Del. John Paul Hott

Maddy summaryHB 3276 establishes a standardized process for water and sewer utilities in West Virginia to request rate increases from the state Public Service Commission. It requires utilities to follow a defined timeline and procedural steps when seeking rate adjustments, ensuring consistency and transparency. The bill directly affects water and sewer companies operating in the state and their customers, who pay utility bills. This change aims to create a fairer, more predictable system for rate reviews without specifying particular rate amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 3142 allows health benefit plan sponsors (like employers or insurers) to send electronic communications (such as plan updates or notices) to covered persons (employees or plan members) instead of paper, provided they follow specific rules. Before using electronic communication, sponsors must confirm the covered person routinely uses electronic methods, and must give them a clear opportunity to opt out of electronic delivery. The bill requires sponsors to document that all conditions are met before switching to electronic communications. This directly affects employees and plan members covered under health benefit plans in West Virginia, ensuring they retain the choice to receive paper communications. The policy change standardizes electronic communication procedures while preserving consumer choice.

Maddy summaryHB 2922, the Safer Communities Act, allows West Virginia counties to impose a public safety sales or amusement tax of up to 1% on qualifying purchases, subject to voter approval via referendum. It directly affects counties that meet specific requirements (e.g., current on state fees, utilizing maximum millage rates, and having fire/EMS levies). The tax funds public safety services, emergency response, and school resource officers in unincorporated areas, while excluding municipalities already in the Municipal Home Rule Program or with existing amusement taxes. Counties must notify state tax officials 180 days before implementing the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2456 establishes the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program under the Bureau for Public Health to provide state funding to pregnancy help organizations (excluding abortion industry organizations). The program funds capital improvements, new services, compliance with licensing standards, and staff training for eligible organizations. Funding is distributed through a fee-per-service model, with specific rates set by the managing agency. This bill directly affects pregnancy help organizations by providing targeted financial support for operational needs.

Maddy summaryHB 2146 would exempt slaughterhouses from collecting West Virginia's Consumer Sales and Service Tax when processing beef, pork, or lamb for individual livestock owners (e.g., farmers or ranchers processing their own animals). This amendment adds the specific exemption to the state's tax code, removing tax liability for this service when performed for personal ownership. It applies only to individual owners, not commercial businesses or slaughterhouse operations. The bill does not alter other existing tax exemptions or affect general meat processing services.

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 summaryHB 3097 prohibits credit services organizations from selling consumer information to third-party financing entities. The bill specifically bans these organizations from furnishing consumer reports for credit transactions not initiated by the consumer. It directly affects credit services organizations and consumers whose data they handle, preventing the sale of personal financial information for external financing purposes. The key provision (section 7 of §46A-6C-3) creates a clear legal barrier against this data-sharing practice.

Maddy summaryHB 3169 prevents unlicensed individuals from referring customers to insurance sellers unless they charge only a small, flat fee ($100 or less) not tied to sales. It requires insurance companies and their vendors to establish safeguards against unethical telemarketing, including banning automated calls without written consent, prohibiting calls to numbers on the federal Do Not Call Registry, blocking false caller ID, and preventing misleading identification as licensed agents. The bill directly affects unlicensed referral services and insurance companies that use third parties for customer outreach. Key provisions mandate specific procedural changes to protect consumers from deceptive telemarketing practices under West Virginia's Insurance Sales Consumer Protection Act.

Maddy summaryHB 3496 requires property and casualty insurers in West Virginia to provide written explanations for declining coverage, canceling policies, or refusing renewal. It specifically prohibits denying renewal for policies in force four years or longer solely due to: (1) a single weather-related claim within 36 months, or (2) two such claims within 12 months related to declared emergencies, unless the insured failed to maintain the property. The bill also allows insurers to use Intelligent Mail barcodes for mailings and permits electronic posting of policy notices on insurer websites for policyholder access. These changes directly affect insurers and policyholders by standardizing communication and limiting certain non-renewal practices.

Maddy summaryHB 2493, the "Sound Science in Regulations Act," requires West Virginia state agencies to base new environmental and health regulations on "the best available science." This applies specifically to rules about drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances, and waste handling that are stricter than federal standards or created without federal counterparts. The bill defines "best available science" as reliable, unbiased research published in nonpartisan refereed journals, and mandates that such science must demonstrate a causal link between exposure to a substance and human harm. It does not affect existing regulations, federal requirements, or rules matching federal standards.