Del. J.B. Akers

Maddy summaryHB 5223 requires West Virginia political committees (those supporting candidates for state, county, or district offices) to include the full contact details - name, address, phone number, and email - of the committee chair in their initial organizational filings. This applies to all committees filing under existing election code sections, including those for state offices, county-level races, and legislative districts. The bill also adds a required acknowledgment that committees will comply with all campaign finance reporting rules. These changes update filing requirements to improve public access to committee leadership information.

Maddy summaryHB 5209 creates a state registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse (misdemeanor or felony) in West Virginia. It requires these individuals to register with the West Virginia State Police and pay an annual $125 fee, which funds mental health services for state police employees. The registry is integrated into an existing "Central Abuse Registry" that already includes records for child abuse, elder abuse, and sex offenses. This bill directly affects only those with final convictions for animal abuse crimes, not suspected abusers or general animal cruelty cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5207 strengthens animal welfare protections in West Virginia by requiring owners to confine unspayed female dogs during heat cycles and establishing a clear duty of care for companion animals. The bill creates new criminal penalties for animal hoarding and unlawful confinement, increases fines for repeat cruelty offenses, and mandates humane officers to report suspected abuse of vulnerable humans (like children or elderly adults) to relevant agencies. It also updates facility requirements for stray and abandoned animals, including public access to shelters, and revises humane officers' duties and enforcement procedures. These changes directly affect pet owners, animal shelters, law enforcement, and courts handling animal welfare cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5218 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to notify individuals or entities named as respondents in election law complaints. Respondents must then submit a written response within 10 business days of receiving this notice. The bill applies to all complaints filed under West Virginia election law regarding alleged violations of campaign finance or election rules. This change establishes a clear timeline for respondents to address allegations before the Secretary of State proceeds with further action.

Maddy summaryHB 5217 requires write-in candidates for most elected offices in West Virginia (excluding delegates to national conventions) to pay a filing fee and submit a sworn certificate of announcement. This certificate must include the candidate's name, address, intent to run, and sworn statement, and must be filed with election officials by specific deadlines (49 days before an election, or by the 5th day before an election if a vacancy occurs). Candidates who qualify as indigent (with very low income and limited resources) may be exempt from the fee. Once filed, the Secretary of State and county election officials will post the names of certified write-in candidates so that valid write-in votes can be counted.

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 summaryThis bill updates the West Virginia Law Institute by clarifying its purpose, expanding its membership structure, and adjusting how vacancies are filled. It directs the institute to continue its work of reviewing state laws, recommending reforms, and conducting legal research while adding new elected members from each congressional district and faculty representatives. The legislation also authorizes reimbursement for council members and exempts the institute from open meetings laws, while maintaining its role as an advisory agency located at West Virginia University College of Law.

Maddy summaryHB 4629 amends West Virginia's tobacco sales law to allow institutions of higher education to distribute tobacco cessation products to individuals aged 18-21 for research purposes. This directly affects college/university research programs approved by institutional review boards (IRBs) that study tobacco cessation or prevention. The key provision creates an exception to the general 21+ age restriction, requiring all such distributions to occur within medically supervised, IRB-approved research programs. The bill changes the policy by permitting this specific age group access for legitimate medical research, while maintaining penalties for unauthorized sales to minors.

Maddy summaryHB 5061 requires West Virginia’s 55 county school districts to consolidate into 10-15 regional districts by July 1, 2030. It establishes a 11-member Commission on School District Reorganization to develop a detailed consolidation plan, including staffing levels, operating costs, school names, and proposed cost-saving reinvestment strategies. The Commission must submit its plan to the Legislature by December 1, 2027, for review during the 2028 session. The bill directly affects all county school districts, students, staff, and local communities by restructuring the state’s K-12 education governance framework. The Department of Education must assist the Commission in creating the plan.

Maddy summaryHB 5099 requires courts to order defendants convicted of DUI causing death to pay monthly child support for the victim's child until age 18 or high school graduation. This directly affects children who lost a parent or guardian to a DUI-related death and defendants sentenced for such offenses. The bill mandates courts to set reasonable payment amounts considering the child's needs, guardian's resources, and other factors, while offsetting payments by any existing civil judgment for the same accident. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.