Del. Evan Hansen

Maddy summaryHB 2415 requires West Virginia's Legislature to hold at least 10 public hearings statewide before proposing new congressional and legislative district maps, followed by at least 5 additional hearings after proposals are made but before final adoption. The bill mandates that all proposed maps and census data must be made publicly available online at least 3 days before hearings, and requires a 15-day public comment period before any map is voted on. This applies directly to all West Virginia voters and lawmakers involved in redistricting, ensuring greater public access to the process. The bill aims to increase transparency by standardizing public input opportunities and requiring electronic accessibility of all redistricting materials.

Maddy summaryHB 2421 creates a Special Reclamation Fund Advisory Council within West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection, requiring balanced representation from coal mining companies, environmental groups, miners, and the public. The council must annually assess the fund's financial health, evaluate reclamation efforts, and recommend adjustments to the reclamation tax. The bill also changes bonding rules to require mining companies to base bonds on actual reclamation costs and maintain current payments to the fund to retain their permits. These provisions aim to secure long-term funding for restoring land after mining operations.

Maddy summaryHB 2413 removes the current limits on the number of oil and gas wells for which operators must pay an annual oversight fee. Under the existing law, operators only pay the fee for the first 400 wells (for high-production wells) or the first 4,000 wells (for lower-production wells), but this bill eliminates those caps. Operators will now be required to pay the fee for every qualifying well that meets production thresholds (e.g., over 10,000 cubic feet of gas per day). This directly affects oil and gas operators in West Virginia with active wells that exceed these production levels.

Maddy summaryHB 2128 requires West Virginia public utilities that are members of regional electricity grid organizations (regional transmission organizations or RTOs) to report their voting activity annually. Specifically, these utilities must submit to the Public Service Commission by February 1 each year a report detailing all final votes they or their affiliates cast at RTO meetings during the prior year, including a description of how each vote serves the public interest. The bill mandates disclosure of all recorded votes, even if not otherwise publicly shared, and covers votes by affiliates when the utility itself did not vote. This applies only to utilities participating in RTOs, not all utilities. The goal is to increase transparency around utility decision-making in regional grid management.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution asks members of the West Virginia Legislature to encourage citizens and officials to respect democratic institutions and accept election results regardless of the outcome. It urges elected leaders to avoid spreading rumors or distrust about the voting system and to refrain from claiming fraud solely because their candidate lost. Instead, the resolution directs officials to report any concerns about election tampering to appropriate authorities and allow legal processes to resolve disputes based on facts rather than emotion. The measure serves as a formal request to promote trust in government institutions and does not create new laws or penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 233 requests additional funding from the state's general revenue surplus to support the Child Care Development fund for fiscal year 2025. This bill directly affects the Department of Human Services by authorizing an extra appropriation of $4,600,000 for childcare services. The legislation uses a standard supplemental appropriation process, drawing from unspent state money to increase the budget for the designated fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent state child tax credit of $1,000 for West Virginia residents who claim the federal child tax credit for an eligible child. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible taxpayers will receive the full amount even if it exceeds the taxes they owe. It directly affects working families with children who file state income taxes and claim the corresponding federal credit. The legislation aims to support local economies and reduce child poverty by providing additional financial assistance to qualifying households.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution asks Marshall University and West Virginia University to lead a group of experts in building a tool that calculates the real cost of childcare. The goal is to help the state better model financial needs for providers and ensure public funds are used wisely, addressing limitations in current subsidy rate surveys. The universities must work with state departments and stakeholders to develop this estimator, which must meet federal requirements for setting childcare rates. By June 30, 2025, the universities are required to report their findings to a state committee, with funding for the project provided through legislative appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to allow employees working at least 20 hours per week in licensed child care centers or family child care homes to receive state child care subsidies, even if their household income exceeds current limits. The key provision adds a new section to state law that removes income restrictions for these specific workers while they work in the child care industry. By making this change, the legislation aims to help child care staff afford their own children's care without requiring them to meet strict income thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state tax credit for West Virginia residents who claim the federal child and dependent care credit. It allows eligible taxpayers to receive a refundable credit equal to 50% of the federal amount they are entitled to for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2024. The provision applies retroactively to cover the 2024 tax year and is intended to provide additional financial relief to families with child or dependent care expenses.