Del. Andy Shamblin

Maddy summaryHB 5196 allows West Virginia local governments (counties or municipalities) to enter formal agreements with the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation to have it operate as their designated land reuse agency. This bill amends land reuse agency law to explicitly permit such partnerships, requiring agreements to specify agency structure, board composition, and public input processes. The Land Stewardship Corporation, a state-created nonprofit, would then manage land reuse programs - like repurposing vacant properties - within the local government's jurisdiction under these agreements. This change streamlines collaboration between local governments and the state entity for economic development initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 5029 extends the payment period for fees charged by county fire prevention units from 75 days to 180 days. It directly affects property owners or responsible parties who must pay for firefighting, rescue, or debris cleanup services provided by these units. The bill maintains the $1,500 cap for single incidents (except for hazardous materials or complex rescues), requires written itemized billing, and keeps the 90-day deadline for initiating court action if payment isn't received. This change provides more time for responsible parties to settle charges without altering fee limits or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5235 updates West Virginia's back-to-school sales tax holiday by increasing the price thresholds for exempt items. It raises the clothing exemption to $150 (from $125), school supplies to $60 (from $50), instructional materials to $25 (from $20), laptop/tablet computers to $600 (from $500), and sports equipment to $180 (from $150). The holiday applies to eligible purchases made during the first Sunday of August plus the previous Friday and Saturday, and the following Monday. This change directly affects West Virginia residents purchasing qualifying school-related items during this specific annual period, reducing their tax burden on those purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 5200 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within West Virginia's Secretary of State's office to support entrepreneurs, startups (businesses under 5 years old), and scale-ups (businesses with proven growth metrics like 20% annual revenue increase). The office will serve as a central liaison between these businesses and state agencies, helping navigate government processes, coordinate resources, and identify systemic barriers. Key mechanisms include requiring state agencies to provide data (with confidentiality protections), mandating 48-hour responses to business inquiries, and requiring annual reports to the Economic Development Committee on entrepreneurship progress. This bill directly affects small business owners and growth-oriented enterprises seeking state support.

Maddy summaryHB 5230 aligns the retirement and disability benefits for dependents of West Virginia State Police officers who take disability retirement with the benefits available to dependents of officers who retire after 20 years of service without disability. It amends §15-2-33 to ensure that dependents of officers qualifying for disability retirement receive the same benefit calculations as dependents of standard retirees - specifically, the greater of either 5.5% of the officer’s 25-year salary average or 75% of the officer’s retirement benefits (with a $5,000 minimum). This change directly affects spouses, children, and parents of State Police officers who leave service due to disability. The bill ensures consistency in benefits without altering existing minimum payments ($5,000 or $6,000 annually) or scholarship provisions for dependent children.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 5195 increases the annual commission paid to West Virginia county sheriffs for collecting property taxes. Starting July 1, 2026, sheriffs who collect at least 85% of all real and personal property taxes will receive a $30,000 annual commission (up from $15,000), paid directly from the tax funds they collect. This change applies specifically to sheriffs serving as county treasurers, who handle tax collection as part of their duties. The commission becomes a regular budgeted part of their compensation, as outlined in the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.