Del. Roger Hanshaw

Maddy summaryHB 5276 is a procedural budget bill that reallocates $40 million from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance to the Department of Commerce's Division of Economic Development. It adds a new appropriation line item (70099) to transfer these funds to the Economic Development Promotion and Closing Fund (fund 3171) for the 2026 fiscal year. This bill does not create new programs or policies - it simply moves existing surplus funds that were identified in the Governor's budget document to support economic development activities. The funds would be available for expenditure during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5064 addresses municipalities in West Virginia that fail to complete required annual financial audits for three consecutive years (defined as "chronic audit noncompliance"). It authorizes the State Auditor to evaluate a municipality's financial recovery potential, requires the municipality to submit a recovery plan, and allows for a structured transition to dissolution if recovery is unlikely. The bill mandates specific notice requirements to affected municipalities and clarifies the duties of a financial receiver during dissolution, including how dissolution affects utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission. This directly impacts local governments that miss audit deadlines, creating a formal process to address fiscal instability.

Maddy summaryHB 5282 provides a supplemental appropriation of $2.6 million for Public Defender Corporations and $15 million for Appointed Counsel Fees from the unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Public Defender Services budget for fiscal year 2026. This funding directly supports West Virginia's public defense system by allocating unused state funds to cover essential legal services for indigent defendants. The bill does not change existing laws but supplements the budget with specific, targeted amounts to ensure public defender operations continue without additional tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 5314, provides an additional $330,000 in funding to the Department of Health's Vital Statistics Account (fund 5144) for fiscal year 2026. It increases an existing appropriation for "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" within that account to cover ongoing operational costs. The funding comes from unappropriated balances available in the account and directly supports the Vital Statistics office, which manages birth, death, and fetal death records in West Virginia. This is a routine budget adjustment, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5316 is a procedural bill that reallocates unspent funds from the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Department of Commerce's Division of Economic Development for fiscal year 2026. It increases the existing appropriation for fund 0256 (fiscal year 2026, organization 0307) by supplementing an unappropriated balance identified in the Governor’s Executive Budget Document. This bill does not create new programs or policies but adjusts the allocation of money already budgeted but not yet spent. The Division of Economic Development directly benefits from this reallocated funding for its operations during the 2026 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 5209 creates a state registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse (misdemeanor or felony) in West Virginia. It requires these individuals to register with the West Virginia State Police and pay an annual $125 fee, which funds mental health services for state police employees. The registry is integrated into an existing "Central Abuse Registry" that already includes records for child abuse, elder abuse, and sex offenses. This bill directly affects only those with final convictions for animal abuse crimes, not suspected abusers or general animal cruelty cases.

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 5167, the Taxpayer Accountability for Public Service Act, requires candidates for any elected local, state, or public office in West Virginia to prove they have paid all personal property taxes or are in an approved payment plan. It mandates that candidates submit tax compliance certification when filing to run, and election officials must verify this with tax authorities before certifying candidates for the ballot. Exceptions allow candidates with approved payment plans or pending tax challenges to run. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, with disqualification for false filings and removal from ballots for unpaid taxes without valid exceptions.

Maddy summaryHB 5172 establishes the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Broadband Internet Connection Fund to install LEO satellite equipment at locations already designated for broadband deployment under existing state grant programs. The fund, managed by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, will use state appropriations, grants, and interest earnings to cover installation costs. It provides immediate internet access through LEO connections - though with different speed and latency than traditional broadband - while waiting for full statewide broadband deployment to complete. The fund’s money remains available annually without reverting to general state revenue.