Del. J.B. Akers

Maddy summaryHB 3236 requires West Virginia's Secretary of Health to establish a new long-term psychiatric and mental health facility specifically designed to serve homeless individuals. The bill mandates this facility as part of state-owned health infrastructure, directly affecting homeless residents needing sustained mental health care. Key provisions include the Secretary adopting operational rules for the facility and implementing performance metrics by January 1, 2025. This policy change creates a dedicated state-run resource for homeless individuals with mental health needs, rather than relying on existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 3264 changes how certain high-tech property is taxed in West Virginia. It requires that servers and equipment used in data centers, AI computing, blockchain operations, and internet advertising businesses be valued for property tax purposes at their salvage value (the value if sold for parts), rather than their full market value. This directly affects businesses operating data centers, AI infrastructure, and digital advertising services that rely on specialized high-tech equipment. The bill aims to reduce property tax burdens on these businesses by lowering the taxable value of their key physical assets.

Maddy summaryHB 2653 updates the West Virginia Law Institute's structure and duties by amending state code sections. The Institute, located at West Virginia University College of Law, is tasked with simplifying state laws, improving justice administration, and conducting legal research. It must make specific recommendations to the Legislature on law changes, examine legal defects, and submit annual reports. The bill also details the governing council composition, including judges, state officials, bar leaders, and university representatives, to guide its work.

Maddy summaryHB 2437 clarifies enhanced penalties for crimes involving fentanyl, specifically targeting individuals convicted of possessing, delivering, or manufacturing fentanyl as a Schedule II substance. It increases penalties for these offenses: a $50,000 fine or 3-15 years in prison (instead of the standard $25,000 fine or 1-15 years), directly affecting those convicted of fentanyl-related crimes. The bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly state these higher penalties when fentanyl - alone or mixed with other substances - is the Schedule II controlled substance involved. It does not change penalties for other drugs or create new offenses, only clarifying existing sentencing for fentanyl cases. The bill passed the House on March 5, 2025, and is now pending in the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 2683 prohibits the use of ranked choice voting for all local, state, and federal elections in West Virginia. The bill defines ranked choice voting as a system where voters rank candidates by preference, with votes redistributed in rounds if no candidate wins a majority. It declares any election using this method invalid and prevents officials from being sworn into office based on such results. The prohibition does not apply to internal political party processes like conventions or party officer elections.

Maddy summaryHB 3073 requires West Virginia counties to use separate voting machines exclusively for training purposes, prohibiting their use in actual elections except in two specific emergencies: machine failure during voting or insufficient funds to purchase dedicated training machines. If counties lack funds for separate training machines, they must test and certify any machines used for training to ensure accuracy before election day. The bill mandates that all testing must follow strict procedures outlined in §3-4A-26, including public testing with pre-audited ballots and certification of error-free equipment. This directly affects county election officials and their management of voting equipment security and testing protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 2865 modifies parole eligibility for specific violent offenses in West Virginia. It increases the minimum time inmates must serve before becoming parole-eligible for second-degree murder (from 10 to 20 years) and for attempted second-degree murder (from 5 to 20 years), as outlined in amended sections §61-2-3 and §61-11-8. The bill also clarifies that inmates convicted of attempted first-degree murder remain subject to a minimum 10-year parole eligibility period under §61-11-8(4). These changes directly affect individuals serving prison sentences for these specific crimes, raising the required time served before parole consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 2799 protects employees in West Virginia who use reasonable force (including deadly force when justified) to defend themselves or others from an attack at their workplace. It prohibits employers from terminating an employee solely for such defensive actions, ensuring workers cannot face job loss for acting in self-defense during an attack. The bill specifically allows the use of deadly force without a duty to retreat if an employee reasonably believes they or others face imminent death or serious harm. This amendment expands existing self-defense protections to explicitly cover workplace scenarios, aligning with the bill's stated purpose of shielding workers from employment retaliation.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2612 clarifies that DNA records collected from individuals convicted under West Virginia law may be used to establish paternity in pending child abuse and neglect cases when a Circuit Court issues an order. The bill explicitly adds this specific use case to the list of permitted purposes for sharing DNA data, which already included law enforcement identification and research. This change directly affects child welfare courts and families involved in abuse/neglect proceedings by enabling faster paternity resolution. It does not alter existing uses of DNA records for criminal investigations or other purposes.