Del. Evan Hansen

Maddy summaryHB 3255 would authorize West Virginia counties to establish public daycares through a voter-approved process. Counties needing to fund daycares would require a petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters to trigger a countywide referendum on creating and funding the facility. If approved, counties could fund daycares through local taxes, fees, or levies, or choose to operate without new funding. The bill also allows adjacent counties to jointly create shared daycare services. This legislation directly affects county residents, particularly parents seeking affordable childcare, by providing a structured process for local governments to develop these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises West Virginia's minimum starting salary for public school teachers from $36,597 to $50,000, directly affecting all new teachers entering the state's public school system. It amends the state salary schedule (§18A-4-2) to set $50,000 as the base rate for teachers with zero years of experience, replacing the current minimum. The change applies to all public school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, as specified in the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 3257, the "Police Partnering With Communities Act," establishes a fund within the West Virginia State Treasurer's office to reimburse police officers for full housing costs if they live in designated distressed areas. Distressed areas are defined as low-income West Virginia neighborhoods with poverty rates of at least 20% or median family income below 80% of the area median, particularly those with higher crime rates. Officers must provide proof of residence in a distressed area and employment with a local police department to qualify for reimbursement. The fund, to be funded through a separate appropriations bill, becomes effective July 1, 2025. This policy directly affects police officers in participating municipalities who choose to reside in targeted communities.

Maddy summaryHB 3225 creates a statewide initiative to attract minorities, males, and individuals from rural, isolated, or impoverished areas to become public school teachers in West Virginia. It requires the State Board of Education and county school boards to develop recruitment materials and promote teacher preparation programs for these underrepresented groups, including information about a new scholarship fund. The scholarship, funded through existing education budgets, provides financial support to qualifying students in exchange for a commitment to teach in West Virginia public schools for at least three years after graduation. This bill directly affects potential educators in targeted demographic groups and aims to address teacher shortages by increasing diversity and accessibility in the education workforce.

Maddy summaryHB 3119 would increase payments to therapists and other professionals contracted by the West Virginia Birth-to-Three program by 25 percent, effective July 1, 2025. This applies only to non-state-employed providers (those working through private or contracted agencies, not state employees). The bill amends the West Virginia Birth-to-Three Fund's payment structure to require this higher rate for services provided to children with developmental delays. It does not affect state-employed therapists or change eligibility for the program.

Maddy summaryHB 3112, titled "Community Air Monitoring," requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support air quality monitoring in communities downwind of industrial pollution sources. The bill mandates that the DEP provide technical assistance and, if funding is available, financial support to residents and organizations setting up local air quality monitors. Individuals can submit their collected air quality data to the DEP for evaluation, using specific quality standards like proper equipment calibration and location documentation. The DEP must review this data and may initiate follow-up monitoring by state agencies or permitted facilities if concerns arise. This directly affects West Virginians living near industrial sites by giving them tools to track pollution in their neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryHB 3120 requires that the full text of proposed constitutional amendments be printed on official ballots in West Virginia elections, alongside the existing title and summary. This means voters will see the complete wording of any amendment they are asked to approve or reject - including any formatting like struck-through or underlined text - rather than just a brief description. The bill amends state law to mandate that county election officials include the full text as it appears in the legislative resolution proposing the amendment. This change aims to provide voters with clearer, more complete information when deciding on constitutional changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2967 prohibits insurers from using credit scores or the number of credit inquiries in credit reports to deny insurance applications or set rates for auto and homeowners insurance. It also bans reliance on disputed credit information during underwriting. The bill directly affects applicants seeking these insurance types and requires insurers to base pricing decisions on factors other than credit history. This law applies to all insurers offering auto and homeowners coverage in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHJR 33 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would require West Virginia to provide free early childhood education to all children in the state. It seeks to amend Article XII of the West Virginia Constitution by adding a new section stating the legislature must provide "a thorough and efficient system of free schools including early childhood education." This would not immediately create new programs but would require future legislation to establish such a system, subject to voter approval in the 2026 general election. The amendment is currently pending referral to the House Education Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 3008 repeals a West Virginia code section (§17A-10-3c) that previously required additional registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles, such as electric or hybrid cars. This change directly affects owners of these vehicles by eliminating an extra fee they would have paid when registering their vehicles. The bill’s key mechanism is simply removing the specific code language that authorized the fee, with no new provisions or requirements added. The repeal takes effect upon passage, removing this cost from vehicle registration for affected owners. (Bill: HB 3008, introduced February 27, 2025)