Del. J.B. Akers

Maddy summaryHCR 97 establishes the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce to address challenges in the state's criminal justice system, including prison backlogs, high jail mortality rates, aging inmate populations, and behavioral health needs. The 21-member taskforce - comprising state officials, legislators, judges, community stakeholders (including formerly incarcerated individuals), and representatives from law enforcement and treatment programs - will analyze justice system data and develop policy recommendations on bail, sentencing, supervision, corrections programming, and behavioral health services. The taskforce must provide initial findings by December 2025, with ongoing reports to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, using technical assistance from the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This resolution directly affects state agencies, local governments, and justice system participants by aiming to improve public safety, reduce costs, and strengthen community health outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2892 clarifies pedestrian rights and duties on West Virginia roadways. It prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways when sidewalks are available, requires pedestrians to walk facing traffic on the left side of roadways without sidewalks, and bans standing in roadways to solicit rides. The bill also prohibits obstructing traffic with one's body or objects placed in the roadway. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 for repeat offenses within a year. This law directly affects pedestrians using roadways in West Virginia, particularly those walking near traffic or soliciting rides.

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 2894 amends West Virginia's human trafficking laws by adding a definition for "illegal alien" (an individual without legal U.S. immigration status) and specifying that such individuals are not eligible for restitution in trafficking cases. The bill updates definitions in sections covering coercion, forced labor, and trafficking to explicitly include "illegal alien" as a term. It does not create new trafficking prohibitions but clarifies that victims without legal status cannot receive restitution payments under the law. This affects individuals without legal immigration status who may be victims of trafficking in West Virginia. The bill focuses solely on definitional changes and restitution eligibility, not on enforcement or new criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 3142 allows health benefit plan sponsors (like employers or insurers) to send electronic communications (such as plan updates or notices) to covered persons (employees or plan members) instead of paper, provided they follow specific rules. Before using electronic communication, sponsors must confirm the covered person routinely uses electronic methods, and must give them a clear opportunity to opt out of electronic delivery. The bill requires sponsors to document that all conditions are met before switching to electronic communications. This directly affects employees and plan members covered under health benefit plans in West Virginia, ensuring they retain the choice to receive paper communications. The policy change standardizes electronic communication procedures while preserving consumer choice.

Maddy summaryHB 2543 requires state agencies to prepare and submit detailed economic impact statements for certain proposed legislative rules before they are finalized. These statements must analyze potential costs to the public, including regulatory expenses, effects on business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and economic growth. The bill applies specifically to "legislative rules" (rules that have legal force, impose liability, or grant/deny specific benefits), excluding interpretive or exempt rules. This change aims to provide transparency about the economic consequences of new regulations before they take effect.

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 summaryHB 3271 authorizes West Virginia courts to maintain digital records instead of physical order books, directly affecting court clerks and judicial staff. The bill amends court record-keeping laws to require clerks to preserve both digital and physical records, while allowing orders to be stored digitally rather than entered in a physical book. It removes the requirement for judges to personally sign physical copies of orders when digital copies are used, streamlining record-keeping processes. This change applies to all courts in the state and focuses on modernizing record storage without altering judicial procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 2806 requires a completed sales listing form to be attached to real estate deeds when recorded with county clerks, in addition to the existing declaration of consideration. The form must include specific details like the property address, tax map and parcel number, sale price or value, and financing arrangements, and is provided by the State Tax Commissioner. This affects real estate sellers and buyers (who must complete the form), county clerks (who must require it for recording), and the State Tax Commissioner (who will use the form for tax purposes). The bill does not change excise tax calculations but mandates this additional documentation for property transfers.