Del. Clay Riley

Maddy summaryHJR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit service in five specific West Virginia constitutional offices to three consecutive terms, effective January 1, 2029. It directly affects the Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Agriculture. The amendment prevents any individual from serving more than three consecutive terms in these roles for terms beginning after January 1, 2029, while grandfathering terms served prior to that date. The proposed change must be ratified by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2928 creates two tax credits for West Virginia residents aged 18-40: a credit equal to accumulated student loan interest (or $1,000 annually for graduates without loans) and a refundable child care credit matching federal dependent care deductions. It applies to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and requires taxpayers to have lived in West Virginia for at least three years. The bill directly affects young professionals with student debt or child care costs, offering cash payments for qualifying expenses. It does not change existing tax rates but provides new refundable credits to reduce state income tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 2388 would amend West Virginia's wage and hour law to exempt seasonal ski area workers from standard maximum hour requirements. Specifically, it adds a new exemption for employees working less than seven months per year at ski areas, excluding them from overtime and hour limits under §21-5C-3. This directly affects seasonal workers at ski resorts during their limited operational seasons. The bill does not change minimum wage rules but modifies hour restrictions for this specific group of workers. The exemption applies only to those employed seasonally, as defined in the new provision.

Maddy summaryHB 2628 amends West Virginia law to classify attacks on police service canines (K-9 units) as felonies. The bill adds "police service canine" to the definition of "law-enforcement officer" for protection purposes and increases penalties for intentionally harming them while on duty. Specifically, malicious assaults causing injury to a K-9 would carry 3-15 years in prison, up from misdemeanor penalties for similar attacks on human officers. This directly affects K-9 units and their handlers by granting them the same legal protections as human law enforcement officers. The bill does not change existing protections for human officers but extends felony-level penalties to attacks targeting K-9s.

Maddy summaryHB 2523 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who pay income tax to foreign countries on income also subject to West Virginia tax, preventing double taxation. It directly affects West Virginia residents with foreign-sourced income who already pay foreign income taxes. The credit allows them to offset their West Virginia tax liability by the amount paid to foreign governments, but only when federal tax rules would otherwise cause double taxation. The credit expires on July 1, 2070, as specified in the bill's sunset provision.

Maddy summaryHB 2642 establishes a Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) financing program in West Virginia, allowing commercial property owners to fund eligible improvements like energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, and stormwater management. The program, administered by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority with private partners, enables property owners to repay loans through special assessments added to their property tax bills. Eligible properties include most commercial real estate (excluding small residential buildings), and the special lien on the property has priority over mortgages only if subordination agreements are signed by existing lienholders. This creates a new financing tool for property upgrades without requiring new property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 2627, the Natural Gas Electric Generation Development Act, requires West Virginia's Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) to identify suitable sites for natural gas power plants near gas supplies and consumers. The bill mandates that WVEDA report these sites to the Air Quality Division and Public Service Commission, while requiring developers to obtain construction and operating permits with expedited review. It aims to address regulatory delays hindering natural gas electricity projects, which the legislature states are underdeveloped compared to neighboring states. The bill directly affects natural gas power developers, WVEDA, and state environmental and utility agencies by streamlining site selection and permitting processes.

Maddy summaryHJR 18 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit consecutive service for West Virginia legislators to 12 years in the same chamber (House of Delegates or Senate). It would apply to current and future members, starting January 1, 2030, with terms served before that date not counting toward the limit. The amendment resets the count if a legislator leaves office for any reason during the 12-year period, but allows them to run for the other chamber or other elected offices after reaching the limit. This change requires voter approval in the 2028 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHJR 20 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit terms for certain West Virginia executive officers. It prohibits elected executive officers (like Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Agriculture Commissioner) from holding other elected offices during their term. The amendment limits individuals to three consecutive terms in the specific offices listed, starting January 1, 2027, with terms before that date not counting toward the limit. This resolution requires voter approval at the 2026 general election to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 2480 proposes merging West Virginia's 55 county school boards into 11 consolidated boards, with each new board covering five counties and having two members per county. The bill requires this consolidation to take effect on July 1, 2026, and directs the State Board of Education to establish rules for the transition. It cites declining enrollment, rising costs, and inequitable funding as reasons for the change, stating savings from reduced administration could be reinvested in teacher salaries, school programs, or tax relief. This directly affects all 55 counties by altering how local school governance operates.