Del. Adam Burkhammer

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6) expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for developing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, specifically an intra-Panhandle pipeline connecting western gas fields to the Eastern Panhandle. It aims to improve access to locally produced natural gas for residents, support industrial and commercial growth, and create jobs across the state. The resolution highlights West Virginia's status as a top natural gas producer and notes that existing pipelines transport most output out of state, while Maryland's opposition to pipeline extensions is cited as a barrier. It does not create new laws or funding but urges responsible infrastructure expansion to boost economic development. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct legal effect but signals legislative backing for pipeline projects.

Maddy summaryHB 5516 requires the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to process all appeals in abuse and neglect cases within six months of filing. This directly affects individuals, families, and child welfare agencies involved in these legal cases, as well as the court system handling the appeals. The bill amends existing law to establish a strict 6-month deadline for processing, replacing the previous timeline without specifying exceptions. This policy change focuses solely on accelerating the court's review process for these specific cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5497 provides legal immunity to employees of child advocacy centers (CACs) in West Virginia for actions taken during child abuse investigations or while delivering CAC services. This immunity applies to routine work in the investigation process but does not protect against liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional harm. The bill amends West Virginia Code §49-3-101 to explicitly add this immunity provision for CAC staff. It directly affects CAC employees who participate in child abuse response teams, shielding them from personal lawsuits for their professional conduct in these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5496 would create a new felony offense of "child torture" in West Virginia law, targeting individuals aged 16 or older who subject children to specific severe acts. The bill defines "torture" to include 12 concrete acts like breaking limbs, inflicting prolonged pain, depriving food/water, sexual abuse, or terrorizing a child to cause significant harm. If bodily injury occurs, offenders face 10-25 years in prison with no parole before 10 years served; if no injury occurs, sentences are 10-20 years with no parole before 8 years served. This bill directly affects perpetrators of severe child abuse and would establish new criminal penalties for these specific acts under West Virginia Code §61-8D-11.

Maddy summaryHB 5481 bans ultraprocessed foods from West Virginia public school meals while exempting certain non-alcoholic beverages (like diet drinks). It defines ultraprocessed foods as industrially manufactured items containing additives like artificial sweeteners, industrial flavorings, or preservatives beyond basic cooking methods. The bill requires schools participating in state meal programs to avoid these foods in reimbursable breakfasts and lunches, directing the West Virginia Department of Education to create compliant food lists, provide training, and allow phased implementation. It explicitly excludes foods brought from home, classroom celebrations, and medical accommodations, ensuring no impact on federal meal funding eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 4782, the Sustainable Child-serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act, updates foster care payment rates in West Virginia to better reflect current costs. The bill requires the state to reset base rates for basic, special, and therapeutic foster care using current cost data, with automatic annual adjustments based on recognized cost indexes like the Employment Cost Index for health care. It also mandates that therapeutic foster care and child-placing agency administrative rates be adjusted to current costs and include new incentive payments to support provider retention and stable placements. This bill directly affects foster care providers, child-placing agencies, and the Department of Human Services by changing how foster care payments are calculated and adjusted.

Maddy summaryHB 5443 increases compensation rates for panel attorneys and guardian ad litem professionals working in West Virginia's public defender and child welfare cases. It requires the Public Defender Services to pay approved vouchers within 45 business days, establishes clearer rules for submitting and reviewing billing records, and creates a formal process for resolving payment disputes. The bill also adds new definitions related to child abuse cases and expands when courts may skip "reasonable efforts" to keep families together. These changes directly affect legal professionals appointed in public defender cases and child welfare proceedings. The bill focuses on streamlining payment processes and clarifying requirements for court-appointed legal services.

Maddy summaryHB 5439 would create a statewide pollinator protection program under West Virginia's Department of Agriculture to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The program requires the department to develop a plan with input from beekeepers, farmers, and conservation groups, focusing on planting pollinator-friendly habitats on private property and in state parks and forests. Key provisions include mitigating damage from invasive plant species, encouraging low-maintenance habitat creation, identifying educational opportunities, and leveraging existing state/federal grants for conservation. The goal is to protect pollinator health while supporting West Virginia's agricultural economy and beekeeping industry.

Maddy summaryHB 5429 amends West Virginia's Foster Child Bill of Rights to replace the term "travel bag" with "luggage" and defines luggage as a suitcase, duffel bag, backpack, or similar container for personal belongings. This change ensures foster care children moving between placements have a proper, durable container to transport their belongings securely. The bill directly affects children in foster care who are transferred between homes, guaranteeing they can move personal items without relying on temporary or inadequate solutions. It clarifies an existing right without creating new state requirements or costs, focusing on practical implementation for child welfare agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 4382 requires collection agencies in West Virginia to provide debtors with 30 days' written notice (via certified mail) before initiating wage garnishment. It also mandates that agencies send monthly statements showing the current balance owed on the debt. These requirements directly affect debtors facing potential wage garnishment by giving them advance notice and clearer information about their debt. The bill amends existing law to strengthen transparency and notice requirements for debt collection practices.