Del. David Kelly

Maddy summaryHB 3111 increases salaries for West Virginia judges effective July 1, 2026, and 2027. It raises Supreme Court justices' annual pay to $154,600 (from $149,600), circuit court judges to $143,600 (from $138,600), and family court judges to $113,950 (from $103,950). The bill also requires judicial employees to contribute to the retirement system while suspending employer contributions until specific conditions are met. These changes directly affect all state judges and their staff, aligning family court secretary-clerk salaries ($44,876) with future state employee increases.

Maddy summaryHCR 29 is a memorial resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a 2.9-mile segment of County Route 9 (Knobley Road) between specific coordinates as "Sheriff Jeremy Taylor Memorial Road." It commemorates Sheriff Jeremy Taylor, a Mineral County law enforcement officer and firefighter who died in 2024, by designating this road segment and installing signage. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a naming convention with no direct effect on residents, laws, or government operations. It was enacted by the legislature on April 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3412 would exempt the West Virginia legislative branch from public records disclosure requirements under state law, provided the legislature adopts its own rules governing record access. This bill amends existing public records law to add a new provision (§29B-1-8) stating the law does not apply to the legislative branch once it establishes its own disclosure rules. The bill directly affects the legislature itself, not other government entities or the public. It does not change current disclosure practices but creates a pathway for the legislature to develop its own procedures for handling public records. The exemption is procedural and requires the legislature to act first - no immediate change occurs without adopted rules.

Maddy summaryHCR 99 is a legislative resolution requesting the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary to study policies preventing financial fraud and scams in West Virginia. It directs the committee to examine current state laws, review national approaches, and focus on four key areas: reducing robocalls and spoofing, addressing cryptocurrency-related scams (noting $1.4 million in losses in 2023), improving victim restitution, and protecting against property title fraud. The resolution cites data showing 8,000 West Virginians lost $27 million to fraud in 2024, with national losses exceeding $12.5 billion. The committee must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, governor, and attorney general by December 31, 2025. This is a study resolution, not a law, and does not create immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHCR 88 is a ceremonial resolution honoring two West Virginia first responders nominated for the Medal of Valor. It specifically recognizes Captain Donald Lawson (New Martinsville Police) for rescuing two people from carbon monoxide poisoning despite his own hospitalization, and Darrell Lambert (Lake Volunteer Firefighter) for entering a burning building without protective gear to save a trapped resident, sustaining burns in the process. The resolution formally confirms the Legislature's approval of their award and directs the House Clerk to send a copy to Governor Morrisey. This is a symbolic honor with no new policy or funding changes, directly affecting only these two nominees. It passed unanimously in both chambers on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3425 clarifies that staff working for vendors at correctional facilities are included under the definition of "person employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation" for purposes of sexual offense laws. It amends Section 61-8B-10 to explicitly cover contracted vendor staff who work at correctional facilities, ensuring they fall under the same legal provisions as direct employees. This change directly affects vendor employees working in West Virginia state correctional facilities, including those managing security or supervision roles. The bill does not create new penalties but ensures existing laws apply consistently to all facility staff, regardless of employment structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly include federal correctional facilities within the definition of "correctional facilities" for existing laws against smuggling contraband. It makes it illegal to deliver weapons, drugs, alcohol, escape tools, dangerous materials, or telecommunications devices into federal prisons in West Virginia without authorization, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to $500 fines and 1 year in jail) to felonies (up to 10 years in prison). The law directly affects individuals who attempt to smuggle such items into federal correctional institutions within the state, including visitors, staff, or outsiders. It expands existing state penalties - previously limited to state facilities - to cover federal prisons, without creating new exemptions or altering inmate rights.

Maddy summaryHB 2787 permits West Virginia county commissions to lease, rent, or allow the use of county-owned wireless towers (or portions) to private entities, subject to specific security and eligibility requirements. It prohibits leasing to entities associated with foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, or those engaging in unconstitutional surveillance, and mandates non-compromised cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure like voting systems. Public safety agencies (including 911, law enforcement, and emergency services), the West Virginia Department of Highways, and other state agencies may use tower space without charge, provided they meet the same security standards as other lessees. The bill also restricts the use of foreign-owned or foreign-produced technology that could threaten critical infrastructure, ensuring local control over tower usage while prioritizing security.

Maddy summaryHCR 97 establishes the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce to address challenges in the state's criminal justice system, including prison backlogs, high jail mortality rates, aging inmate populations, and behavioral health needs. The 21-member taskforce - comprising state officials, legislators, judges, community stakeholders (including formerly incarcerated individuals), and representatives from law enforcement and treatment programs - will analyze justice system data and develop policy recommendations on bail, sentencing, supervision, corrections programming, and behavioral health services. The taskforce must provide initial findings by December 2025, with ongoing reports to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, using technical assistance from the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This resolution directly affects state agencies, local governments, and justice system participants by aiming to improve public safety, reduce costs, and strengthen community health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises West Virginia law to clarify and separate responsibilities between the Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Environmental Protection regarding industrial emergencies. It transfers the duty to investigate incidents reported to the Emergency Management Division and to enforce fines against industrial facilities, well operators, and pipeline operators to the Department of Environmental Protection. The change aims to align agency tasks with their specific expertise and resources. Industrial facilities required to report emergencies under the law will directly be affected by this shift in oversight.