Del. Evan Hansen

Maddy summaryHB 2418 requires West Virginia electric utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency programs starting in 2026, mandating cumulative electricity savings targets of 0.5% by 2026, 1.25% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 4% by 2029 based on 2020 sales volumes. The bill establishes a "self-directed" option allowing eligible residential and commercial customers to create their own energy efficiency plans, with requirements to repay avoided utility charges if they fail to meet minimum goals. The West Virginia Public Service Commission oversees program approval, sets annual reporting requirements for utilities, and ensures cost recovery for approved efficiency initiatives. This directly affects all electric utilities operating in the state and their customers, focusing on reducing electricity consumption through structured, measurable targets.

Maddy summaryHB 2420 allows utility companies holding existing certificates of public convenience and necessity (for power plants) to apply to West Virginia's Public Service Commission to redeploy their sites for new generating facilities, such as nuclear, natural gas, solar, or wind projects. The bill requires the Commission to evaluate long-term energy costs and environmental impacts - including carbon pricing - of all proposed alternatives before approving such redeployments. It specifically mandates consideration of technologies like nuclear, renewables, and energy storage, aiming to prevent coal plant closures while maintaining electricity generation at existing sites. The bill directly affects utility companies seeking site redevelopment and aims to stabilize electricity rates and support local jobs during the energy transition. (Note: The bill is pending committee review as of February 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 2486 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to analyze statewide school discipline data (including disparities by race, gender, and disability) and develop a statewide program to address disciplinary actions for K-12 students. County school boards must implement this program to improve disciplinary outcomes. The bill mandates annual reports on progress to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and requires the Department to publish discipline data on its public dashboard for transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 2417 requires businesses applying for environmental permits through West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to disclose the specific lawful activity they plan to conduct at the permit site. This applies to industrial, manufacturing, or similar operations needing DEP permits, ensuring the public and nearby residents know the nature of permitted activities. The bill mandates sufficient detail in permit applications to inform the public, while exempting trade secrets or proprietary information. It aims to uphold the public's right to know about permitted operations in their communities, as stated in the bill's findings. The bill is currently pending in the House Energy and Public Works Committee after introduction on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2447 modernizes West Virginia's voting procedures by updating in-person voter ID requirements, expanding absentee voting access, and enhancing ballot security. The bill requires voters to present specific ID types (like driver's licenses or passports) matching their registration at polling places, removes election officials' authority to dispute disability-related voting claims, and allows all registered voters to request absentee ballots by mail. It establishes secure drop-off locations for absentee ballots, simplifies emergency absentee ballot requests, and creates a "voter cure" process for correcting minor errors on absentee ballots. The bill also adds criminal penalties for voter coercion and unauthorized marking of ballots, affecting all registered voters and election officials across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2414 increases the minimum distance between natural gas well sites and occupied buildings from 625 feet to 2,500 feet for the "limit of disturbance" (the area affected by drilling operations). It also maintains existing restrictions: 250 feet from water wells/springs, 100 feet from streams/lakes/wetlands, and 1,000 feet from public water intakes. The bill allows waivers for these distances with written consent from the surface owner or department approval for a proposed mitigation plan. It affects natural gas operators and nearby property owners, ensuring greater separation from residential and agricultural structures.

Maddy summaryHB 2419 establishes a community solar program in West Virginia that allows residential and business electricity customers - including low-income households - to subscribe to shared solar projects and receive bill credits for the electricity generated. Community solar facilities must have at least three subscribers, be limited to 5 megawatts per facility (with a 100-megawatt aggregate cap per utility), and reserve at least 40% of their capacity for subscribers with small subscriptions (25 kilowatts or less). Subscribers receive bill credits calculated at a rate approved by the Public Service Commission, based on the electricity produced (one kilowatt-hour of solar energy equals one kilowatt-hour of credit). The program is separate from existing net metering and will be regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission through new rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2416 allows West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set higher civil fines for environmental permit violations through legislative rules, specifically targeting large construction projects. It establishes tiered penalties: projects impacting 100-499 acres face double fines, while those 500+ acres face 5-10 times higher fines. Additional multipliers apply for repeated violations (e.g., 10+ violations add a 2x factor, 100+ violations add a 5x factor). The bill affects projects under specific permits like WV0115924 (construction stormwater) and WV0116815 (oil/gas construction stormwater), increasing enforcement for large-scale environmental compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2412 amends West Virginia law to allow solar panel installations on "degraded properties," defined as sites previously used for industrial, mining, or manufacturing activities (including brownfields, landfills, or former mines). The bill specifies that these properties qualify as approved locations for solar projects that generate electricity for commercial use. It directly affects solar developers seeking to utilize underused or contaminated land for renewable energy projects. The key mechanism updates the legal definition within the state's electricity tax code to include degraded properties as eligible sites, without creating new tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryHJR 17 proposes adding Section 23 to West Virginia's Constitution, establishing a new right for all residents to a clean and healthy environment - including clean air, pure water, a stable climate, and preserved natural and scenic qualities. It declares the state's public natural resources (like forests, rivers, and minerals) as common property belonging to all people, including future generations, and requires the state to act as a trustee by conserving and protecting these resources. This constitutional amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.