Rep. Bryan Smith

Maddy summaryHB 2093 requires West Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish an automatic renewal system for vehicle registrations, including automatic billing for renewal fees. This bill directly affects all vehicle owners in West Virginia who currently must manually renew their registrations. The key provision mandates the DMV to implement a system where renewal notices are sent automatically, and fees are charged to the owner's payment method on file without requiring manual action. The bill amends state code to create this automatic process, eliminating the need for vehicle owners to proactively visit the DMV or mail payments for registration renewals.

Maddy summaryHB 3127 adds a 50-cent fee to every new vehicle registration and registration renewal in West Virginia. This fee, collected by the DMV, will directly fund the Deputy Sheriff’s Retirement Fund. The bill amends existing law to redirect these registration fees - paid by all vehicle owners - to support retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs. It does not change registration requirements or create new taxes beyond the specified fee. The policy change is limited to reallocating this existing fee stream to a specific retirement fund.

Maddy summaryHB 3151, the Closed Captioning Act, requires public venues like restaurants, bars, hospitals, colleges, and government buildings to have at least half of their public-facing televisions display closed captions continuously during regular hours. It mandates that these venues prevent patrons from disabling captions and distribute captioned TVs so they are visible to all guests. Exceptions apply if no TVs are present or if available TVs cannot display captions. The bill defines "closed captioning" as on-screen text of audio content and takes effect upon passage. This law aims to improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in public spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 3073 requires West Virginia counties to use separate voting machines exclusively for training purposes, prohibiting their use in actual elections except in two specific emergencies: machine failure during voting or insufficient funds to purchase dedicated training machines. If counties lack funds for separate training machines, they must test and certify any machines used for training to ensure accuracy before election day. The bill mandates that all testing must follow strict procedures outlined in §3-4A-26, including public testing with pre-audited ballots and certification of error-free equipment. This directly affects county election officials and their management of voting equipment security and testing protocols.

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 2981 establishes the Constitutional Office Fleet Management Act, exempting five constitutional offices (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and Commissioner of Agriculture) from existing fleet management rules and requiring them to follow new, specific guidelines. The bill mandates these offices to maintain vehicle logs, provide driver training, and submit annual reports detailing fleet usage (including miles driven, fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and personal vehicle reimbursements). Each office must submit a written intent to comply by July 1st and may develop its own department-specific vehicle operation rules. The law also permits constitutional offices to arrange for disposal of non-state-funded vehicles while adhering to federal and GSA standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2957 changes where fees from certain agricultural-themed license plates are deposited. Specifically, it directs all fees collected for "pollinator" special license plates to be deposited into the Agriculture Fees Fund, rather than the State Road Fund. Fees for existing FFA and 4-H themed plates will continue to go to their respective funds as currently required. This bill affects organizations that apply for these special license plates, such as agricultural groups or youth organizations, by altering the destination of the fees they collect. The change is a straightforward policy adjustment to fund allocation, with no new requirements for plate applications or fees.

Maddy summaryHB 2970 requires election officials to include specific verification information on absentee ballot envelopes in West Virginia. This information allows election officials to confirm a voter's identity with high confidence when ballots are returned, without publishing personal details like signatures. The bill directly affects absentee voters and election officials who process mail-in ballots. It modifies existing absentee voting procedures under §3-3-5 of West Virginia law to add this verification step, ensuring identity confirmation while protecting voter privacy. The change applies to all absentee ballots returned by mail or electronically.

Maddy summaryHB 2969 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners. The bill raises the exemption amount from $20,000 to $30,000 immediately, with further increases to $35,000 by 2028 and $40,000 by 2030. This exemption applies to the first $30,000 (and higher amounts over time) of a home's assessed value for primary residences owned by residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled. To qualify, applicants must meet residency requirements, including being a West Virginia resident for two consecutive years prior to the tax year, with exceptions for military service and returning residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2935 establishes a one-year pilot program to address homelessness, substance abuse, and prisoner reintegration through two dedicated facilities - one in north-central West Virginia (serving Morgantown) and one in south-central West Virginia (serving Charleston). The facilities will provide comprehensive services including medical detoxification, mental health care, vocational training, financial education, and on-site gardening, with participants required to complete all program phases before leaving. After the pilot, the state plans to expand to 11 district facilities (each serving five counties) modeled as comfortable, hotel-like environments. The bill directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness and substance abuse who enter the program voluntarily or through court referral, aiming to provide holistic support for reintegration into society.