Del. Clay Riley

Maddy summaryHJR 12 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify term limits for West Virginia's executive officers. It would prevent elected officials (like Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Agriculture Commissioner) from holding other elected offices during their term. For most executive roles, it limits service to three consecutive terms starting January 1, 2028, with pre-2028 terms not counting toward this limit. The amendment also clarifies that a Governor who served two consecutive terms cannot run immediately after, though current officeholders are exempt from this restriction. The proposal requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4125 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who pay income taxes to foreign countries on income also subject to West Virginia taxation, preventing double taxation. It directly affects West Virginia residents earning foreign income who have already paid taxes to foreign governments. The bill allows a credit against West Virginia taxes equal to foreign taxes paid, but only if double taxation would otherwise occur after federal tax rules apply. The credit expires on July 1, 2070, as specified in the bill's sunset provision.

Maddy summaryHB 2742 creates a temporary waiver for certain water and sewer service projects from needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" permit. This waiver applies specifically to projects funded in whole or part by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFR) money, and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (or the Water Development Authority for Economic Enhancement Grants). The waiver expires on April 30, 2025, and applies to projects that meet technical feasibility standards. It directly affects utility providers with at least 4,500 customers and $3 million in annual revenue, streamlining approval for eligible infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHB 3279 increases the size of West Virginia University’s (WVU) Board of Governors from 19 to 20 members and adds specific requirements for representation. It mandates one board member with expertise in agriculture, forestry, or related sciences, plus representatives from WVU Institute of Technology and Potomac State College graduates. The bill also clarifies that faculty, student, and employee members serve in nonvoting advisory roles, while requiring appointed members to reflect West Virginia residency and political balance (e.g., no more than nine of 15 WVU appointees from one party). These changes directly affect WVU and West Virginia State University (WVSU) boards, ensuring their composition aligns with state needs and institutional missions.

Maddy summaryHB 2548 clarifies the specific responsibilities of the state superintendent when implementing state education rules. It directly affects the state superintendent's office and education agencies by defining exactly how they must handle rule adoption and enforcement. The bill specifies that the superintendent must provide written guidance to school districts on rule implementation timelines and procedures. This change removes ambiguity in current processes, ensuring consistent application of education regulations across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 3492, now Chapter 188 of the 2025 regular session laws, establishes a framework for municipal economic opportunity development districts. These districts are designed to stimulate local economic growth in designated areas through targeted development incentives. The bill directly affects municipalities that create such districts and businesses operating within them. Specific mechanisms like tax abatements or streamlined permitting are not detailed in the provided context, but the law enables local governments to develop these zones to foster job creation and investment. (Note: The context does not include the bill's specific provisions, so key mechanisms cannot be described beyond the general purpose stated in the title.)

Maddy summaryHB 3297 establishes the Washington Center for Civics, Culture, and Statesmanship at West Virginia University. The bill creates a new academic center focused on teaching civics, American culture, and leadership principles, directly affecting West Virginia University as its host institution. It authorizes the university to develop programs and use state funds for the center’s operations, with no additional funding specified in the bill text. The bill became law on April 30, 2025, as Chapter 149 of the 2025 Acts.

Maddy summaryHB 3187 establishes a West Virginia Task Force on Artificial Intelligence to study the impacts of AI on the state's economy, workforce, and public services. The task force, composed of state officials and industry experts, must analyze AI's effects on jobs, ethics, and regulatory needs, then submit recommendations to the legislature by 2026. This law directly affects state agencies responsible for implementing AI-related policies and provides a structured process for addressing emerging technology challenges. The bill became effective on July 31, 2025, after approval by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 3152 directs the West Virginia Auditor to issue payment warrants for specific pre-existing claims against state agencies, totaling over $500,000. It affects named claimants including businesses (like Eastern Electric LLC and Progressive Electric, Inc.), individuals (such as Shawn Thomas Lester), and organizations (like the West Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Facilities), with payments sourced from either the General Revenue Fund or State Road Fund. The bill declares these claims as the state's "moral obligations" and authorizes direct payment without requiring new appropriations. This is a procedural payment order for settled claims, not a new policy or program.

Maddy summaryHB 3440 repeals outdated sections of West Virginia law (§12-1A-1 through §12-1A-9) related to the State Treasurer’s Office, specifically removing obsolete rules about accepting surety bonds and certificates of deposit as collateral for state deposits. The bill updates the legal framework by eliminating redundant provisions while preserving the core requirement that state depositories provide collateralized bonds for uninsured funds (per §12-1-4). This directly affects the State Treasurer’s Office and financial institutions handling state funds by simplifying compliance with current deposit regulations. The change streamlines administrative processes without altering the fundamental safeguards for state money held in depositories.