Del. Hollis Lewis

Maddy summaryHB 3119 would increase payments to therapists and other professionals contracted by the West Virginia Birth-to-Three program by 25 percent, effective July 1, 2025. This applies only to non-state-employed providers (those working through private or contracted agencies, not state employees). The bill amends the West Virginia Birth-to-Three Fund's payment structure to require this higher rate for services provided to children with developmental delays. It does not affect state-employed therapists or change eligibility for the program.

Maddy summaryHB 3112, titled "Community Air Monitoring," requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support air quality monitoring in communities downwind of industrial pollution sources. The bill mandates that the DEP provide technical assistance and, if funding is available, financial support to residents and organizations setting up local air quality monitors. Individuals can submit their collected air quality data to the DEP for evaluation, using specific quality standards like proper equipment calibration and location documentation. The DEP must review this data and may initiate follow-up monitoring by state agencies or permitted facilities if concerns arise. This directly affects West Virginians living near industrial sites by giving them tools to track pollution in their neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryHB 3120 requires that the full text of proposed constitutional amendments be printed on official ballots in West Virginia elections, alongside the existing title and summary. This means voters will see the complete wording of any amendment they are asked to approve or reject - including any formatting like struck-through or underlined text - rather than just a brief description. The bill amends state law to mandate that county election officials include the full text as it appears in the legislative resolution proposing the amendment. This change aims to provide voters with clearer, more complete information when deciding on constitutional changes.

Maddy summaryHB 3052 requires West Virginia municipalities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) "by right" on single-family residential lots by January 1, 2026. It prohibits local governments from imposing restrictions like extra parking requirements, design matching rules, occupancy conditions, or impact fees on ADUs, while setting size limits (max 75% of the main house or 1,000 sq. ft.). The bill directly affects homeowners seeking to add secondary housing units and municipalities that currently regulate ADUs more restrictively. It mandates that all ADUs must have basic amenities (cooking, sleeping, sanitation) and comply with building codes, but does not override safety regulations. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, with non-compliant existing regulations voided.

Maddy summaryHJR 33 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would require West Virginia to provide free early childhood education to all children in the state. It seeks to amend Article XII of the West Virginia Constitution by adding a new section stating the legislature must provide "a thorough and efficient system of free schools including early childhood education." This would not immediately create new programs but would require future legislation to establish such a system, subject to voter approval in the 2026 general election. The amendment is currently pending referral to the House Education Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3053 requires West Virginia municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary homes on single-family lots - by right, without discretionary approvals like public hearings or variances. It limits ADU size to 75% of the main home’s floor area or 1,000 sq. ft. (whichever is smaller) and bans municipalities from imposing extra parking, design matching, occupancy, or impact fees. Municipalities may charge a $250 one-time review fee for ADU applications but cannot restrict ADUs more strictly than main homes. The bill applies to all cities and towns with zoning authority, requiring compliance by January 1, 2026, and explicitly excludes mission-driven non-profit housing from its provisions (despite the bill’s title suggesting otherwise).

Maddy summaryHB 2981 establishes the Constitutional Office Fleet Management Act, exempting five constitutional offices (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and Commissioner of Agriculture) from existing fleet management rules and requiring them to follow new, specific guidelines. The bill mandates these offices to maintain vehicle logs, provide driver training, and submit annual reports detailing fleet usage (including miles driven, fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and personal vehicle reimbursements). Each office must submit a written intent to comply by July 1st and may develop its own department-specific vehicle operation rules. The law also permits constitutional offices to arrange for disposal of non-state-funded vehicles while adhering to federal and GSA standards.

Maddy summaryHB 3054 prohibits West Virginia municipalities from requiring larger minimum lot sizes for properties with accessory dwelling units (ADUs, like backyard cottages) compared to standard single-family homes in the same zoning district. This bill directly affects local governments that create zoning ordinances and homeowners seeking to add ADUs. The key provision removes a specific requirement from zoning rules that would otherwise mandate bigger lots for ADU properties, allowing more flexibility in housing development. The bill does not change other zoning regulations but targets this one provision to support accessory housing options.

Maddy summaryHB 2905 would strengthen criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with firefighters during emergency operations. It creates a felony offense for attacking firefighters with deadly weapons or intentionally hindering their work, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. For lesser violations like refusing to follow traffic directions from firefighters at a scene, it imposes escalating fines: up to $200 for a first offense, $400 for a second within a year, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also expands the definition of "emergency service personnel" to explicitly include firefighters under these protections. This law directly affects people who obstruct or interfere with fire departments during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 2848 requires private and investor-owned utilities in West Virginia to send text messages to customers during service outages. The texts must state that service is interrupted, provide an estimated outage duration in 30-minute increments, and specify affected areas using city, county, and state boundaries. This applies to all non-publicly owned utilities and takes effect on July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects customers experiencing outages who currently may not receive timely outage notifications.