Del. Adam Burkhammer

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Recovery Acceleration Act allows West Virginia homeowners to rebuild or repair homes damaged by natural disasters up to 125% of the original square footage without triggering new development standards or lengthy environmental reviews. It requires rebuilding to follow current building codes, while preserving any grandfathered rules (such as older construction standards) that applied to the original property. This applies directly to individuals restoring their own residential property after a disaster, aiming to simplify and speed up recovery efforts. The bill does not alter building code requirements but removes additional regulatory barriers for reconstruction.

Maddy summaryHB 4397 increases the state tax rate for licensed online gambling operators in West Virginia from 15% to 25% of their adjusted gross revenue from interactive wagering. This bill directly affects companies holding licenses to operate online lottery and gambling services in the state. The tax replaces all other state and local taxes on these operations (except property tax), and operators must pay weekly via electronic transfer. The bill also prohibits tax credits for investments in gaming equipment or property used for these services. This is a straightforward tax rate adjustment with no new program provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4349 would amend West Virginia law to exempt volunteer firefighters with at least five years of service from paying vehicle registration fees and license plate costs. The bill directly affects eligible volunteer firefighters by removing these recurring expenses for their personal vehicles used in their service. Key provision: qualified volunteers would receive free license plates and registration, similar to existing exemptions for farm vehicles or government-owned vehicles under §17A-3-2. This is a concrete policy change removing a specific fee requirement, not a procedural or commemorative measure. The bill does not specify funding sources or implementation details beyond the eligibility requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 4386 removes the 35-year maximum age limit for new applicants seeking appointment to paid fire departments in West Virginia. This change directly affects individuals over 35 who wish to join a fire department as new hires, eliminating the current restriction in §8-15-17(d) of state law. The bill amends the application requirements to allow anyone aged 18 or older to apply, while maintaining existing exceptions for veterans (up to age 40) and reinstated former firefighters. Key provisions include deleting the age cap but preserving retirement system rules for applicants moving between departments. The bill does not alter the 18-year minimum age requirement or the existing veteran/reinstatement exceptions.

Maddy summaryHB 4357 modifies West Virginia's foster care termination rules to better protect children's stability. It extends the period before a foster care arrangement can end from 18 months to 6 months for children where parental rights have been terminated. The bill requires foster parents to apply for adoption within 30 days of parental rights termination, or the department may terminate placement if a more suitable option exists. It also clarifies procedures for keeping siblings together in foster care or adoption, ensuring children 12+ can choose to remain in their current placement if it serves their best interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia medical examiners to collect specific information - such as photographs, dental x-rays, fingerprints, and DNA samples - when identifying human remains to improve matching with missing persons cases. It mandates that medical examiners and the West Virginia State Police promptly submit all available identification data to NamUs (the national missing persons database) and law enforcement systems within 30 days if remains remain unidentified. The bill also prohibits disposing of remains before collecting DNA samples and photos, and requires notifying law enforcement when remains are linked to a missing person. These changes aim to streamline identification efforts and connect remains to missing persons families more efficiently.

Maddy summaryHB 4384 would temporarily suspend a vulnerable adult's existing medical power of attorney during an active adult protective services investigation into alleged abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. The state department would immediately file a new medical power of attorney to replace the existing one, taking over medical decision-making for the vulnerable adult. If a court later substantiates abuse, the original medical power of attorney would be permanently invalidated. This bill directly affects vulnerable adults and their designated medical decision-makers during investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 4381 clarifies property rights when local churches disaffiliate from religious conferences or denominations. It allows churches to retain ownership of their property but requires them to reimburse the conference for investments made in the property (like maintenance or improvements), based on a transparent accounting provided by the conference. Churches are not required to reimburse for their own property improvements. The bill directly affects local churches seeking to leave larger religious organizations, ensuring property disputes are resolved through clear financial accountability rather than legal battles. This is a concrete policy change addressing ownership rights in disaffiliation cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4391 requires West Virginia courts to make final decisions in child abuse and neglect cases within 12 months of the initial petition being filed. This applies directly to courts, child protective services agencies, and families involved in these proceedings. The bill establishes a strict deadline by adding §49-4-611 to state law, mandating that disposition decisions (the court's final ruling on the case) must occur no later than 12 months after the petition is filed. It does not change the definitions of abuse or neglect, but sets a clear timeline for court action. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee following its introduction on January 15, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4383, the West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026, requires all K-12 schools in West Virginia to install air quality monitors measuring CO₂, PM2.5, VOCs, and humidity by 2029. The bill mandates phased implementation: monitors in all elementary classrooms by 2027, 50% of middle/high school classrooms by 2028 (prioritizing special education and high-risk areas), and full coverage by 2029. Schools must publicly display real-time air quality data via a state-maintained dashboard and submit corrective action plans if pollution exceeds health standards. This directly affects every county school district operating K-12 facilities across West Virginia.