Del. Rick Hillenbrand

Maddy summaryHB 4479 provides tax credits to West Virginia manufacturers that transform locally harvested wood into value-added products like veneer, engineered lumber, or wood pellets. The credits - ranging from $1.25 to $6 per ton of processed wood - apply to corporate or personal income tax based on volume tiers, with annual caps of $1.25 million for existing facilities and $2.5 million for new operations or expansions. To qualify, manufacturers must meet a "minimum transformation standard" (e.g., altering wood structure) using West Virginia-sourced feedstock, excluding basic handling like cutting or sorting. Credits are prorated based on the percentage of West Virginia wood used in production.

Maddy summaryHB 4408 gradually increases the percentage of real estate transfer excise tax that West Virginia counties retain - from 10% in 2021 to 100% starting July 2025 - to fund county election administration, infrastructure, security, and other clerk-related expenses. The bill amends WV Code §11-22-2, specifying that counties must use these funds exclusively for those purposes after the retention rate reaches 100%. It phases in the change incrementally: 20% in 2022, 30% in 2023, 65% in 2024, and full retention (100%) beginning 2025. This directly affects county clerks and commissions, who will manage these funds without needing additional voter approval for the tax rate adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 4444 would impose penalties on West Virginia delegates attending a Convention of States (a proposed meeting to amend the U.S. Constitution) who exceed their assigned authority. Delegates who deviate from their mandate would face mandatory immediate recall, fines of $100,000 to $500,000, up to 10 years in prison, and voided votes. The bill directly affects state delegates selected to represent West Virginia at such conventions. It establishes these consequences to ensure delegates strictly adhere to their pre-defined roles during constitutional convention proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 4454 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older or those certified as permanently and totally disabled who have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill allows the exemption to apply to the first $40,000 of a home's assessed value, reducing property taxes for eligible primary residences. The change requires applicants to confirm they aren't receiving a similar exemption in another state.

Maddy summaryHB 4448 removes exemptions that currently protect bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from criminal charges when distributing or displaying obscene material to minors. The bill amends West Virginia law to eliminate these specific protections, meaning these institutions would no longer be shielded from prosecution under the existing obscenity statute (§61-8A-3). Previously, schools were exempt when showing material as part of approved curriculum, and libraries/museums were exempt if minors were accompanied by parents. This change directly affects how these public institutions handle materials accessible to minors. The bill does not alter other existing exemptions, such as those for medical professionals or internet service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 4455 gradually increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners, starting at $20,000 in 2028 and rising to $40,000 by 2031. It directly affects homeowners aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who have resided in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill requires a constitutional amendment to take effect and removes a cap on property tax books while repealing a prior limitation on levy rates. This change aims to reduce property tax burdens for qualifying senior and disabled residents over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4480 modifies West Virginia's rules for access points to state highways used by commercial or industrial properties. It removes permit requirements for new access points, streamlining the process for businesses. The bill also creates standards for reviewing existing access points (especially those over 50 feet wide on highways with speed limits above 45 mph), allowing the Division of Highways to require safety changes like "no parking" signs based on traffic data. These changes directly affect property owners with highway-facing commercial or industrial properties.

Maddy summaryHB 4407 would amend West Virginia law to limit parents in child abuse or neglect cases to three court-ordered improvement periods. If a parent fails to successfully complete the final improvement period after three petitions for child removal, termination of parental rights becomes mandatory. The bill directly affects parents whose children have been removed due to abuse or neglect and who have exhausted three opportunities to improve parenting skills under court supervision. This change modifies existing law to require automatic termination after three failed improvement attempts, providing greater certainty for children in foster care.

Maddy summaryHB 4470 requires West Virginia election officials to capture and publish images of ballots cast in statewide elections, while giving voters a designated space (up to two square inches) to add a unique, non-identifying mark on their ballot for personal verification. The bill mandates that ballots include a unique number on a perforated stub and a specific area for voters to voluntarily mark their ballot with a symbol or dot. Officials must publish ballot images and cast vote records on the Secretary of State’s website within 24 hours after election results are certified, with special privacy protections for precincts with fewer than 10 absentee or provisional ballots. This applies to counties using electronic voting systems and ensures no personally identifiable voter information is included in published materials.

Maddy summaryHB 4434 increases criminal penalties for bribery and corrupt practices in West Virginia. It upgrades violations of bribery provisions (Section 3) to a felony punishable by 1-10 years in prison or fines up to $250,000 for corporations, while misdemeanor violations (Sections 4-5) carry up to 1 year in jail or $105,000 in fines. All convicted individuals face permanent disqualification from holding any state office or government position. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor corruption cases to six years. This directly affects public officials, contractors, and others engaging in bribery or corrupt acts under state law.