Del. Rick Garcia

Maddy summaryHB 5346 establishes the School Aid Formula Study Commission to evaluate West Virginia's public school funding system and propose recommendations for improvement. The commission, composed of 12 members including school board representatives, education experts, teachers, rural/urban school board members, and community stakeholders, will study funding options and report findings to the Legislature by July 2028. Its work aims to address challenges like declining enrollment, school closures, and reduced funding that have strained public education. The commission's recommendations will guide potential legislative changes to modernize school funding and ensure stable, adequate resources for all public schools.

Maddy summaryHJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older in West Virginia. It would allow possession of up to two ounces of cannabis or four plants per person, permit the legislature to regulate sales and manufacturing, and require courts to dismiss or expunge prior convictions for small-quantity possession. This amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election to take effect. If approved, it would directly affect adults 21+ and individuals with past cannabis possession convictions. The bill does not establish specific regulations but authorizes the legislature to create them.

Maddy summaryHB 5268 creates the Mountaineer Games Sports League (MGSL), a state-run program offering low-cost organized sports opportunities for West Virginia adults. The bill directly affects adult residents - particularly those with limited access to recreational activities - by establishing a league featuring sports like basketball, soccer, and flag-football through partnerships with colleges, community groups, and local facilities. Key provisions include forming a Governor-appointed board to manage operations, develop shared-use agreements for sports facilities, and promote partnerships across sectors to increase accessibility. The league aims to improve public health by encouraging physical activity, with the board responsible for scheduling seasons, recruiting volunteers, and securing funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5259 permits qualifying patients with a physician certification and a valid state-issued medical cannabis ID card, or their designated caregivers, to grow up to 10 cannabis plants for personal use. The bill specifically allows cultivation in "plant form" but limits this to no more than five mature, flowering plants at any time. Patients or caregivers must comply with physician certification requirements and cannot grow for commercial purposes or exceed the plant limits. This amendment to West Virginia's medical cannabis law adds Section 16A-5-11 to explicitly authorize home cultivation under these conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 5237 creates a mechanism for the Governor to borrow up to $50 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund into the Unemployment Compensation Fund if the fund's balance falls below $50 million within 30 days, as projected by Workforce West Virginia. The borrowed funds must be used solely to pay unemployment benefits and repaid within 180 days without interest from excess funds in the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill directly affects unemployed workers by preventing benefit payment disruptions during short-term fund shortages. It applies only when the fund balance drops below $50 million, requiring a formal projection and limiting borrowing to $50 million or the amount needed to maintain that minimum balance. The provision expires on September 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 5250 clarifies that West Virginia’s legislature cannot interfere with courts when the legislature or a member is a party in a legal case related to legislative actions. The bill creates an automatic pause in court proceedings involving legislators or legislative employees during specific times, such as during legislative sessions or the 10 days before/after sessions. This allows lawmakers to focus on their duties without being required to attend court appearances or respond to legal filings during these periods. The pause applies only when a court determines delaying the case would hinder fair and timely justice.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 5238 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia (both public and private) to cover screening for adverse childhood experiences during routine preventative child wellness visits. For children without health insurance, the State Department of Education must create school-based screening programs through local schools. The bill defines adverse childhood experiences as traumatic events in childhood that increase the risk of chronic health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and respiratory illness. This law directly affects health insurance providers and school systems by mandating accessible screenings to address early childhood trauma.

Maddy summaryHB 5261 updates West Virginia's laws on seizing property involved in criminal activity. It specifies that when someone is convicted of a crime involving contraband (such as drugs, tax-evading tobacco, or equipment used to manufacture illegal substances), the court can order forfeiture of the crime's proceeds, property traceable to those proceeds, and items used to commit the crime (like vehicles, containers, or records). The bill includes new protections for innocent property owners, such as allowing vehicle owners to keep their property if they didn’t know it was used for illegal activity. It also establishes clear rules for handling seized property, including requirements for returning property to owners and restrictions on selling forfeited items.

Maddy summaryHB 5251 would amend West Virginia's Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in employment, public accommodations, and housing. The bill adds these categories to the existing list of protected characteristics under §16B-17-2 and defines "gender identity" in §16B-17-3 as "the actual or perceived gender-related identity... regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth." This change directly affects residents facing discrimination in jobs, housing, or public spaces due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill does not create new protections beyond those already established for other categories like race or disability.

Maddy summaryHB 5263 prohibits West Virginia insurers from using credit scores or the number of credit inquiries to deny or rate auto liability or homeowners insurance applications. It specifically bans credit scoring as a factor in determining rates for these policies and prevents insurers from relying on disputed or potentially inaccurate credit information. The bill directly affects applicants seeking auto or homeowners insurance in West Virginia by removing credit history as a criterion for coverage decisions. This policy change ensures insurers must base rate decisions on other underwriting factors, not credit-related data.