Del. Gary Howell

Maddy summaryHCR 10 is a memorial resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 1.5-mile segment of Knobley Road in Mineral County (between U.S. Route 50 and WV Route 9, ending at WV Route 18) as the "U.S. Marine Corps PFC Robert Thomas Taylor Memorial Road." It directs the Division of Highways to install signs at both ends of the road segment to identify the memorial. The resolution commemorates PFC Robert Thomas Taylor, a Marine who died in Vietnam in 1969, and has no substantive policy impact beyond this naming request. This is a procedural memorial resolution, not a law creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific segment of Route 20 in Webster County (from the Upshur/Webster County line to Mount Zion Road) as the "U.S. Army Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke Memorial Road." It commemorates Sergeant Major Charles Grant Hoke, a WWII and Korean War veteran with multiple military awards, who was born in Upshur County and raised in Cleveland, Webster County. The resolution asks the Division of Highways to install signs identifying this road segment and directs the House Clerk to forward the resolution to the agency. This is a commemorative measure with no funding or policy changes, directly affecting the named road segment in Webster County.

Maddy summaryHCR 27 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 1.5-mile segment of Laurel Dale Road (WV 93) in Mineral County as the "U.S. Army Brigadier General Edmund Francis Roleff Memorial Road." The designated section runs from the southern edge of the James Gilbert Bosley Memorial Bridge to Laurel Dale Community Church. The resolution honors Brigadier General Roleff (1941-2024), a 30-year Army veteran and West Virginia National Guard leader, recognizing his military service, community historical preservation work, and ties to Mineral County. As a naming resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHCR 97 establishes the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce to address challenges in the state's criminal justice system, including prison backlogs, high jail mortality rates, aging inmate populations, and behavioral health needs. The 21-member taskforce - comprising state officials, legislators, judges, community stakeholders (including formerly incarcerated individuals), and representatives from law enforcement and treatment programs - will analyze justice system data and develop policy recommendations on bail, sentencing, supervision, corrections programming, and behavioral health services. The taskforce must provide initial findings by December 2025, with ongoing reports to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, using technical assistance from the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This resolution directly affects state agencies, local governments, and justice system participants by aiming to improve public safety, reduce costs, and strengthen community health outcomes.

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 2156 sets a 30-day deadline for West Virginia's Division of Highways (DOH) to approve or deny highway entrance permits for work on public roads. If the DOH fails to respond within 30 days, the permit is automatically approved. The bill also limits permit change requests to one revision and requires the DOH to respond to disputes within 15 days, with automatic approval if they miss this deadline. It directly affects construction companies, utility providers, developers, and businesses needing road access, with no application fee required if applicants follow the guidelines - though a $500 fee applies for emergency requests.

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 summaryHouse Resolution 12 urges West Virginia's members of Congress to oppose a potential federal funding cut for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) program. The LFSCC program provided $660 million over three years to help schools and child care sites purchase locally grown food, directly supporting farmers, ranchers, and local food businesses. This resolution expresses concern that terminating the program would harm rural economies and child nutrition efforts, as the funding was specifically used for fresh, minimally processed foods in school meals. The resolution does not create new policy but requests action from West Virginia's congressional delegation to preserve existing funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2103 would exempt certain essential assets from creditor collection for West Virginia residents who fall behind on consumer debt. It protects up to the minimum wage (50 hours/week, 52 weeks/year), the first $5,000 of homestead value, retirement accounts (like 401(k)s and IRAs), disability benefits, prepaid college funds, life insurance proceeds, and Social Security income. Wages exceeding the minimum wage threshold remain subject to garnishment. The bill directly affects individuals with consumer debt by shielding key financial resources from seizure.

Maddy summaryHB 2393 requires the Mountaineer Trail Network Authority to submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on Economic Development beginning December 1, 2025. The report must detail progress toward trail network goals, a summary of grants requested and received, and updates on trail projects statewide. This bill establishes a mandatory transparency measure for the authority's activities without altering its operational duties or funding.