Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 5126 clarifies that West Virginia's Lottery Education Fund and Excess Lottery Fund can be directly used to support early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds across the state. The bill requires county school boards to provide these programs, mandating at least 48,000 minutes of instruction annually (or 1,500 minutes weekly) for eligible children. It explicitly authorizes the use of lottery funds for this purpose, removing ambiguity in current funding rules. This policy change directly affects county education programs and ensures dedicated state funding for early childhood education initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 5129 changes the West Virginia Water Development Authority's funding powers by removing its ability to fund infrastructure projects recommended by state secretaries (Commerce, Economic Development, or Tourism). Instead, it creates a new "Economic Enhancement Grant Fund" with two subaccounts: one for matching federal grant requirements and another for specific projects like covering bid overruns, extending water services to boost tourism, or helping water providers merge. The fund can only support projects within West Virginia, directly affecting local governments, nonprofits, and water utilities seeking infrastructure grants. Key provisions require the Authority to use the fund only for approved projects after recommendations from the Infrastructure Council or state secretaries, with strict rules on how funds are distributed and used.

Maddy summaryHB 5084 replaces West Virginia's existing non-refundable child tax credit with a new refundable credit. Starting in 2026, eligible West Virginia residents who claim the federal child tax credit for a qualifying child on their federal return will receive a $1,000 state credit per child. If the credit exceeds the resident's state income tax liability, the excess amount is refunded directly to them. This bill directly affects working families with children who qualify for the federal credit, aiming to reduce child poverty and support local economies through a permanent state-level benefit. The bill repeals the current non-refundable credit (§11-21-26) and establishes the new refundable credit under §11-21-98.

Maddy summaryHB 5085 requires private residential programs for adolescents with behavioral or emotional challenges to obtain a license from West Virginia’s Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. The bill mandates background checks for all staff with direct contact with youth, prohibits physical discipline or denial of education, and requires programs to report restraints/seclusion within one business day. It also mandates written policies for suicide prevention, allows parents to remove youth or request weekly video calls, and requires programs to publicly post complaint procedures. The law directly affects operators of these residential programs (excluding schools, camps, or faith-based organizations), imposing new licensing, safety, and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5135 establishes a 12-member Food Waste Task Force within West Virginia's Department of Health to study and recommend ways to reduce food waste across the state. The task force, including representatives from state health, agriculture, and the legislature, along with public advocates, will examine specific strategies like preventing waste, increasing food donations, changing cosmetic standards for produce, and modifying "best by" date labels. It must submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of forming. This bill creates a study group focused on identifying practical solutions, without implementing new laws or regulations itself.

Maddy summaryHB 5128 raises West Virginia's age of consent for marriage to 18, prohibiting marriage for anyone under 18 except 16-17 year olds who meet specific conditions. It requires 16-17 year olds to be West Virginia residents, obtain written parental or guardian consent (with strict rules for separated/divorced parents), avoid marrying someone more than four years older, and provide signed affirmations of voluntary choice without coercion. Minors in these marriages may petition for annulment before turning 18 without parental consent. The bill directly affects minors aged 16-17 seeking marriage licenses in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5138 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing most personal information held by internet and phone companies, such as names, addresses, payment details, and call records. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and telecommunications providers by mandating judicial oversight for these data requests during criminal investigations. The bill allows warrantless access only in specific emergencies (e.g., imminent risk of death, kidnapping, or human trafficking), with subscriber consent, or if the data is publicly accessible. This replaces current practices where such third-party records could often be obtained without a warrant.

Maddy summaryHB 5127 requires county election boards to electronically transmit total ballots cast, counted, and rejected to West Virginia’s Secretary of State using a state-prescribed form. This applies specifically to election results for candidates running in multiple counties, replacing paper-based reporting for these races. The change streamlines data collection for statewide results while maintaining existing 48-hour certification rules for recounts. It directly affects county election officials managing multi-county races, with no impact on voting methods or voter eligibility. (Bill: HB 5127, §3-6-9(c), (35))

Maddy summaryHB 5068 establishes a state-funded pilot program offering free, comprehensive cancer screenings to all active and retired permanent firefighters in West Virginia. The program provides blood tests, organ ultrasounds, lung CTs (if needed), and skin cancer screenings, with a $1,300 cost limit per firefighter. Administered jointly by the State Fire Marshal and Department of Health, the 24-month pilot requires a committee to develop implementation plans and report annually on participation and results. Firefighters may self-fund screenings after January 1, 2026, and seek reimbursement up to $1,300 if funds remain available.

Maddy summaryHB 5136 allows certain manufacturers of zero-emission vehicles (like electric cars) to operate directly as new car dealers in West Virginia, bypassing traditional dealership franchises. It specifically applies to manufacturers that have produced zero-emission vehicles since 2008, never sold their vehicles through franchised dealers in West Virginia, and have no ownership ties to dealership franchisors. The bill amends licensing rules to permit these manufacturers to obtain dealer licenses and sell directly to consumers. This change directly affects eligible zero-emission vehicle manufacturers seeking to sell in West Virginia without using existing franchised dealers.