridge, located over Kanawha Boulevard and Davis Creek on Jefferson Road (County Route 601), will be marked with this commemorative title. The resolution honors Kyle's Medal of Honor service during the Korean War, including his heroic actions at the Hungnam evacuation and his death leading troops in 1951. As a naming resolution, it has no budgetary or regulatory impact - it solely requests a permanent memorial designation.

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 9 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Governor and federal representatives to prevent federal job losses in the state. It highlights that over 17,000 West Virginians work for federal agencies and cites recent layoffs (200-250 at a Parkersburg facility) as a threat to local economies and state finances. The resolution calls for action to protect these jobs, arguing that losing them would harm communities, small businesses, and social services. It specifically urges state leaders to oppose federal workforce cuts, though it does not create new policy or funding mechanisms. The resolution was introduced on March 18, 2025, and referred to the Rules committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3499, named "Raylee's Law," prohibits homeschooling in West Virginia when a custodial parent or the person instructing the child is under investigation for child abuse/neglect or has a prior conviction for child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. It also allows county boards to deny homeschooling requests if they have probable cause to believe a child would suffer educational neglect. The bill requires parents to submit a notice of intent for homeschooling, including annual academic assessments, and permits county superintendents to seek court orders denying homeschooling in specific cases. This law directly affects families with documented histories of abuse or violence and will be enforced by local education authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow certain zero-emission vehicle manufacturers to operate as new car dealers in West Virginia, directly affecting companies that exclusively produce electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles. To qualify, manufacturers must have made zero-emission vehicles since 2008, never sold through franchised dealers in the state, and have no ownership ties to franchising entities. The key provision removes barriers preventing these manufacturers from selling directly to consumers, bypassing traditional dealership models. It applies only to zero-emission vehicle producers meeting all three criteria, not to conventional automakers.

Maddy summaryHB 3392 allows West Virginia's Governor to temporarily borrow up to $50 million from the state's Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund to support the Unemployment Compensation Fund when its balance falls below $50 million. The Governor must first confirm a projected shortfall within 30 days, and borrowed funds can only cover unemployment benefit payments. These loans must be repaid within 180 days without interest from excess funds in the Unemployment Compensation Fund, and no borrowing is permitted after September 1, 2027. The bill directly affects unemployment benefit recipients by ensuring funds remain available during short-term financial strain.