Rep. Dave McCormick

Maddy summaryHB 5331 amends West Virginia law to allow municipalities with paid firefighters to join the Municipal Police Officers & Firefighters Retirement System (MPFRS) without requiring prior approval. This directly affects cities and towns that currently cannot participate in MPFRS for their full-time firefighters. The bill removes existing barriers by revising eligibility rules in the retirement system statutes, enabling these municipalities to enroll their paid firefighters in the existing retirement program. The change provides a structured pathway for local governments to offer retirement benefits to municipal firefighters under MPFRS, which currently serves some fire departments but not all.

Maddy summaryHB 5244 creates a two-year pilot program allowing West Virginia's four-year state colleges and universities (excluding the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine) to participate in the existing "Learn and Earn" workforce development initiative. The bill directs the state education chancellor to implement this pilot starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, with funding kept separate from the program's community college funding. It specifies that any unspent funds at year-end carry forward, and administrative costs cannot exceed 5% of annual program funds. This bill directly affects public four-year institutions by expanding their access to a work-study program designed to connect education with workforce training.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 11) encourages West Virginia's K-12 students to design a new state highway route number shield for the 2026 anniversaries of the U.S. founding (250th) and the U.S. numbered highway system (100th). It directs the West Virginia Division of Highways and Department of Tourism to hold a statewide student design competition, requiring the shield to maintain federal safety standards for legibility while incorporating West Virginia identity. The winning design would be implemented gradually on state highways starting July 2027, replacing existing signs only as they wear out, and the student designer would receive legislative recognition. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, focusing on celebration and civic engagement rather than new policy.

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 4994 requires utilities (like power and gas companies) to move or adjust their lines from state highway rights-of-way when needed for road construction projects. It mandates the state’s Highway Division to provide utilities with up to 18 months’ written notice and specific procedures for submitting relocation plans and work schedules. The bill also requires the state to reimburse utilities for work they must redo if highway project plans change after construction begins. Utilities are not held liable for delays caused by state schedule changes, incomplete right-of-way acquisitions, or extreme weather, as outlined in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 4629 amends West Virginia's tobacco sales law to allow institutions of higher education to distribute tobacco cessation products to individuals aged 18-21 for research purposes. This directly affects college/university research programs approved by institutional review boards (IRBs) that study tobacco cessation or prevention. The key provision creates an exception to the general 21+ age restriction, requiring all such distributions to occur within medically supervised, IRB-approved research programs. The bill changes the policy by permitting this specific age group access for legitimate medical research, while maintaining penalties for unauthorized sales to minors.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4992 creates a new "general contractor/construction manager" procurement method for West Virginia's highway projects, directly affecting the West Virginia Division of Highways. This alternative procedure allows the Division to hire contractors without following the standard design-build bidding rules outlined in existing highway laws. The bill authorizes the Division to develop specific rules for implementing this method, including conditions for agreements and preferred terms, in line with federal guidelines. It does not change existing funding limits for the current design-build program but provides a separate contracting path for highway construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 4472 clarifies that commercial real property insurance policies in West Virginia may be written for any amount agreed upon by the insurer and policyholder - including amounts below the property's replacement cost value. This directly affects commercial property owners and insurers, allowing coverage based on options like actual depreciated value, market value, or a mutually agreed amount. The bill amends existing law to explicitly state that policies need not cover full replacement cost, removing ambiguity about permissible coverage levels. It does not change insurance requirements but provides clarity for contracts between commercial property owners and insurers.