Del. Chuck Sheedy

Maddy summaryHB 4445 would exempt the sale of small arms (such as rifles, shotguns, and pistols) and related items from West Virginia's sales and service taxes. This includes small arms ammunition, accessories like holsters and optics, storage devices (e.g., safes and cases), and fees for shooting sports events. The bill defines these terms to clarify the scope of the exemption, ensuring it applies only to specified firearms and related products. The stated purpose is to reduce costs for residents purchasing these items to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryHB 4368 defines "military-connected students" as children of active-duty, reserve, or deceased military members and establishes new enrollment and support rules for them in West Virginia schools. The bill allows remote school enrollment without physical registration using military orders (with options for temporary or permanent addresses), ensures equitable access to academic courses and extracurricular activities, and requires schools to provide counseling and support services when a parent is activated for duty. It also mandates prompt coordination for students with disabilities during transfers and permits military-connected students to remain at their school until completing the highest grade level offered there. These provisions directly affect military-connected students, their families, and local education agencies across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2121 extends an existing property tax exemption to widowed spouses of disabled veterans who died while receiving service-connected disability benefits. Previously, this exemption expired upon the veteran's death, but the bill allows widows to retain the tax break after their spouse's passing. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities who were receiving benefits at the time of death. The law, effective July 31, 2025, modifies the state's property tax code to maintain this benefit for qualifying widows.

Maddy summaryHB 3179 limits West Virginia's Public Service Commission's authority to order the acquisition of distressed or failing water and wastewater utilities. It requires the Commission to first evaluate alternatives like utility reorganization, management contracts, or mergers before ordering an acquisition, and prohibits forced acquisitions if the cost of necessary upgrades exceeds standard rates plus available grant funds. The bill also mandates annual reporting of distressed/failing utilities to the Legislature, Water Development Authority, and Infrastructure Council. This aims to prevent acquiring utilities from facing financial hardship due to costly acquisitions.

Maddy summaryHB 2387 repeals a requirement for hunters to obtain a Class A1 pistol stamp when using such firearms for hunting. This change directly affects hunters in the state who previously needed this specific stamp for Class A1 pistols during hunting activities. The bill eliminates the administrative step of securing the stamp, streamlining the process for eligible hunters. The law took effect on July 31, 2025, after being approved by the governor on April 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2511 allows charitable organizations to sell and serve alcohol during bingo events they host for fundraising. It directly affects nonprofit groups, such as churches or community centers, that operate charitable bingo games. The bill removes previous restrictions by permitting alcohol sales and consumption while bingo is being played, aligning with updated regulations for these events. This change became law after the governor approved it on April 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 89 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a bridge in Marshall County (on WV 002 over Big Grave Creek, currently called Lindsey Bridge) as the "U.S. Army SP4 Kermit Harold Yoho Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the bridge with this new name, honoring Specialist Four Kermit Harold Yoho, a West Virginia native who died in Vietnam in 1966. This is a memorial resolution with no substantive policy changes, solely focused on naming a specific bridge.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 24) requests the West Virginia Division of Highways to rename bridge number 52-250/00-009.13 (currently known as Littleton Bridge) in Wetzel County as the "Postlethwait Brothers Memorial Bridge." It honors four brothers - Clarence, John Lloyd, Frank, and George Postlethwait - who served in multiple wars (World War II, Korea, Vietnam) with distinguished military careers. The resolution, which passed unanimously on April 12, 2025, directs the Division of Highways to install signage identifying the bridge with this new name.

Maddy summaryHCR 50 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename Wetzel Street Bridge (Bridge Number 52-N00/99-000.03) in Wetzel County to the "Alfred E. Garrison Memorial Bridge." It commemorates Alfred E. Garrison, a local veteran who served in the U.S. Army, worked as a police officer in Hundred, WV, and drove school buses for Wetzel County. The resolution directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge with this new name. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes beyond the bridge naming.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 13) is a naming resolution requesting that West Virginia's Division of Highways rename Cameron Ridge Bridge (Bridge Number 26-023/00-007.19, carrying CR 023 over Grave Creek in Marshall County) as the "Corporal James E. Jackley Memorial Bridge." It directs the Division of Highways to install signs with the new name and formally requests the change. The resolution commemorates Corporal James E. Jackley, a WWII veteran from Cameron, WV, who received military honors including Purple Hearts. The bill was adopted by both legislative chambers on April 12, 2025.