Del. Joe Statler

Maddy summaryHB 3065 creates new felony charges for individuals who assault West Virginia police officers or police dogs while they are performing official duties. The bill amends existing law to specifically include police dogs under the definition of "law-enforcement officer" for protection purposes. It establishes two felony levels: malicious assaults (3-15 years in prison) and unlawful assaults (2-5 years), with battery offenses escalating to felonies after a second or third violation. This bill directly affects anyone who intentionally harms officers or their working dogs during official duties, increasing penalties for such attacks.

Maddy summaryHB 3063 would provide free license plates and vehicle registration for volunteer firefighters in West Virginia who have completed at least five years of service. The bill amends state law to exempt qualifying firefighters from paying standard registration and license plate fees. This policy change directly affects volunteer firefighters meeting the service requirement by eliminating a recurring cost for their personal vehicles. The bill is currently under review by the House Finance Committee after being introduced on February 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2976 establishes a state subsidy program to help volunteer fire departments and emergency rescue personnel cover increases in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. The State Auditor will administer the program, requiring departments to submit documentation like premium invoices and receipts to qualify for funds that offset premium hikes. Eligible departments must register with the Auditor's Office, maintain good standing with the State Fire Marshal, and agree to have subsidies paid directly to their insurance carrier. The program standardizes how premiums are tracked and billed across different service classifications (e.g., fire fighting, emergency medical services) to create a more equitable process.

Maddy summaryHB 2946 would exempt retirement income for retired West Virginia campus police officers from the state's personal income tax, effective July 1, 2025. The bill amends the tax code to exclude such retirement benefits - received under qualified retirement plans at colleges and universities - from taxable income, including survivorship payments. This exemption applies to all retirement income received after the effective date, regardless of the specific retirement system. The bill directly affects retired campus police officers employed at West Virginia's colleges and universities.

Maddy summaryHB 2751 authorizes Mason County to levy a special sales tax on tangible personal property and services sold within the Town of Henderson's Economic Opportunity Development District. This tax, which would fund local economic development efforts, applies specifically to businesses operating in Henderson and requires no additional approval from the state development office. The bill amends state law to allow Mason County Commission to establish this district and set tax rates without seeking prior state authorization. It directly affects businesses selling goods or services in Henderson and directs the tax revenue toward supporting the town's economic growth.

Maddy summaryHB 2674 allows licensed substitute and full-time teachers in West Virginia to serve as parent volunteers for school activities (like events and sports) without requiring a new background check. It directly affects teachers who have already completed a background check for their teaching role. The bill eliminates the duplicate background check process, saving time and costs for these educators. This change applies to all school-related parent volunteer opportunities where teachers are already licensed and background-checked.

Maddy summaryHB 2669 would amend West Virginia law to explicitly permit off-duty law enforcement officers (employed by federal, state, county, or municipal agencies) to carry concealed weapons at public schools and school events. Currently, the law prohibits carrying firearms on school grounds, but this bill adds an exception specifically for off-duty officers, who are already allowed to carry while on duty. The change would directly affect off-duty officers by removing legal barriers to carrying concealed weapons during school activities, while leaving restrictions intact for students, staff, and the general public. The bill does not alter existing rules for on-duty officers or other exceptions, such as those for individuals with concealed carry permits.

Maddy summaryHB 2508 would allow retired teachers in West Virginia who selected a joint life annuity (a retirement plan with a reduced monthly payment but continued payments to a surviving spouse) to switch to a higher-payment "maximum life annuity" (a plan with no survivor benefit) if their spouse dies within the first five years of their retirement. To make this change, the retired teacher must provide proof of the spouse's death and can only do so once. The new monthly payment cannot exceed the maximum life annuity amount that would have applied at the time of their retirement. This bill directly affects beneficiaries of the State Teachers Retirement System who experience the early death of a spouse during their retirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2668 requires all public high school students in West Virginia to complete one unit of computer science instruction for graduation, beginning with the 2025-2026 ninth-grade class. This credit substitutes for one existing graduation requirement - such as a math, science, career education, or elective credit - without increasing the total number of required credits. Students may take the course as early as eighth grade, but credits earned before ninth grade cannot count toward graduation requirements. The bill applies to all public high schools and aligns with West Virginia’s existing graduation framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Supreme Court to create rules allowing nonlawyers to practice law in limited, supervised roles - such as in child abuse/neglect and mental health cases - under a new "limited license legal practitioner" program. It establishes a task force (including bar association, law school, and judicial representatives) to design certification requirements, exams, practice scope, and costs for these practitioners. The task force must also recommend updates to professional conduct rules and complaint processes for this new role. The bill itself does not implement the program but enables the Court to develop it through this structured process.