Rep. Gary Howell

Maddy summaryHB 5400 increases criminal penalties for child neglect resulting in death in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence from 3 to 10 years for offenders convicted of causing a child's death through neglect when both a fine and imprisonment are imposed. The bill also clarifies that religious healing methods meeting IRS criteria for medical expenses do not count as neglect (but this exception does not apply to professionals like teachers or doctors responsible for a child's health). Additionally, it specifies that interfering with court-ordered medical treatment is considered neglect under this law. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, custodians, and others in positions of trust responsible for a child's well-being.

Maddy summaryHB 5387 amends West Virginia's high school graduation requirements by removing a mandatory stand-alone computer science course. Instead, it establishes a computer literacy proficiency requirement that students must meet to graduate. The bill restores local flexibility for school districts to determine how to implement this requirement while preserving advanced computer science pathways. This change directly affects all West Virginia high school students by altering one of their required graduation courses.

Maddy summaryHB 5388 creates a tax credit for independently owned West Virginia businesses participating in the official motorist services logo signing program. The bill allows eligible businesses to claim a credit equal to 100% of the fees paid to the West Virginia Division of Highways for program signage, directly reducing their state tax liability. To qualify, businesses must be locally owned (51% West Virginia-domiciled owners), operate fewer than five locations in the state, and not be bound by national branding requirements. The credit applies only to official program fees, excludes private advertising costs, and is nontransferable. This policy aims to lower costs for small, rural businesses along transportation corridors that provide traveler services.

Maddy summaryHB 5350 exempts from West Virginia sales and use tax materials and specific appliances used in manufacturing certain manufactured homes. It applies only to homes designed for permanent attachment to a foundation within the state, built in climate-controlled facilities, and including required appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer). Manufacturers must certify compliance, and false claims face penalties including double the avoided tax plus interest. This directly affects home manufacturers producing qualifying permanent-structure homes, excluding mobile or non-compliant units.

Maddy summaryHB 5359 creates a new tax method for high voltage electric transmission line property in West Virginia, directing property tax revenue from newly constructed transmission projects into the existing Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund. This fund will use the collected revenue to support grid stabilization, security, and efficiency upgrades for regulated utilities, including maintenance of coal and natural gas generation facilities serving West Virginia ratepayers. The bill specifies that these funds must be used to lower electricity rates for West Virginia consumers, directly benefiting all ratepayers by reducing costs through improved grid infrastructure. Key provisions include defining "high voltage transmission line property," requiring tax returns to the Board of Public Works, and ensuring unspent fund balances carry forward annually. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 5320, the "Welcome Act," aims to address West Virginia's housing shortage by changing how land is taxed during development. It allows property owners to keep their original tax classification for subdivided land until individual lots are sold, directly affecting homeowners and developers. The bill protects property owners' right to further subdivide land after initial sales, requires new parcels to include 24/7 access to a road (without mandating road construction), and limits local governments from imposing stricter road standards than the existing access road. These provisions apply to casual land divisions but not to formally recorded subdivisions with existing deed restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 5199 requires West Virginia county courts to establish County Parks, Entertainment, and Recreation Commissions (PERCs) for managing public parks and recreation facilities. The bill mandates that each commission consist of 11 members (adjusted by county population), who must be county residents owning local real estate, serving three-year terms with staggered appointments. Existing park commissions continue under this new structure until their terms expire. The law provides clear rules for membership qualifications, appointment procedures, and vacancy handling, ensuring consistent oversight of county recreational systems.

Maddy summaryHB 4624 allows West Virginia county commissions to lease, rent, or permit the use of county-owned wireless towers (or parts of them) to private companies or organizations, while requiring them to provide free access to public safety operations (like 911, police, and fire departments), the West Virginia Department of Highways, and other state agencies. Counties may charge fees for tower use by non-exempt entities but cannot levy charges for the specified public safety and state agency uses. The bill also permits counties to establish rules for managing such leases and optionally create panels to oversee tower allocations. This legislation directly affects county governments, private wireless providers, and state/local public safety agencies by clarifying tower leasing authority and access requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5200 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within West Virginia's Secretary of State's office to support entrepreneurs, startups (businesses under 5 years old), and scale-ups (businesses with proven growth metrics like 20% annual revenue increase). The office will serve as a central liaison between these businesses and state agencies, helping navigate government processes, coordinate resources, and identify systemic barriers. Key mechanisms include requiring state agencies to provide data (with confidentiality protections), mandating 48-hour responses to business inquiries, and requiring annual reports to the Economic Development Committee on entrepreneurship progress. This bill directly affects small business owners and growth-oriented enterprises seeking state support.

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.