Del. Laura Kimble

Maddy summaryHB 4787, the Anti-Terrorism Act, creates new felony charges for terrorism in West Virginia, directly affecting individuals or groups committing acts defined as terrorism (including violent protests, riots, or attacks on critical infrastructure). Key provisions include mandatory consecutive prison sentences with no probation, restitution payments to victims up to three times their economic harm (such as lost wages or business shutdown costs), and requiring the Attorney General to designate terroristic entities. The bill also explicitly defines fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and prohibits "terrorist swatting" (false emergency reports to harass targets). It applies to anyone committing terrorism within West Virginia, regardless of where the act occurred.

Maddy summaryHB 4757 (West Virginia, 2026) prohibits requiring patients to receive, be administered, or disclose medical treatment history unless the manufacturer of the medical product is liable for death or serious injury caused by it. The bill directly affects patients and healthcare providers by blocking mandatory treatments or disclosure of medical product use, applying to all medical devices, drugs, and biologics. Its key mechanism requires manufacturer liability as a condition before any medical product use or disclosure can be mandated. The bill aims to establish privacy rights around medical treatments but does not create new penalties or enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 4718, the Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act, requires nonresident commercial truck drivers operating in West Virginia to present a valid work visa and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) while driving. It also mandates that drivers demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete required records. Commercial motor carriers face $3,000 fines per violation if their drivers fail to meet these requirements, while drivers operating without compliance risk a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The bill additionally allows the state to adopt the FMCSA's Even Exchange Program, waiving skills tests for military drivers with relevant experience and certain first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 4435 would increase the mandatory manual audit requirement for West Virginia elections from the current standard to 10% of precincts during the election canvass. The bill requires election boards to hand-count voter-verified paper ballots in randomly selected precincts, and if discrepancies exceed 1% or change the election outcome, it mandates a full manual recount of all ballots in that precinct. The hand-count results would become the official vote record in cases of significant discrepancies. This change directly affects county election boards conducting canvasses and applies to all statewide and local elections governed by West Virginia election law.

Maddy summaryHB 4753 prohibits public utility companies (like electricity, gas, and water providers) from using funds collected from customers to make political contributions or charitable donations. Specifically, it bans contributions to political candidates, campaigns, political action committees, or charitable organizations using ratepayer money. Violations would be classified as criminal offenses with penalties, and the bill creates new legal definitions to clarify these restrictions. The law directly affects utility companies and their use of customer funds, aiming to prevent public money from influencing politics or charity.

Maddy summaryHB 4681 would allow West Virginia residents injured by Covid-19 vaccines to sue pharmaceutical companies for damages without limits on the amount they can recover. Currently, drug manufacturers typically avoid liability for vaccine injuries by providing warnings to healthcare providers (the "learned intermediary" rule), but this bill removes that protection specifically for Covid-19 vaccines. The law change would let injured individuals seek full compensation in court for vaccine-related harm. This exception applies only to Covid-19 vaccines and does not affect liability rules for other drugs or medical devices.

Maddy summaryHB 4684 eliminates tax credits for corporations and businesses using solar, wind, or other renewable energy systems after July 1, 2025, while maintaining tax credits for individual homeowners with residential renewable energy systems. It also requires renewable energy projects to be set back at least one mile from residential homes and mandates $400 million in liability insurance per 100 acres for cleanup after disasters. The bill directly affects commercial renewable energy operators by removing financial incentives, but does not impact residential users. These changes aim to reduce state subsidies for large-scale renewable energy operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4682, the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act, prohibits West Virginia law enforcement officers and local government officials from using specific surveillance and artificial intelligence technologies without a warrant. It bans real-time security monitoring, facial recognition, license plate readers, surveillance drones, and other listed tools for law enforcement purposes unless a court issues a warrant based on probable cause. Violators face felony charges with penalties including up to one year in prison and $10,000 fines per violation. The bill also allows individuals to sue officials who violate these restrictions and requires immediate discontinuation of existing use of banned technologies by all local governments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 4683 prohibits data centers from using groundwater or aquifers for cooling, directly affecting new and existing data center facilities in West Virginia. The bill requires data centers to use alternative cooling methods like closed-loop systems, air-cooling, or reclaimed water, and mandates real-time water monitoring with public reporting of usage. It also imposes pre-construction requirements including hydrogeologic studies and denies permits if aquifer impacts are identified. Violations trigger daily civil penalties of at least $50,000 and permit revocation. The law aims to protect groundwater resources, private wells, and municipal water supplies from depletion caused by data center operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4664 increases compensation rates for panel attorneys who represent eligible clients in public defense cases in West Virginia. It directly affects these attorneys and the Public Defender Services agency that processes their payments. Key provisions require Public Defender Services to annually report to oversight bodies on legal services provided by panel attorneys, while also clarifying voucher submission, review, and dispute resolution processes for compensation claims. The bill aims to improve payment accuracy and transparency without altering the core structure of public defense funding.