Rep. Guy Ward

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 5098 creates West Virginia's "Mobile ID Act," establishing a program to provide in-home and long-term care facility visits for state-issued identification cards and driver licenses. It directly affects West Virginia residents with medical conditions or disabilities preventing travel to DMV offices, as verified by a licensed medical provider, and those residing in licensed long-term care facilities. The bill requires the DMV to offer these services with two-person visits for safety, schedule appointments within 30 days of request, and maintain medical certification standards. It does not waive existing ID verification or Real ID requirements but mandates rulemaking for application processes, staffing, fees, and annual reporting starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4533 amends West Virginia law to permanently include Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for the "Learn and Earn Program." This program allows students to work with employers while studying technical programs, earning a salary and gaining work experience. The bill removes the previous "pilot" designation for Potomac State, making its participation in the program permanent rather than temporary. This directly affects Potomac State students seeking affordable, work-based technical education opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 4868, the West Virginia Consumer Privacy Act of 2026, requires businesses like financial institutions, creditors, mortgage lenders, and brokers to obtain explicit "opt-in" consent from consumers before disclosing or selling their personal financial information. It directly affects West Virginia consumers who apply for credit or engage in financial transactions, granting them the right to know what data is shared and control its use. Key provisions mandate clear disclosure of data practices, prevent unauthorized sharing, and impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation for non-compliance. The bill aims to strengthen privacy protections against identity theft and deceptive practices by giving consumers active control over their financial information.

Maddy summaryHB 4876 replaces the previous work permit requirement for 14-15-year-olds with a new "age certificate" system. Employers hiring children aged 14 or older must obtain this certificate from the State Commissioner of Labor, which requires proof of age (like a birth certificate), school attendance details, parental consent, and approved work hours. The certificate must include the child's full name, birth details, and work hour limits, and it must be kept on file by the employer. This bill directly affects employers hiring minors and shifts verification responsibility to the Labor Commissioner, while adding penalties for improper certificate issuance.

Maddy summaryHB 4623 requires West Virginia counties and municipalities to provide public notice at least three months before purchasing land or buildings. The notice must include property size, sale details (date, location, method), inspection periods, and contact information, and can be shared via social media, courthouse postings, or news ads. It also mandates that proposals within 10% of specifications be made publicly available for 10 business days prior to the purchase decision. This bill directly affects local governments buying property, ensuring transparency for potential buyers. The legislation is currently in the introduction phase, having been referred to the Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4590 (West Virginia House Bill 4590) would amend state law to allow private property owners who win their case in an eminent domain proceeding to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the government entity (the "applicant" seeking to take the property). Currently, the government pays trial court costs, but this bill specifically adds that a private property owner who "substantially prevails" in either trial or appellate court could be awarded these fees. The bill directly affects private landowners facing government takings who successfully challenge the action in court. It changes the cost-shifting mechanism to make it easier for property owners to cover legal expenses when they win their case against the government.

Maddy summaryHB 4539 requires health insurers in West Virginia to send written notices to policyholders at least 30 days before open enrollment about upcoming premium rate changes. The notice must clearly show the exact dollar amount and percentage increase, the new effective date, and any changes to benefits or plan details - all in bold 16-point font - along with information about public health programs like Medicaid. Insurers cannot implement rate changes until after open enrollment closes. This bill directly affects all consumers with health insurance policies in the state who face premium adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 4541 requires the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to notify state legislators representing the county or counties where a road or highway is located via email or first-class mail when abandoning a road or highway, in addition to existing requirements of website posting and newspaper publication. This bill directly affects state legislators by adding a new communication channel for road abandonment decisions. The key change is mandating direct notification to legislators through email or mail, supplementing current public notice methods.

Maddy summaryHB 4540 requires municipalities and courts to send written notice at least 30 days before suspending licenses for unpaid traffic tickets, clearly listing both the fine owed and the administrative fee. It mandates that courts forward any collected administrative fees directly to the state division. The bill applies to most traffic violations (excluding parking tickets) and affects drivers who fail to pay citations in West Virginia. This changes how courts handle fee collection and license suspension notices for motor vehicle violations.