Del. Andy Shamblin

Maddy summaryHB 4649 requires purchasers of property sold at tax sales (by the West Virginia Auditor for unpaid taxes) to satisfy any outstanding municipal liens (such as unpaid water or sewer charges) recorded against the property before securing a deed. Specifically, buyers must pay off these local government claims and provide the Auditor with a certified record of satisfaction from the municipality, in addition to existing requirements like preparing redemption notices and paying associated costs. Failure to meet this new requirement within 120 days (with a possible 60-day extension for a $100 fee) results in losing the property purchase. This change ensures new owners receive clear title without hidden municipal claims.

Maddy summaryHB 4548 requires employers on West Virginia public construction projects to hire at least 75% of workers from the local labor market, with flexibility for up to two non-local workers per project. If employers cannot find enough local workers, they must request a waiver from WorkForce West Virginia, which then permits hiring outside the area using the same qualifications and wage rates previously provided. The bill clarifies that the West Virginia Jobs Act applies to all public construction projects, including those managed by the West Virginia Development Authority. It also mandates the Division of Labor to create a public online database (redacting personal information) showing where workers reside on these projects, accessible for transparency. This directly affects construction employers receiving public contracts and public authorities overseeing such projects.

Maddy summaryHB 4571, the "Taxpayer Protection Act," prevents West Virginia residents from being wrongly classified as independent contractors instead of employees. It requires the Tax Commissioner to apply an "ABC" test to determine worker status: (1) absence of employer control, (2) work being unusual for the employer’s business, and (3) the worker operating as an independent business. Employers must prove all three criteria to classify a worker as an independent contractor; otherwise, the worker is presumed an employee for tax purposes. This ensures the state collects proper income taxes from employment relationships, directly affecting both workers (who may gain tax protections) and hiring businesses (which must comply with the classification rules).

Maddy summaryHB 4492 amends West Virginia's Real Estate License Act to increase the maximum amount of a broker's personal funds that can be deposited into a trust account from $100 to $500. This change directly affects licensed real estate brokers who handle client funds in trust accounts, allowing them to maintain a higher minimum balance without violating fiduciary rules. The bill modifies Section 30-40-18 of the West Virginia Code to update this specific limit, ensuring brokers can more easily meet account balance requirements. The provision aims to simplify compliance for brokers while maintaining safeguards for client funds held in trust.

Maddy summaryHB 4572 creates a pilot program allowing West Virginia county boards to designate struggling rural public schools as "Rural Innovation Schools" to prevent closures. It provides these schools with specific flexibilities unavailable to traditional public schools, including class-size waivers, staffing flexibility (like certification exemptions and bypassing seniority rules), calendar/scheduling adjustments, budget repurposing authority, and curricular choices - while keeping them under county board governance. Schools must meet criteria like low enrollment, geographic isolation, or recent closure threats to qualify, and must enter a performance agreement with the state charter school board for three-year reviews. The program also allows schools closed within the past two years to apply for reopening under these provisions if facilities are safe and viable.

Maddy summaryHB 4493, the West Virginia Real Estate Wholesaling Accountability Act, makes real estate wholesaling illegal in West Virginia. It defines "wholesaling" as entering property purchase contracts with intent to transfer contractual rights to a third party for a fee without taking legal title, specifically affecting residential transactions involving properties with fewer than four dwelling units. The bill prohibits wholesaling, allows sellers to cancel contracts without penalty and retain earnest money, requires buyers to receive full refunds, and imposes a civil penalty of 20% of the profit difference for unlawful transactions. This legislation directly impacts real estate wholesalers and their transactions, replacing current practices with specific legal remedies and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 4465 would adjust substitute teacher pay in West Virginia by increasing rates after specific work periods. After 10 consecutive days in the same position, substitutes would earn 80% of the advanced salary (based on teaching experience), and after 30 days, they would receive the full advanced salary - matching the daily rate for full-time teachers in their county. This applies to substitutes working in the same position within a school year. The bill replaces the current minimum of 80% of the basic salary rate for all assignments with this tiered system.

Maddy summaryHB 4476, the "West Virginia Common Cents Act," requires merchants to round cash transaction totals to the nearest nickel. Specifically, totals ending in 1-2 or 6-7 cents round down, while those ending in 3-4 or 8-9 cents round up. This applies only to in-person cash payments; it excludes transactions under 4 cents and all electronic payments (credit/debit cards, digital transfers). The law ensures rounding does not affect tax calculations on the rounded amount.

Maddy summaryHB 4453 adjusts West Virginia's teacher salary schedule to increase pay for educators with 35 to 45 years of experience, directly affecting classroom teachers in the state. The bill updates the existing salary table to reflect higher compensation for these experienced teachers, while maintaining the current $600 annual supplement for teachers with 20+ years of experience. It also specifies that math teachers certified in their subject and teaching math 60%+ of the time will count as having three additional years of experience for salary purposes. The changes apply to the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, modifying how experience years are calculated for salary determination.

Maddy summaryHB 3133 allows West Virginia counties and municipalities to create formal agreements (memoranda of understanding) with property owners to demolish unsafe or dilapidated structures. It directly affects property owners with buildings deemed hazardous due to fire risks, lack of sanitation, or structural defects, and local governments responsible for public safety enforcement. The bill modifies existing law to require counties to establish an enforcement agency (including county engineers, health officers, and fire chiefs) to investigate unsafe conditions, issue citations, and initiate demolition through these agreements. This replaces older procedures requiring direct county action, streamlining the process for removing hazardous properties while ensuring fair hearing procedures for affected owners.