Rep. David Kelly

Maddy summaryHB 2484 clarifies the probationary period for paid municipal firefighters, directly affecting firefighters employed by local governments. The bill defines the specific timeframe during which these firefighters are considered probationary before gaining full job security. This clarification ensures consistent application of probation rules across municipal fire departments and became law as Chapter 68 of the 2025 Regular Session.

Maddy summaryHB 3424 removes existing language from state law that permitted short-term loans to assist released inmates with reentry costs like housing or transportation. This change directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals who previously could access these loans upon release. The bill does not create new programs but eliminates a specific provision in current law. It became effective on July 31, 2025, as Chapter 64 of the 2025 Regular Session.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 establishes a system allowing law enforcement officers to earn in-service training credits for completing approved professional development courses. It directly affects law enforcement officers in the state by creating a standardized way to accumulate credits toward career advancement or salary milestones. The key provision requires state agencies to maintain a list of approved training programs and track officer participation. This law, now enacted as Chapter 159 of the 2025 Regular Session, replaces previous informal credit systems with a formal, state-administered process. It focuses on improving officer qualifications through structured, documented training rather than altering operational procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 3181 allows all retired law enforcement officers to purchase firearms without restrictions that previously applied to them. The bill removes a prior ban on retired police and sheriff's department officers buying guns directly. It became effective on July 31, 2025, after being signed by the governor on April 28, 2025. This change directly affects retired officers who now have the same firearm purchasing rights as other state residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2066 makes intentionally destroying first responder equipment (such as police vehicles, fire trucks, or emergency medical devices) a criminal offense. It directly affects individuals who damage this equipment, imposing specific penalties including fines and potential jail time. The bill establishes clear legal consequences for willfully damaging gear critical to emergency services, rather than addressing accidental damage. This law became effective on July 30, 2025, as Chapter 76 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summaryHB 2360 clarifies that immediate family members of law enforcement officers are explicitly included as "victims" in cases where the officer is a victim of a crime. This change ensures that spouses, children, and dependents can access victim support services and legal protections previously only available to the officer themselves. The bill directly affects families of officers injured or killed in the line of duty by expanding their eligibility under existing victim assistance programs. It became law on April 25, 2025, as Chapter 73 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summaryHB 3274 requires circuit courts to file specific reports with the state judicial branch regarding court proceedings. This bill directly affects circuit courts and state judicial administration by establishing a new reporting requirement. The key provision mandates that courts submit detailed records of certain proceedings to ensure transparency and consistency in documenting court activities. It is a procedural change focused on administrative reporting, not altering court procedures or outcomes. The bill became law on April 28, 2025, as Chapter 72 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summaryHB 3434 amends West Virginia's controlled substance schedules to correct errors and update the list of substances classified under Schedule I (the most restrictive category). The bill adds specific fentanyl analogs (like alpha-methylfentanyl and 3-methylfentanyl), opium derivatives (such as heroin and morphine), and hallucinogens (including 2C-B and NBOMe compounds) to Schedule I. This change affects individuals who possess or use these substances, as well as law enforcement and courts in handling related cases. The bill does not create new penalties but ensures accurate legal classification of controlled substances under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2358 sets specific timelines for postmortem examinations in West Virginia. It requires autopsies requested by prosecutors or courts to be completed within 72 hours of a death being received by the medical examiner's office, and mandates that autopsy reports be provided to prosecutors within 24 hours of completion. The bill also requires medical examiners to notify the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome program in infant deaths where SIDS is suspected and to report drug overdose deaths to the Controlled Substances Monitoring Program. These provisions directly affect medical examiners, prosecutors, hospitals (for quality review), physicians, and public health programs.

Maddy summaryHB 3275 updates West Virginia's appeal process by removing outdated language and aligning deadlines with current court procedures. It replaces the previous fixed four-month deadline for filing appeals and the circuit court extension rules with a system where appeal deadlines (for notices, perfecting appeals, and related documents) are set by the Supreme Court of Appeals through its own rules. This change directly affects anyone filing appeals in the Intermediate Court of Appeals or Supreme Court of Appeals, including plaintiffs, defendants, and their attorneys. The bill corrects an inconsistency where appeals were no longer initiated by "petitions" as previously stated in law.