Rep. Laura Kimble

Maddy summaryHB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 4600 requires that all absentee ballots for primary and general elections must be received by 8:00 p.m. on election day to be counted. This applies to voters who request absentee ballots by mail or electronically. The bill amends West Virginia law to establish a clear deadline for ballot receipt, ensuring all absentee ballots are processed by the same time as in-person voting. It directly affects voters who choose to mail in their ballots, requiring timely delivery to meet the election day cutoff.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 5427, the "Anti-Doxxing and Privacy Protection Act," prohibits publishing another person's personally identifiable information (PII) without consent when intending to harass, threaten, stalk, or cause harm. It directly affects individuals who engage in malicious doxxing (e.g., sharing home addresses, phone numbers, or location data to intimidate) and protects victims, including public officials, healthcare workers, and private citizens. Key provisions establish criminal penalties for violations, allow civil lawsuits for victims, and create procedures for redacting PII from public records when safety is at risk. The bill explicitly excludes lawful public records disclosures, judicial proceedings, and good-faith journalism to preserve constitutional protections.

Maddy summaryHB 5419 amends West Virginia law to include search and rescue dogs from community groups under the West Virginia Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program in the definition of "law-enforcement officer" while they are actively working with human officers or search and rescue members. This change allows community search and rescue members to use reasonable force to protect these dogs, similar to how they would defend a human officer. The bill clarifies that the dogs are not state employees and do not receive employee protections or administrative status. The legislation aims to provide legal safeguards for these animals during their operational duties.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 12 declares January 27, 2026, as Sexual Violence Awareness Day in West Virginia. The resolution recognizes West Virginia's high rates of sexual coercion victimization (ranking 5th nationally for women) and the significant impact of sexual violence on the state. It symbolically supports local victim services agencies and advocates working to address sexual violence, without creating new laws or funding. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5236 requires county commissions to inspect all ballot tabulating equipment one week before in-person voting to confirm no internet connectivity (no modems or SIM cards installed) and that equipment is properly sealed. It also mandates the Secretary of State to randomly audit 10% of tabulating equipment in at least five counties 14 days before elections, verifying the same internet connectivity requirements. Both inspections require detailed written reports documenting findings, including verification of no internet components, sealing status, and any necessary corrective actions. This bill directly affects county election officials and the Secretary of State by adding mandatory pre-election verification steps to enforce existing law prohibiting internet-connected voting equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 5231 requires West Virginia counties to use separate voting machines exclusively for training purposes (not for actual elections), with exceptions only during emergencies like machine failures or funding shortages. It mandates that all automatic tabulating equipment be tested for accuracy one week before voting begins, using pre-audited ballots to verify vote counting, with public notice of the test required. Counties must certify the equipment is error-free, seal all testing materials under multiple locks, and submit results to the state Election Commission for one year. This directly affects county election officials, who must establish written security policies and comply with these testing and machine separation rules for all statewide elections.

Maddy summaryHB 5209 creates a state registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse (misdemeanor or felony) in West Virginia. It requires these individuals to register with the West Virginia State Police and pay an annual $125 fee, which funds mental health services for state police employees. The registry is integrated into an existing "Central Abuse Registry" that already includes records for child abuse, elder abuse, and sex offenses. This bill directly affects only those with final convictions for animal abuse crimes, not suspected abusers or general animal cruelty cases.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.