Rep. Phil Mallow

Maddy summaryHB 4106 would allow West Virginia residents aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed handguns without a license in specific lawful situations, such as on their own property, while traveling to or from a hunting site, or transporting a firearm to a repair shop. The bill repeals the current requirement for a license and the criminal penalty for carrying without one for this age group, while clarifying that minors under 18 who carry unlawfully may be treated as delinquents. It does not change the existing license requirement for residents aged 21 and older. This bill directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds by removing barriers to concealed carry in the specified scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 4755 adds "aggravated vehicular homicide" (defined in §17C-5-1(c)) to West Virginia's list of offenses that trigger enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders. This change directly affects individuals convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide who have prior qualifying offenses under the state's recidivism laws. The bill amends Section 61-11-18 of the West Virginia Code to include this offense, meaning a second or third conviction for this crime could result in harsher penalties if the offender has previous serious convictions. The law focuses on increasing penalties for repeat offenders in cases involving severe DUI-related fatalities.

Maddy summaryHB 5212 revises West Virginia's higher education financial aid programs to improve access and align with workforce development goals. It allows part-time enrollment for the higher education grant, combines the adult part-time grant into a new workforce-focused program, and updates medical/health sciences loan repayment programs to require direct payments to federal loan providers. The bill also adjusts eligibility for the PROMISE scholarship and WV Invests grant programs. These changes aim to better connect financial aid with employer needs as outlined in the bill's legislative findings.

Maddy summaryHB 5406 updates West Virginia's DUI laws by shifting authority for chemical testing oversight from the Bureau of Public Health to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. It eliminates outdated references to urine testing, removes propoxyphene from drug testing requirements, and permits trained phlebotomists to collect blood samples for analysis. The bill also corrects blood alcohol concentration thresholds for juvenile drivers and clarifies that refusing only a blood test - without refusing a breath test - will not automatically trigger license revocation. These changes streamline DUI testing procedures for law enforcement and ensure current medical standards are reflected in the law.

Maddy summaryHB 5088 amends West Virginia's Natural Resource Police Officer Retirement System to adjust retirement benefit calculations based on retirement date. It specifies that officers retiring after July 1, 2029, will receive 2.75% of their final average salary multiplied by years of service (up from 2.5% for those retiring between 2025-2029). The bill also requires additional funding for the retirement system to support these changes. This directly affects current and future Natural Resource Police Officers in West Virginia who retire on or after July 1, 2029. The changes are part of a broader adjustment to retirement benefits under the system's funding structure.

Maddy summaryHB 5401 expands absentee voting eligibility in West Virginia to citizens temporarily residing overseas. To qualify, voters must have been residents of West Virginia before leaving, hold a U.S. passport, not have established permanent residency abroad, and intend to return. They must also be registered or eligible to vote in another U.S. jurisdiction. The bill updates both mail-in and electronic absentee ballot rules to include this group, aligning with federal voting protections for overseas citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 5457 allows West Virginia State Police troopers who receive disability benefits to count half of their disability service time toward retirement eligibility. The bill amends retirement system rules to provide one-half service credit for periods when troopers are on disability leave under existing provisions. This change directly affects active troopers and retirees who have periods of disability service but do not qualify for full retirement credit. It ensures these service periods contribute to retirement benefits without requiring full-time employment. The policy applies specifically to disability service under §15-2A-9 or §15-2A-10 of the West Virginia Code.

Maddy summaryHB 5382 extends the expiration date of West Virginia's Neighborhood Investment Program from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031. This program provides tax credits to taxpayers who contribute to certified neighborhood development projects. Contributions made before July 1, 2031, will still qualify for the credit, but no new credits will be available for contributions after that date. The bill ensures continued support for community investment projects through 2031 while clarifying the program's termination timeline.

Maddy summaryHB 4850 requires West Virginia executors and administrators of estates to complete free online training provided by the Supreme Court of Appeals, starting January 1, 2027. The training focuses on fiduciary duties and executor responsibilities, covering key legal requirements for managing estates. The video must be accessible online, for sight-impaired users, and available at all county commissions and sheriff's offices for those without internet access. This bill directly affects individuals serving as estate administrators by adding a mandatory educational requirement before they assume full authority.

Maddy summaryHB 4433 amends West Virginia law to create new criminal offenses for human smuggling (transporting undocumented people to evade enforcement) and human trafficking (recruiting or moving people for forced labor or sexual exploitation). It specifically targets individuals who transport adults or minors for these purposes, defining key terms like "coercion" and "forced labor" to clarify illegal conduct. The bill establishes penalties for these crimes, allows asset forfeiture of property used in trafficking, and requires restitution for victims. It also includes an exemption permitting medical, mental health, and legal services for undocumented individuals without criminal liability.