Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryThis bill requires oil and gas operators to provide financial assurance before drilling new wells that aren’t expected to produce, either through a bond or funds held in an escrow account managed by the State Treasurer. It aims to prevent future "orphan wells" by ensuring money is available to plug wells that become abandoned without a responsible operator. The funds must be used only for plugging the well or, if the operator fails to act, for the state to plug it using the reserved funds. This directly affects operators seeking new permits after July 2026 and protects landowners from property devaluation and environmental risks linked to unplugged wells.

Maddy summaryHB 5415, the Orphan Well Prevention Act of 2026, requires new oil and gas wells (after July 1, 2026) and transferred wells to have financial assurance for plugging costs. Operators must provide either a state bond or an escrow account managed by the Office of the State Treasurer to cover future plugging expenses. This prevents wells from becoming "orphaned" - meaning they lack a responsible operator to plug them - protecting landowners from contamination risks and financial liability. The law applies to all operators seeking new permits or transferring existing wells, ensuring funds are secured before wells are drilled or transferred.

Maddy summaryHB 5408 would require West Virginia government entities (such as state agencies, counties, and municipalities) to obtain a court-issued warrant before sharing personal information for federal immigration enforcement. Before disclosing such data, agencies must verify with requesters - under penalty of perjury - whether the information is sought for immigration enforcement and, if so, demand a warrant from a federal or state court. The bill also mandates annual reports to the attorney general and legislature detailing the number of immigration-related requests received and how they were handled. This law directly affects local and state agencies that handle personal data, including law enforcement and social services departments.

Maddy summaryHB 5388 creates a tax credit for independently owned West Virginia businesses participating in the official motorist services logo signing program. The bill allows eligible businesses to claim a credit equal to 100% of the fees paid to the West Virginia Division of Highways for program signage, directly reducing their state tax liability. To qualify, businesses must be locally owned (51% West Virginia-domiciled owners), operate fewer than five locations in the state, and not be bound by national branding requirements. The credit applies only to official program fees, excludes private advertising costs, and is nontransferable. This policy aims to lower costs for small, rural businesses along transportation corridors that provide traveler services.

Maddy summaryHB 5336 updates West Virginia's domestic violence law to explicitly include "coercive control" as a defined form of abuse. The bill defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate and isolate a partner, such as controlling finances, monitoring communications, threatening harm, or restricting contact with friends and family. This change ensures non-physical tactics like emotional manipulation and isolation are legally recognized under domestic violence statutes. The bill directly affects victims of such abuse and legal proceedings by expanding the scope of what qualifies as domestic violence in court and law enforcement responses.

Maddy summaryHB 5337, titled "Daniel's Law," protects the personal information of certain West Virginia public officials by prohibiting the disclosure of home addresses and unpublished home or personal phone numbers without written consent. It directly affects active, retired, or former state legislators, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and law enforcement officers, along with their immediate family members living in the same household. The bill requires government agencies and private entities to obtain written permission before sharing this information, and it creates civil liability for violations, including minimum $1,000 damages per incident. This law aims to enhance safety by preventing harassment or harm related to public officials' personal details.

Maddy summaryHB 5333 allows patients in West Virginia hospitals to refuse having medical residents or medical students observe or perform their medical care. The bill requires hospitals to create and implement clear policies informing patients of this right before procedures. It directly affects all patients receiving care in participating hospitals, ensuring they can make decisions about who participates in their treatment. The law changes hospital procedures by mandating patient notification, not altering medical standards or care delivery.

Maddy summaryHB 5360 would provide cost-of-living adjustments to certain retired public employees and teachers in West Virginia. Starting July 1, 2026, retirees aged 60+ who have received retirement payments for at least five years under the Public Employees Retirement System or Teachers Retirement System would automatically receive monthly adjustments equal to the annual increase in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index. This change directly affects eligible retirees by linking their annuity payments to inflation. The bill does not create new benefits but modifies existing retirement payments to help offset rising living costs. The proposal is currently under review by the House Finance Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 5346 establishes the School Aid Formula Study Commission to evaluate West Virginia's public school funding system and propose recommendations for improvement. The commission, composed of 12 members including school board representatives, education experts, teachers, rural/urban school board members, and community stakeholders, will study funding options and report findings to the Legislature by July 2028. Its work aims to address challenges like declining enrollment, school closures, and reduced funding that have strained public education. The commission's recommendations will guide potential legislative changes to modernize school funding and ensure stable, adequate resources for all public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 5361 would prevent state and local law enforcement officers in West Virginia from conducting immigration-related arrests, detentions, or surveillance in sensitive locations like schools, places of worship, hospitals, courthouses, and facilities serving vulnerable populations (e.g., victims of abuse or individuals with disabilities). The bill defines these "sensitive locations" and prohibits immigration enforcement actions there, except when a court orders entry or an imminent public safety threat requires intervention. This directly affects how state/local officers interact with immigration enforcement in these settings. The law does not restrict federal immigration enforcement actions but limits state/local cooperation in protected locations.