Del. Rick Hillenbrand

Maddy summaryHB 5588, the "Therapeutic Psilocybin Act," establishes a regulated framework for using psilocybin to treat PTSD in veterans and first responders. The bill creates licensing requirements for psilocybin production facilities, mandates background checks for staff, and requires providers to register with the state department. Key provisions include requiring insurance coverage for treatment, creating safety protocols for production and testing, and establishing a verification system for medical use. This bill directly affects veterans and first responders with PTSD, medical providers, and psilocybin production facilities, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 5536, the West Virginia Constitutional Authority Clarification Act, clarifies that court rulings declaring a law unconstitutional apply only to the parties involved in that specific case, not automatically to the entire state. It requires the West Virginia Supreme Court to have at least four justices agree before declaring a law unconstitutional and pauses lower court rulings on such issues until the Supreme Court acts. The bill also establishes a process where the Legislature and Governor can jointly override judicial decisions on constitutional matters through a signed resolution. This directly affects how state courts interpret laws and reshapes the balance of power between West Virginia's legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Maddy summaryHB 4462 bans the sale of cell-cultured food products (like lab-grown meat, eggs, fish, or poultry) for human consumption in West Virginia. It defines these products as those made by growing animal cells in a lab to mimic traditional food items, and removes any requirement for labeling them as "lab-grown" or similar. The bill specifically targets cell-cultured products, not plant-based alternatives (defined as "analogue products"). This is a direct sales prohibition with no new labeling rules for the banned products.

Maddy summaryHB 4098 amends West Virginia law to restore jury service eligibility for individuals with expunged felony convictions. It specifically updates the disqualification rule (§52-1-8(b)(6)) to clarify that people whose felony convictions have been legally expunged are no longer disqualified from serving on juries, provided they meet other standard requirements like citizenship and residency. This directly affects West Virginians who have completed the expungement process for felony offenses, allowing them to serve on juries without restriction. The change removes a barrier to civic participation for this group while maintaining existing disqualification criteria for unexpunged convictions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6) expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for developing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, specifically an intra-Panhandle pipeline connecting western gas fields to the Eastern Panhandle. It aims to improve access to locally produced natural gas for residents, support industrial and commercial growth, and create jobs across the state. The resolution highlights West Virginia's status as a top natural gas producer and notes that existing pipelines transport most output out of state, while Maryland's opposition to pipeline extensions is cited as a barrier. It does not create new laws or funding but urges responsible infrastructure expansion to boost economic development. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct legal effect but signals legislative backing for pipeline projects.

Maddy summaryHB 5507 establishes rules for selecting and overseeing West Virginia's delegates to a potential national Article V convention, which would propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It requires delegates to meet specific qualifications (e.g., 5-year U.S. residency, no federal lobbying in the past 5 years) and mandates that seven delegates be named by a joint vote of the state legislature. The bill includes provisions for removing delegates who violate legislative instructions or propose "runaway amendments" (amendments outside the convention's scope), with penalties including felony charges and a $250,000 fine. It also creates an Advisory Committee to manage vacancies and oversee delegate conduct during the convention.

Maddy summaryHB 5520, the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration and Transnational Repression Act, requires lobbyists representing foreign adversaries (such as PRC-affiliated military companies) to disclose this relationship during West Virginia's lobbying registration process. The bill mandates that lobbyists provide specific details about their principals and include an affirmative acknowledgment if they are lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary. It creates new registration requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and duties for the Attorney General regarding record retention and oversight. This bill directly affects lobbyists and their principals who engage in lobbying activities on behalf of foreign adversaries or terrorist agents within West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5506 prohibits lobbyists from receiving payment for lobbying West Virginia state officials on behalf of "foreign adversaries" as defined by the bill. It directly affects lobbyists working for governments or entities designated as hostile to the U.S. or West Virginia, including specific countries like China (excluding Taiwan), Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and others listed in the bill. Key provisions require lobbyists to self-identify if representing such entities, establish civil penalties for violations, and allow authorities to seek disgorgement of funds or injunctive relief. The bill defines "foreign adversaries" broadly to include governments aligned with communist or totalitarian ideologies, state sponsors of terrorism, or entities under their control, with annual updates to the list by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryHB 5477 requires state-supported law enforcement agencies - including county sheriffs, municipal police, and regional jails receiving state funds - to join the federal 287(g) program for immigration enforcement. Larger detention facilities must use the "Jail Enforcement Model" under this program, with a fallback to the "Warrant Service Officer Model" only if federal authorities deny the primary option. The bill mandates reporting, audits, and allows withholding of state public safety funds from noncompliant agencies. It standardizes cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in detention settings across West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5460, the Construction Cost Relief Act, provides a sales tax rebate for construction materials used in new single-family homes built for residential ownership in West Virginia. The rebate covers up to 30% of the home's sale price (or construction loan amount if the builder occupies the home), calculated using a county-specific housing index relative to the state average. Homeowners and builders must claim the refund within one year of construction completion using state forms, and the refund cannot be transferred to another party. This law applies only to new construction starting on or after July 1, 2026.