Del. George Street

Maddy summaryHCR 93 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a 4.3-mile bypass segment on US 33 in Roane County the "Scott Miller Bypass Road." It specifically asks the Division to install signs at both ends of the bypass to identify the road, honoring W. Scott Miller (for whom the area was named) and his grandson Scott W. Miller, a WWII soldier killed at Normandy who received a Purple Heart. This resolution has no policy or funding impact - it solely requests a ceremonial road name change. The resolution was adopted by the House on March 27, 2025, and referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHCR 94 is a request for the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study establishing an artificial intelligence (AI) elective course in West Virginia public high schools. The study would assess current AI education programs, identify gaps in student access, evaluate funding options, analyze AI’s impact on future industries, and recommend legislative or partnership actions. If implemented, the proposed course would teach foundational AI concepts (like machine learning), practical applications in fields like business and defense, and hands-on tool usage. This resolution does not create the course but asks for a study to inform future decisions. The committee must report findings by the 2026 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHB 3385 requires medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs in West Virginia to establish written policies for community engagement and location planning. The bill prohibits new MAT programs from locating within 0.5 miles of schools or daycares (with limited variances for existing programs), bans recruitment incentives like rewards for patient referrals, and mandates 60-day public notice before new locations. Programs must notify county commissions and mayors via certified mail, detailing their community impact plans, and obtain local approval before operating. These requirements apply to all MAT facilities, including opioid treatment programs and office-based providers, with a waiver process requiring written justification and safety documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 3384 prohibits West Virginia public and private colleges and universities from requiring vaccines as a condition for enrollment, employment, or participation in campus activities. It bans institutions from offering incentives (like rewards or discounts) for vaccinations and allows free vaccines only with informed consent. The bill ensures students, faculty, and staff cannot be denied access to education or jobs based solely on vaccination choices. Institutions may still offer free vaccines on campus, but cannot mandate them or deny services for opting out.

Maddy summaryHB 3324 requires West Virginia parole boards to consider a sentencing judge's recommendation for a specific prison term when reviewing cases involving certain serious offenses. The bill applies only when a judge voluntarily recommends a definite sentence during sentencing for offenses listed in the bill, such as violent crimes (e.g., murder, assault), drug trafficking near schools, sexual assaults, or human trafficking. Parole decisions for these cases must now factor in the judge's on-the-record assessment of an appropriate sentence. This change directly affects judges who make recommendations, parole boards, and inmates convicted of the qualifying offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2689 requires websites that primarily offer pornography to verify the age of users before allowing access, aiming to prevent minors from viewing such content. It targets commercial entities where pornography constitutes a "substantial portion" of their content, mandating "reasonable" age verification methods. The bill creates civil liability for non-compliance, allowing lawsuits against violators, while exempting internet service providers from liability for hosting content they didn’t create. It defines "minor" as under 18 and "sexual material harmful to minors" using community standards and explicit content criteria. The law provides a five-year statute of limitations for civil actions and excludes certain news organizations from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 3221, the Burial Equity Act, expands burial benefits in West Virginia state cemeteries to include eligible former National Guard and military reserve members (such as Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Active Guard Reserve), their spouses, and dependent children. It sets specific eligibility criteria: four years of service, two years of West Virginia residency before death (or service in West Virginia units), and a non-dishonorable discharge, with retroactive application for deaths after March 15, 2022. The bill creates a Burial Equity Grant Program administered by the Veterans Affairs department, offering up to $1,000 per family to cover burial costs on a first-come, first-served basis. It also establishes a dedicated Burial Equity Fund, initially funded with $50,000 from the legislature, to support these grants using state appropriations, federal funds, and private donations.

Maddy summaryHB 3141 requires private or government entities taking property through eminent domain to pay an additional 15% fee based on the court-ordered value paid to landowners. This fee must be paid to the county where the property is located and is in addition to all other costs. The funds collected can only be used by counties for acquiring or improving public forests, parks, recreation facilities, and related infrastructure. The bill does not reduce the amount paid to landowners and applies to all eminent domain proceedings under West Virginia law. It is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 3124 would increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 of a home's assessed value for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who own and occupy their homes as primary residences. The bill changes the exemption amount in Section 11-6B-3 of the state code, applying to the first $40,000 of assessed value (instead of $20,000) for eligible homeowners meeting residency requirements. The change would reduce property tax bills for qualifying homeowners but does not alter the existing eligibility criteria or residency rules. The bill was introduced on March 4, 2025, and referred to the House Finance Committee.