Del. Lori Dittman

Maddy summaryHB 3218 creates a tax credit program to incentivize the rehabilitation of underutilized commercial, industrial, and residential properties across West Virginia. Businesses and property owners who invest at least $250,000 in renovation, increase property value by 30%, and create or sustain five full-time jobs within three years can claim a 25% tax credit (up to $2 million) on eligible costs for business and occupation or corporate income tax, plus a 50% property tax credit on increased value for up to five years. Additional credits of up to 15% are available for projects in rural or distressed areas (10%) or for brownfield/historic properties (5% each). The bill also establishes a fast-track permitting process for qualifying projects to streamline development approvals within 90 days.

Maddy summaryHB 3217 requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to notify the public within 24 hours of any hazardous spill into state waters - including rivers, wells, or groundwater - released by entities like industrial facilities or chemical handlers. The bill mandates notifications include the spill location, substance type and quantity, health/environmental risks (like drinking water impacts), public precautions (e.g., water use restrictions), and cleanup steps, delivered via DEP websites, media, and emergency alerts. It also requires spill-reporting entities to immediately notify the DEP and Emergency Management Division, with potential civil penalties for failures to report. The DEP must maintain a public online database tracking all spills and remediation efforts. This directly affects environmental agencies, spill-causing entities, and communities near affected waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 3100 would align retirement and disability benefits for dependents of West Virginia State Police officers who take disability retirement with the benefits provided to dependents of officers who retire after 20 years of service. Currently, dependents of disability retirees receive less than those of regular retirees under the existing §15-2-33 formula. The bill proposes amending the law to ensure surviving spouses and dependents of disability retirees receive the same monthly benefit amount as those of regular retirees - calculated as three-fourths of the retired officer's benefits (with a minimum $5,000 annual payment). This change directly affects dependents of State Police officers who must leave service due to disability before reaching 20 years. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after introduction on March 4, 2025.

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 summaryHB 2139 exempts cash tips received by West Virginia residents from the state's personal income tax. It directly affects workers who earn cash tips, such as servers and bartenders, by removing tax liability on that specific income. The bill adds a new section (§11-21-12o) to the tax code, explicitly stating that cash tips from any source are not subject to state income tax. This policy change provides a direct tax benefit to individuals whose income includes cash tips.

Maddy summaryHB 3127 adds a 50-cent fee to every new vehicle registration and registration renewal in West Virginia. This fee, collected by the DMV, will directly fund the Deputy Sheriff’s Retirement Fund. The bill amends existing law to redirect these registration fees - paid by all vehicle owners - to support retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs. It does not change registration requirements or create new taxes beyond the specified fee. The policy change is limited to reallocating this existing fee stream to a specific retirement fund.

Maddy summaryHB 3148 creates a four-year pilot program in Kanawha, Ohio, Mineral, and Raleigh counties to provide firefighting training through community colleges. The bill covers tuition and fees for eligible high school students and others taking approved Fire Fighter I and II courses, which align with state fire commission requirements. It requires the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to fund these courses directly and mandates annual reports to the Legislature on participation, credentials earned, costs, and program effectiveness. The program will sunset after four years (ending July 2029) unless extended by the Legislature based on evaluation findings.

Maddy summaryHB 2515 requires West Virginia K-6 teachers to document and report student behavior that is violent, threatening, intimidating, or creates an unsafe learning environment. Teachers must file a report in the WVEIS system within 24 hours of excluding a student, and students excluded three times in a month may face in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or alternative learning center placement. The bill clarifies it does not conflict with federal disability laws (IDEA and Section 504) and prohibits suspending students solely for absenteeism. It also mandates the State Board adopt a statewide disciplinary policy for grades 6-12. This directly affects elementary school teachers, students with disruptive behavior, and school administrators managing discipline.

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 2521 provides a one-time cost-of-living supplement to West Virginia state retirees with annual retirement benefits under $75,000. To qualify, retirees must be at least 65 years old and have been retired for five or more consecutive years as of July 1, 2026. The supplement equals 10% of their annual benefit amount below $75,000, paid as a single lump sum. This policy change specifically affects lower-income retirees under the state retirement system who meet the age and tenure requirements, effective July 2026. The bill does not create ongoing annual increases but offers a one-time adjustment to retirement benefits.