Del. Rick Hillenbrand

Maddy summaryHB 2894 amends West Virginia's human trafficking laws by adding a definition for "illegal alien" (an individual without legal U.S. immigration status) and specifying that such individuals are not eligible for restitution in trafficking cases. The bill updates definitions in sections covering coercion, forced labor, and trafficking to explicitly include "illegal alien" as a term. It does not create new trafficking prohibitions but clarifies that victims without legal status cannot receive restitution payments under the law. This affects individuals without legal immigration status who may be victims of trafficking in West Virginia. The bill focuses solely on definitional changes and restitution eligibility, not on enforcement or new criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHCR 87 is a procedural resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename Dutchman Bridge (Bridge Number 43-021/00-000.06) in Ritchie County to the "Clark Brothers Memorial Bridge." It honors eight Clark brothers who served in the U.S. military (five in the Army, three in the Navy) during World War II and other conflicts, citing their service and personal history. The resolution does not create new policy or affect any group; it only asks for a name change on an existing bridge and signage. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive legislative impact.

Maddy summaryHB 2736 creates an Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board to enforce rules preventing damage to underground utility lines during excavation. It directly affects excavators (e.g., construction crews) and operators of underground facilities (e.g., gas, water, or telecom companies). The bill establishes the board’s authority to investigate damage incidents, assess civil penalties, require training, and collect fines - which must be retained by the board (not the state general fund) for its operations. Key provisions clarify definitions of "damage," "excavation," and "underground facility" to standardize reporting and safety protocols. The law aims to reduce accidental utility line strikes during digging projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2382 prohibits camping and storing camping gear (like tents, cots, or sleeping bags) on specific public property without permission. It bans these activities on Capitol grounds, courthouses, municipal offices, streets, parks, and trails - areas defined as public property owned or controlled by state, county, or municipal governments. Violators face fines of $25-$100 or up to 30 days in jail per day of violation. The bill includes exceptions for authorized uses but does not address broader homelessness or safety concerns beyond the defined legal prohibitions.

Maddy summaryHB 3168, titled "The Rossi Act," requires businesses providing goods, services, or utilities in West Virginia to allow customers to modify their online accounts via phone or mail, with identity verification. It directly affects utility companies, telecom providers, and other service entities operating in the state. The law mandates this change to replace current online-only account management options and specifies that violations will be enforced under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act by the Attorney General. The bill focuses on expanding customer access to account changes through traditional channels, not on specific outcomes or political implications.

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 2856 allows broadband providers to install necessary equipment (like fiber lines) on land protected by conservation easements, without harming conservation values. It directly affects broadband companies and landowners with conservation easements by establishing three clear pathways to secure installation permission: modifying easement language, using a conservation plan detailing installation locations and depths, or seeking court approval for existing easements that block access. The bill preempts local ordinances and homeowner association rules that would otherwise prevent such installations, while clarifying that existing eminent domain rights for broadband providers remain unaffected. This policy change aims to expand broadband access in rural areas without compromising conservation protections.

Maddy summaryHB 2835 creates the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse, a statewide map-based data hub managed by the West Virginia GIS Technical Center. This hub will centralize geospatial information to help state agencies, local governments, and businesses plan infrastructure projects like broadband networks more efficiently, reducing duplication and speeding up installations. The bill requires agencies to follow standardized protocols for sharing location data while protecting confidential information, and establishes a special fund for operations. It directly affects state and local government entities involved in infrastructure planning and project permitting.

Maddy summaryHB 2502 requires West Virginia internet and telecom providers to automatically credit customers for service interruptions lasting five or more days (120 hours) when the outage isn't caused by the customer. Credits must be calculated proportionally to the days without service and applied in the next billing cycle. The Attorney General can enforce this by suing providers for excessive charges and imposing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Providers must also report monthly outage data (including credit amounts and geographic scope) to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, excluding mobile service disruptions.

Maddy summaryHB 3072 requires new two-lane highways in West Virginia to use a "Super Two" design, which adds alternating passing lanes on rural roads to allow safe passing in both directions. This applies to all new road construction projects that do not need full four-lane infrastructure, meeting existing safety standards for lane width and shoulders. The design improves immediate traffic safety by reducing hazardous passing attempts while enabling future upgrades to four lanes with minimal modifications. It follows Texas' approach to cost-effectively enhance safety on existing two-lane corridors.