Del. Chuck Sheedy

Maddy summaryHB 3457 increases tax credits for property owners rehabilitating certified historic buildings in West Virginia from 10% to 25% of eligible costs for projects starting after December 2017. It allows owners to claim credits incrementally as each phase of a renovation is completed (rather than waiting for the full project), provided they submit final certification within 60 months. To qualify, owners must not be behind on state, local, or property taxes and must have the building designated as historic by the National Park Service. The credit applies to both residential and commercial properties meeting federal historic preservation standards.

Maddy summaryHB 3458 would modify West Virginia's tax on racetrack table games by exempting the first $7,142,857.14 of annual revenue from a 35% tax. It directly affects racetracks operating lottery table games, replacing all other state and local taxes on these operations (except property tax) with this single tax. The bill requires weekly tax payments on revenue exceeding the exemption threshold, calculated using the accrual method, and allows negative weekly revenue to be carried forward. This changes the tax structure to reduce burdens on lower-revenue operations while maintaining a 35% rate on higher earnings.

Maddy summaryHCR 92 is a non-binding legislative resolution prohibiting compensation for assisting veterans with benefits applications, except as permitted under federal law. It bans charging fees for preparing, presenting, or advising on veterans' benefits claims, guaranteeing specific benefit amounts, or charging excessive fees. The resolution requires written agreements meeting federal fee standards (38 CFR §14.636) before any assistance is provided. It aims to protect veterans from exploitative fees when seeking benefits support.

Maddy summaryHB 3341 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders in West Virginia. It allows specific licensed mental health professionals - such as psychologists, licensed counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners - to diagnose PTSD as a compensable injury, rather than restricting it to psychiatrists alone. Employers must elect to cover PTSD under their workers' compensation policies, and claims must be filed within three years of diagnosis. The law applies only to diagnoses made on or after July 1, 2021, and expires on July 1, 2026, unless extended by the legislature. This directly affects law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and emergency dispatchers who develop PTSD from work-related traumatic events.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 3323) requires healthcare providers, law enforcement, and emergency responders to report overdose data within 24 hours to the Office of Drug Control Policy. The collected data will populate a public dashboard tracking non-fatal and fatal overdoses, opioid antagonist use, drug types, and treatment outcomes - including location, demographics, and trends - to inform resource allocation and program effectiveness. It does not expand diversion programs to include felonies, as mistakenly implied in the title; the actual provisions focus solely on overdose reporting and data transparency. The bill mandates a daily-updated public dashboard with visualizations, including overdose hotspots and medication-assisted treatment coordination. This policy change directly affects hospitals, first responders, and law enforcement agencies by requiring standardized data reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 3296 clarifies and strengthens how West Virginia municipalities can address dilapidated or abandoned properties. The bill allows municipalities to locate owners of such properties and report non-compliance to credit agencies, potentially affecting the owner's credit rating. It also requires property owners to cover the costs of demolishing unsafe structures instead of municipalities bearing those expenses. This directly affects property owners of unsafe buildings and local governments responsible for public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 3288 requires that 5% of all elk hunting permits issued in West Virginia be reserved for West Virginia residents who are honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This applies specifically to permits under the state's elk restoration program in designated counties, including Logan, Mingo, McDowell, and Wyoming. The bill does not change the total number of permits but sets aside a fixed percentage for veterans, with the remaining permits available through standard application processes. The Division of Natural Resources will administer this allocation as part of the elk management plan.

Maddy summaryHB 3278 amends West Virginia's retirement law to ensure retired public employees who named a spouse as a beneficiary receive their full original retirement payment amount if that spouse dies before them. It directly affects current and future retirees who had elected a joint survivor benefit option. The key provision clarifies that upon the death of a spouse beneficiary, the retirant's annuity is adjusted to the same amount they would have received had they never nominated a spouse beneficiary. This change eliminates the reduced payment previously applied when a spouse beneficiary predeceases the retirant. The bill does not alter existing rules for changing beneficiaries due to divorce or remarriage.

Maddy summaryHB 3221, the Burial Equity Act, expands burial benefits in West Virginia state cemeteries to include eligible former National Guard and military reserve members (such as Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Active Guard Reserve), their spouses, and dependent children. It sets specific eligibility criteria: four years of service, two years of West Virginia residency before death (or service in West Virginia units), and a non-dishonorable discharge, with retroactive application for deaths after March 15, 2022. The bill creates a Burial Equity Grant Program administered by the Veterans Affairs department, offering up to $1,000 per family to cover burial costs on a first-come, first-served basis. It also establishes a dedicated Burial Equity Fund, initially funded with $50,000 from the legislature, to support these grants using state appropriations, federal funds, and private donations.

Maddy summaryHB 3130 strengthens animal welfare protections in West Virginia by requiring pet owners to confine unspayed female dogs during heat cycles and increasing penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenses. The bill defines new criminal offenses like unlawful confinement and animal hoarding, with mandatory mental health treatment for hoarding cases, and updates humane officers' duties to include reporting suspected child abuse, elder neglect, or domestic violence linked to animal cruelty. It also mandates that animal facilities provide public access to stray and surrendered animals and establishes clear standards for temporary and primary enclosures. These changes directly affect pet owners, animal shelters, and law enforcement officers across the state.