Del. Roger Hanshaw

Maddy summaryHB 3354 repeals a law (§17A-10-3c) that allowed West Virginia to charge extra registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles, such as electric or hybrid cars. This bill directly affects owners of these vehicles by eliminating the additional fee they previously paid during vehicle registration. The key mechanism is the removal of the specific legal provision authorizing the extra charge, effectively ending the fee requirement. The bill does not create new fees or change vehicle eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 3364 provides a $50,000 supplemental appropriation to the Fire Commission's Fire Marshal Fees fund (Fund 6152) for fiscal year 2025. This increases the existing budget allocation specifically for personal services and employee benefits within the Fire Commission's operations. The funding uses unappropriated balances remaining in the fiscal year 2025 budget, directly supporting the Fire Commission's staffing and operational costs.

Maddy summaryHB 3268 modifies rules governing student transfers for athletic and academic eligibility in West Virginia secondary schools. It requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to update its rules regarding athletic eligibility for students transferring between schools and for incoming ninth-grade students' academic eligibility. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify the commission's authority to adjust these rules, directly affecting student-athletes and their eligibility to participate in school sports programs. This is a procedural change to commission rulemaking authority, not a new law affecting student rights or school funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2614 allows full-time county school board employees in West Virginia to receive a lump sum payment for unused personal leave if they die before retirement. The payment, calculated at their final rate of pay (excluding weekends/holidays), goes directly to their estate's personal representative one month after a request. It excludes weekends and holidays, does not deduct retirement contributions, and cannot be used to calculate final retirement salary. This bill specifically applies to county school employees and provides a financial benefit to their estates upon death.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's HB 2006 defines "sex," "male," and "female" in state law based on biological characteristics observed at birth, stating there are only two sexes. It specifies that "female" refers to individuals with reproductive anatomy for producing ova, and "male" refers to those with anatomy for producing sperm, while clarifying that intersex individuals ("DSD conditions") do not constitute a third sex. The bill aims to preserve single-sex spaces like women's restrooms, changing rooms, and domestic violence shelters by requiring state institutions to classify people based on this biological definition. It explicitly states the law cannot be enforced in conflict with the *Grimm v. Gloucester School Board* court ruling, which protects transgender students' access to facilities matching their gender identity.

Maddy summaryHB 2012 eliminates a requirement for certain businesses to make an accelerated tax payment for the first 15 days of June by June 20th. Specifically, it removes Section 11-15-16(g) from West Virginia law, which applied to taxpayers whose average monthly tax payments exceeded $100,000 in the prior year. This change simplifies the payment schedule for those businesses by ending the June 20th deadline for the early payment. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, removing this specific administrative requirement from the tax code.

Maddy summaryHB 2928 creates two tax credits for West Virginia residents aged 18-40: a credit equal to accumulated student loan interest (or $1,000 annually for graduates without loans) and a refundable child care credit matching federal dependent care deductions. It applies to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and requires taxpayers to have lived in West Virginia for at least three years. The bill directly affects young professionals with student debt or child care costs, offering cash payments for qualifying expenses. It does not change existing tax rates but provides new refundable credits to reduce state income tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 2001 allows professionals already licensed in another state to obtain a West Virginia license without retaking exams, provided they hold a current, good-standing license in that state for at least one year and meet similar education/work requirements. It specifically applies to most occupational licenses (excluding law licenses and certain background checks) and covers individuals who relocate to West Virginia or accompany military spouses to a West Virginia military base. Licenses issued under this bill are valid only in West Virginia and do not qualify for interstate compacts. The bill requires applicants to pay state fees, have no disqualifying criminal history, and pass a state-specific law exam if required by the licensing board.

Maddy summaryHB 2004 would allow West Virginia parents to exempt their children from school vaccination requirements based on religious or philosophical beliefs, in addition to existing medical exemptions. Schools must track and report the number of students with any exemption type (medical, religious, or philosophical) to state health officials. The bill clarifies the process for requesting exemptions and defines state health officials' roles in reviewing requests. This change directly affects parents, school administrators, and public health authorities managing student immunization records.

Maddy summaryHB 2005 prohibits state government agencies, public schools, and colleges from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, offices, or trainings. It bans state entities from establishing DEI-focused offices, using race/ethnicity in hiring, requiring DEI statements from employees, or mandating DEI training. The bill also restricts public schools from teaching concepts like inherent racial superiority, individual guilt based on race/sex, or that academic merit is inherently racist. These provisions apply to all state departments, school districts, and higher education institutions, though they allow academic discussion of race/ethnicity in balanced courses. The law defines "race" and "ethnic group" to clarify prohibited actions, ensuring compliance with existing anti-discrimination laws.