Del. Elías Coop-González

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 16) designates November 7, 2026, and every subsequent year as "Victims of Communism Memorial Day." It is a symbolic, commemorative resolution with no legal effect or direct impact on specific individuals or policies. The resolution honors victims of communist regimes globally, referencing historical events like the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the work of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. It requires the House Clerk to notify the Foundation and post the designation online, but does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5667 directs $20 million from the Division of Economic Development to the West Virginia Division of Highways (Region 2) for accelerating road repairs in Wayne and Mingo Counties, effective July 1, 2026. It also directs $20 million from the Water Development Authority - $10 million to Wayne County Commission and $10 million to Mingo County Commission - for water infrastructure projects in those counties, effective the same date. The bill specifies these funds must be used for public road repairs and water system improvements, respectively. It does not create new taxes or alter existing programs but reallocates existing state funds to targeted local infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryHB 5619 requires public buildings, schools, and libraries in West Virginia (funded by state, county, or municipal public funds) to display the national motto "In God We Trust" and a historical version of the Ten Commandments under specific conditions. The motto must appear on an 11"x14" poster with U.S. and West Virginia flags, while the Ten Commandments must be displayed on a 16"x20" poster in school libraries/classrooms and public facilities. Funding for these displays must come solely from private donations, gifts, or grants - **not public funds** - and only if such funds are available. The bill applies to all public buildings designed, constructed, or maintained with taxpayer money, including schools and government facilities.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5592 would allow pharmacists and pharmacies to sell ivermectin to consumers without a prescription, removing current requirements for a doctor's order. This change applies specifically to human use of ivermectin and overrides existing provisions in West Virginia law that currently require a prescription. The bill directly affects pharmacies, pharmacists, and individuals seeking ivermectin for personal use. It does not alter the medical use or safety of ivermectin, only the legal mechanism for its sale.

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 4468 seeks to repeal Section 61-8B-19 of the West Virginia Code, which currently sets rules for keeping court files and law-enforcement records confidential. This bill would remove the existing legal requirements governing how these records must be handled and protected. It directly affects West Virginia courts and law enforcement agencies, which currently follow these confidentiality rules. The bill does not propose new rules for confidentiality but would eliminate the current statutory framework.

Maddy summaryHB 5422 makes the Municipal Home Rule Program permanent and prohibits participating municipalities from creating local anti-discrimination ordinances that cover protected classes beyond those defined in state law. Municipalities in the program must pay an annual $2,000 fee to fund the Home Rule Board's operations, with unused funds carrying over to future years. This directly affects cities and towns that have joined the home rule program by limiting their ability to expand local protections beyond state requirements. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund for the Home Rule Board, ensuring ongoing program funding without requiring annual legislative appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 5397 would exempt the sale of firearm suppressors from West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax. This bill directly affects individuals purchasing suppressors, which are devices designed to reduce the sound of a firearm discharge. The key provision amends the tax code to specifically exclude suppressor sales from taxable transactions, aligning them with existing exemptions for small arms and ammunition. The bill does not change ownership laws or safety requirements for suppressors, only the tax treatment of their purchase.

Maddy summaryHCR 18 is a symbolic concurrent resolution passed by the West Virginia legislature declaring that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is conducting an "illegal, asymmetric war" against the U.S. and West Virginia. It claims China uses "unconventional means" including fentanyl, engineered diseases, cyberattacks, and influence operations, and directs state officials to identify PRC-affiliated entities holding public debt since 2019 for debt forgiveness. The resolution invites other states to adopt similar declarations and urges coordinated state action against China. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws or alter policy but serves as a formal statement of legislative position.