Rep. Mike DeVault

Maddy summaryHB 2964 changes the residency requirement for members of regional airport boards. Previously, board members only needed to reside in the county where the airport is located. The bill now requires all board members to live within the specific geographic service area served by the airport. This law, approved by the governor on April 25, 2025, directly affects who can serve on these boards by ensuring members live in the communities the airport primarily serves.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 24) requests the West Virginia Division of Highways to rename bridge number 52-250/00-009.13 (currently known as Littleton Bridge) in Wetzel County as the "Postlethwait Brothers Memorial Bridge." It honors four brothers - Clarence, John Lloyd, Frank, and George Postlethwait - who served in multiple wars (World War II, Korea, Vietnam) with distinguished military careers. The resolution, which passed unanimously on April 12, 2025, directs the Division of Highways to install signage identifying the bridge with this new name.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution designates November 7th annually as "Pastor Appreciation Day" in West Virginia. It honors clergy members for their community service, spiritual leadership, and roles in life events like weddings, funerals, and disaster response. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it serves solely as ceremonial recognition. It affects no specific individuals or policies, as it is a non-binding declaration of appreciation.

Maddy summaryHCR 99 is a legislative resolution requesting the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary to study policies preventing financial fraud and scams in West Virginia. It directs the committee to examine current state laws, review national approaches, and focus on four key areas: reducing robocalls and spoofing, addressing cryptocurrency-related scams (noting $1.4 million in losses in 2023), improving victim restitution, and protecting against property title fraud. The resolution cites data showing 8,000 West Virginians lost $27 million to fraud in 2024, with national losses exceeding $12.5 billion. The committee must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, governor, and attorney general by December 31, 2025. This is a study resolution, not a law, and does not create immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 3167 requires circuit courts in West Virginia to order 12-panel hair follicle drug testing for parents or guardians in cases where child abuse or neglect has been substantiated. The test covers drug use over the past 90 days and applies to all respondents, with additional requirements for infants under two months old if a parent tests positive. Attempts to alter hair (e.g., dyeing, shaving) or failure to comply with the court order are treated as positive test results. Test results may be shared with a multidisciplinary treatment team to inform child welfare decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 2948 removes a $9,500 loan value limit that previously prevented automobile dealers, licensed auto auctions, repair facilities, and towing companies from obtaining titles for abandoned or junked vehicles left on their property. The bill allows these businesses to secure titles for vehicles of any value that have been abandoned on their premises, eliminating the prior restriction. This change applies after standard notice procedures require owners and lienholders to be notified and given 10 days to reclaim the vehicle. The policy update simplifies title processing for businesses handling abandoned vehicles without altering existing redemption requirements.

Maddy summaryHCR 88 is a ceremonial resolution honoring two West Virginia first responders nominated for the Medal of Valor. It specifically recognizes Captain Donald Lawson (New Martinsville Police) for rescuing two people from carbon monoxide poisoning despite his own hospitalization, and Darrell Lambert (Lake Volunteer Firefighter) for entering a burning building without protective gear to save a trapped resident, sustaining burns in the process. The resolution formally confirms the Legislature's approval of their award and directs the House Clerk to send a copy to Governor Morrisey. This is a symbolic honor with no new policy or funding changes, directly affecting only these two nominees. It passed unanimously in both chambers on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3377 creates a program allowing West Virginia counties and municipalities to maintain roads and bridges not currently maintained by any government entity (defined as "orphan roads"). It establishes criteria for designation (e.g., public use, existing condition, resource availability), requires public notification before acquisition, and permits funding through existing infrastructure budgets, state/federal grants, or private partnerships. The bill also mandates an online map of state roads by 2026 and includes provisions for acquiring necessary property rights. This directly affects local governments seeking to improve neglected infrastructure, with no direct impact on individual residents.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific segment of Route 20 in Webster County (from the Upshur/Webster County line to Mount Zion Road) as the "U.S. Army Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke Memorial Road." It commemorates Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke, a WWII and Korean War veteran with multiple military awards, who was born in Upshur County and raised in Cleveland, Webster County. The resolution asks the Division of Highways to install signs identifying this road segment and directs the House Clerk to forward the resolution to the agency. This is a commemorative measure with no funding or policy changes, directly affecting the named road segment in Webster County.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways add the phrase "West Virginia - A Purple Heart State" to existing highway welcome signs at the state's entrances. It does not create new laws or affect specific individuals, but symbolically honors veterans who received the Purple Heart medal for combat-related injuries. The resolution expresses the legislature's support for recognizing military service through this commemorative signage.