Del. John Williams

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 3211 requires West Virginia to provide free, annual cancer screenings - including multi-cancer early detection testing - to all firefighters during their routine health assessments. The bill creates a voluntary program allowing firefighters to anonymously share test results with the Department of Human Services to identify cancer trends in the profession, while protecting their personal information. It directly affects all West Virginia firefighters by mandating accessible prevention services and enabling data collection to understand cancer risks. The key mechanism is the state-funded screening during annual assessments plus anonymized data sharing for trend analysis, with no cost to firefighters. This policy change focuses on proactive health monitoring for a specific occupational group.

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 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 2955 amends West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program to restrict state funding from covering costs for students attending out-of-state private schools or using services from out-of-state education providers. The bill directly affects Hope Scholarship students who currently use state funds for out-of-state education, requiring them to enroll in in-state private schools instead. It changes the program's funding rules by limiting "Hope scholarship funds" to eligible in-state education service providers and participating schools within West Virginia. This policy change ensures state scholarship dollars only support education within the state's public school system or in-state private schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2887 would legalize cannabis production, sales, and adult consumption for individuals aged 21 and older in West Virginia, but only after counties hold voter referendums to approve local implementation. It establishes a regulatory framework where the Bureau of Public Health would issue licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sales, while the Department of Revenue would collect a special excise tax and manage local sales tax revenue for county governments. The bill preserves existing laws prohibiting underage use, driving under the influence, and workplace cannabis use, and requires cannabis products to be labeled and tested like alcohol. It explicitly states this law does not affect the current West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2857, the Workplace Bullying Accountability Act, requires West Virginia employers to prevent and address workplace bullying that causes physical or psychological harm to employees. It mandates employers to create written anti-bullying policies, provide annual employee training, and conduct good-faith investigations into reports of bullying. The law defines "workplace bullying" as repeated harmful conduct (e.g., verbal abuse, sabotage, intimidation) causing health impacts, and prohibits retaliation against employees who report incidents or participate in investigations. Employees harmed by bullying may seek remedies, including reinstatement or compensation, while employers face liability for failing to fulfill their duty to safeguard workers. This bill directly affects all West Virginia employers and employees by establishing enforceable protections beyond current workers' compensation or safety laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2745, the Uniform Special Deposits Act, establishes uniform rules for "special deposits" in West Virginia - funds held in accounts for specific purposes like escrow, security deposits, or future payments. It requires these deposits to have a clear "permissible purpose" (e.g., real estate transactions, tenant security, or benefit distributions) and mandates banks to pay beneficiaries when specified conditions occur. The bill prohibits banks from using these funds to satisfy unrelated debts (no recoupment/setoff) and automatically terminates deposits after five years unless extended. It applies to banks, depositors, and beneficiaries, clarifying obligations and protections without altering existing state laws.