Del. Anitra Hamilton

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryHB 5178 requires employers to deposit 15% of a minor’s gross earnings from artistic/creative work (like acting, music, or content creation) or name/image/likeness (NIL) use into a blocked trust account. It directly affects minors under 18 who earn income through these activities, including social media content creators and student-athletes. The funds remain inaccessible until the minor turns 18, with employers mandated to provide monthly records to parents/guardians and open the account within 7 business days of qualifying activity. The bill also specifies that independent content creators are excluded from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5183 directs West Virginia’s Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a single pilot domestic violence court in Kanawha County. This specialized court would handle specific misdemeanor domestic violence cases involving family or household members, including violations of laws related to assault, protective orders, and related offenses. The Supreme Court must collect data on the court’s effectiveness and report findings to lawmakers by 2027 and 2028. The pilot is limited to Kanawha County and applies only to misdemeanor cases (felony cases require a circuit judge).

Maddy summaryHB 4900 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as pads and tampons) to female students in public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill mandates this access using existing school appropriations for hygiene products, without requiring new state funding. It directly affects female students in every public K-12 school across the state. The key provision is a mandatory requirement for schools to ensure these products are available, funded through current budget allocations for school hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryHB 4832 creates a program to support data center development in West Virginia by requiring "high impact" data centers (those meeting specific water and energy use thresholds) to report their water needs and obtain environmental certification that their operations won't harm state water resources. The environmental agency can limit or stop water withdrawals if adverse impacts are likely, and must hold public hearings for these facilities. The bill mandates transparency through standardized reporting while exempting certain business information from public disclosure requests. This aims to balance economic growth from data centers with protection of local water resources.

Maddy summaryHB 4821 creates a new state-run health insurance program in West Virginia that allows eligible residents to "buy in" to a Medicaid-like plan. It directly affects adults who are ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare but remain enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage (and whose employers haven’t denied them coverage due to this program). The plan uses a sliding-scale premium based on income, covers essential services like hospital care, mental health, prescriptions, and preventive care, and must coordinate with existing Medicaid to avoid coverage gaps. The West Virginia Department of Human Services will administer the program, prioritizing those transitioning from Medicaid, and must apply for federal funding to maximize cost efficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 4822 redirects tax revenue from "High Impact Data Centers" (as defined under West Virginia law) to three specific recipients: the Public Employees Insurance Association (PEIA) fund, local counties, and public school boards. The bill amends tax distribution rules to require that incremental property tax revenue from these data centers - calculated using a new formula based on assessed value and levy rates - be reallocated instead of following previous distribution methods. This change directly affects data centers certified as "High Impact" under §11-6N-2, ensuring their tax contributions support state health insurance programs, county services, and school funding. The policy shift replaces prior tax allocation rules with a fixed distribution structure for these facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4509 prohibits counties and municipalities from imposing local zoning, building permits, licensing, or other regulations on certified microgrid districts and certified high impact data centers. It bans local governments from enacting ordinances that restrict the development, operation, or expansion of these specific projects. The bill designates a "Data Economy Liaison" at the Department of Commerce to coordinate with developers and expedite project approvals. This measure removes local regulatory authority over these projects, directly affecting county/municipal governments and the owners of certified microgrid and data center facilities.