Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 3310 requires all West Virginia utility companies to cover the full costs of maintaining, upgrading, and repairing their infrastructure - including pipes, cables, poles, and electrical lines - without passing these expenses to consumers through rate increases. The bill directly affects utility companies operating in the state and all customers who pay utility bills. Key provisions mandate that companies absorb these costs entirely, maintain records proving costs weren’t factored into future rate hikes, and prohibit any financial burden on consumers for infrastructure maintenance. This policy change ensures no rate increases can be justified by infrastructure costs alone.

Maddy summaryHB 2730 proposes a three-year pilot program to make childcare more affordable for working parents in West Virginia. The bill would require the state, employers, and employees to each pay one-third of childcare costs for children under 18, targeting households earning 150-250% of the Federal Poverty Level who don’t qualify for existing subsidies. The program would launch in 2025 across three urban and two rural counties, with the Department of Human Services developing guidelines and reporting annually on participation and outcomes. If successful, it could lead to a statewide expansion of this cost-sharing model. The bill focuses on improving childcare access, stability, and quality without changing existing subsidy programs.

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 2158 removes the expiration dates (sunset clauses) for additional registration fees on pet food in West Virginia. Specifically, it eliminates the temporary deadlines (June 30, 2027 for bulk pet food and June 1, 2027 for smaller packages) that currently require businesses to pay extra fees. These fees - $50 per product for bulk pet food and $35 per product for smaller packages - will now be permanently collected. The funds will continue flowing into the West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, which supports spay/neuter services provided by licensed veterinarians statewide. This change directly affects pet food manufacturers and distributors who must register their products.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 10 is a non-binding resolution from the West Virginia House of Delegates urging Congress to extend enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act beyond 2025. These tax credits, established by the American Rescue Plan and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act, have helped over 64,800 West Virginia residents afford health insurance. Without extension, premiums would more than double for many residents, making coverage unaffordable and potentially forcing people to choose between health care and basic needs like housing and food. The resolution calls on West Virginia's congressional delegation to support extending these credits to maintain affordable health care access for state residents.

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 3502 allocates $250 million from West Virginia's Revenue Shortfall Fund ($100 million) and Income Tax Reserve Fund ($150 million) to create the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund. This fund finances flood prevention projects in communities vulnerable to severe flooding, aiming to reduce future damage through proactive infrastructure and planning. The bill requires the State Resiliency Officer to submit annual spending reports for board review, and mandates that 6% of federal flood disaster recovery funds be dedicated to long-term resiliency planning. It directly affects state agencies managing flood response and residents in flood-prone areas by prioritizing prevention over reactive recovery.

Maddy summaryHB 3495 prohibits violence or intimidation based on disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, making such acts felony crimes punishable by up to $5,000 fines or 10 years in prison. It specifically protects constitutionally protected speech and labor union activities from being used as evidence in prosecutions, while requiring judges to consider alternative sentencing like community corrections for convicted individuals. The law applies to anyone intentionally targeting others due to these characteristics when interfering with their civil rights. Key exceptions include teaching self-defense techniques and lawful labor organizing activities. This bill expands existing protections under West Virginia law to explicitly cover disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation as protected classes.

Maddy summaryHB 3426 provides annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirees from West Virginia's Public Employees Retirement System and Teachers Retirement System. It affects retirees who are at least 60 years old and have received retirement payments for five or more years. Beginning July 1, 2025, their monthly annuity payments will increase each year by the same percentage as the annual rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This adjustment aims to help these retirees keep pace with inflation. The bill directly changes how retirement payments are calculated for eligible retirees under both systems.