Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 2692 requires firearm owners in West Virginia to store guns securely (in a locked container or with a trigger lock) when minors might access them without permission or supervision. It directly affects firearm owners on their own property who know or should know minors could gain access. Violating this requirement becomes a misdemeanor if a minor accesses the firearm and then uses it in public or in a threatening manner, punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. The law does not apply if a minor obtains the gun through unlawful entry.

Maddy summaryHB 2641 provides a state tax credit to West Virginia employers (both for-profit and nonprofit corporations) who operate existing on-site or sponsored childcare facilities for their employees. The credit equals 100% of the employer’s annual operational costs (excluding property costs) for these facilities, minus any employee fees paid. Employers can apply the credit against their state corporate net income tax or personal income tax, with unused credits carryable forward for up to five years. The credit is limited to the employer’s total tax liability for the year and requires certification of employee usage to ensure compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2682 amends West Virginia's workers' compensation law (§23-4-2) but does not address occupational pneumoconiosis as its title suggests. The bill establishes specific rules for intoxication-related claims: employees are deemed intoxicated if blood alcohol exceeds 0.05% within two hours of an accident, or if nonprescribed drugs are detected. This affects workers filing injury claims, as intoxication can bar compensation or establish it as the cause of injury. The bill also clarifies that employers lose immunity from lawsuits only if proven to have acted with "deliberate intention" to cause injury, requiring specific proof of intent or prior knowledge of dangerous conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 2555 revises ethical standards for West Virginia's Public Service Commission, directly affecting its commissioners. The bill requires commissioners to publish their financial statements online annually, updates criteria for determining actions that serve the "public interest," and repeals outdated provisions like §§24-1-1a and 24-1-1b. It also mandates that commission members follow the state's code of judicial conduct, aligning their conduct with broader public ethics standards. These changes aim to increase transparency and clarify ethical expectations for utility regulators.

Maddy summaryHB 2418 requires West Virginia electric utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency programs starting in 2026, mandating cumulative electricity savings targets of 0.5% by 2026, 1.25% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 4% by 2029 based on 2020 sales volumes. The bill establishes a "self-directed" option allowing eligible residential and commercial customers to create their own energy efficiency plans, with requirements to repay avoided utility charges if they fail to meet minimum goals. The West Virginia Public Service Commission oversees program approval, sets annual reporting requirements for utilities, and ensures cost recovery for approved efficiency initiatives. This directly affects all electric utilities operating in the state and their customers, focusing on reducing electricity consumption through structured, measurable targets.

Maddy summaryHB 2420 allows utility companies holding existing certificates of public convenience and necessity (for power plants) to apply to West Virginia's Public Service Commission to redeploy their sites for new generating facilities, such as nuclear, natural gas, solar, or wind projects. The bill requires the Commission to evaluate long-term energy costs and environmental impacts - including carbon pricing - of all proposed alternatives before approving such redeployments. It specifically mandates consideration of technologies like nuclear, renewables, and energy storage, aiming to prevent coal plant closures while maintaining electricity generation at existing sites. The bill directly affects utility companies seeking site redevelopment and aims to stabilize electricity rates and support local jobs during the energy transition. (Note: The bill is pending committee review as of February 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 2486 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to analyze statewide school discipline data (including disparities by race, gender, and disability) and develop a statewide program to address disciplinary actions for K-12 students. County school boards must implement this program to improve disciplinary outcomes. The bill mandates annual reports on progress to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and requires the Department to publish discipline data on its public dashboard for transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 2419 establishes a community solar program in West Virginia that allows residential and business electricity customers - including low-income households - to subscribe to shared solar projects and receive bill credits for the electricity generated. Community solar facilities must have at least three subscribers, be limited to 5 megawatts per facility (with a 100-megawatt aggregate cap per utility), and reserve at least 40% of their capacity for subscribers with small subscriptions (25 kilowatts or less). Subscribers receive bill credits calculated at a rate approved by the Public Service Commission, based on the electricity produced (one kilowatt-hour of solar energy equals one kilowatt-hour of credit). The program is separate from existing net metering and will be regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission through new rules.

Maddy summaryHJR 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow West Virginia voters to directly initiate state constitutional amendments. It would require a petition signed by at least 10% of voters who cast ballots for Governor in each county to place an amendment on the next general election ballot. If approved by 60% of voters (compared to a simple majority for legislative proposals), the amendment would become part of the state constitution. This change would shift the power to propose constitutional amendments from solely the legislature to registered voters through a petition process.

Maddy summaryHB 2122 would exempt specific infant and hygiene products from West Virginia's sales tax. It defines "diapers" as disposable absorbent products for infants/toddlers or people with incontinence, "feminine hygiene products" as items like tampons and menstrual cups for biological women, and "infant products" as baby bottles, formula, and car seats. The bill removes sales tax liability for these items at the point of purchase. This directly affects consumers who buy these products, reducing their out-of-pocket costs. The policy change is limited to the defined products and does not alter other tax obligations.