Del. Rick Hillenbrand

Maddy summaryHB 4405 requires West Virginia public defender corporations in any judicial circuit to split into two separate, independent offices when they employ six or more assistant public defenders (including the chief public defender). This change directly affects public defender offices that reach this staffing threshold, mandating a structural split while keeping the same governing board for both new entities. The bill expands the executive director's authority to create, merge, or dissolve public defender corporations to improve legal representation quality, address conflicts, and manage state funds more effectively. It also requires the executive director to consult with circuit judges before making such changes and submit reports to the Legislature. The key mechanism is the automatic split trigger at six attorneys, aiming to enhance resource allocation without adding new staff.

Maddy summaryHB 5025 allows farm owners to burn obsolete, uninsured farm structures on agricultural land without facing second-degree arson penalties. It directly affects farmers who own outdated buildings (like barns or sheds) that are uninsured and no longer in use. To qualify, owners must submit a notarized letter to the county assessor and fire department seven days before burning, confirming the structure is uninsured and meets Department of Environmental Protection permitting requirements. The bill modifies existing arson law to create this specific exemption for eligible farm structures.

Maddy summaryHB 4458, known as "Joel’s Law," creates a legal process for involuntary treatment of individuals with substance use disorders who pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. It requires a petition from a family member, friend, or guardian to a West Virginia Circuit Court, accompanied by a guarantee to cover treatment costs, and sets strict criteria: the person must have a substance use disorder, present an immediate danger, and be likely to benefit from treatment. The bill establishes a 72-hour emergency treatment option and a formal court process for 60- to 360-day treatment orders, including medical examinations and a hearing within 14 days. This law directly affects individuals meeting these specific danger criteria and their families, while ensuring procedural safeguards like court oversight and cost accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 4600 requires that all absentee ballots for primary and general elections must be received by 8:00 p.m. on election day to be counted. This applies to voters who request absentee ballots by mail or electronically. The bill amends West Virginia law to establish a clear deadline for ballot receipt, ensuring all absentee ballots are processed by the same time as in-person voting. It directly affects voters who choose to mail in their ballots, requiring timely delivery to meet the election day cutoff.

Maddy summaryHB 4932 amends West Virginia law to allow accounting corporations to use "A.C." as a name ending instead of writing out "accounting corporation." This directly affects accounting corporations formed under West Virginia law, permitting them to use the abbreviation "A.C." in their official names. The bill specifically adds "A.C." to the list of acceptable name endings, replacing the current requirement to include the full phrase. This is a technical naming change with no impact on business operations or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 creates a 30% transferable tax credit for nonprofit organizations that convert existing hotels, motels, or commercial buildings into housing for homeless veterans. The credit covers 30% of qualified redevelopment costs (like renovation and infrastructure) but excludes land acquisition, and can be applied against corporate income, personal income, or business franchise taxes. Nonprofits can sell or transfer the unused credit to other taxpayers to generate funding, with credits carrying forward up to 10 years. This aims to incentivize supportive housing without creating new state spending or entitlements, targeting veterans facing homelessness through adaptive reuse of underutilized properties.

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 summaryHCR 18 is a symbolic concurrent resolution passed by the West Virginia legislature declaring that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is conducting an "illegal, asymmetric war" against the U.S. and West Virginia. It claims China uses "unconventional means" including fentanyl, engineered diseases, cyberattacks, and influence operations, and directs state officials to identify PRC-affiliated entities holding public debt since 2019 for debt forgiveness. The resolution invites other states to adopt similar declarations and urges coordinated state action against China. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws or alter policy but serves as a formal statement of legislative position.

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 4522 requires non-government entities providing funds or services for West Virginia election administration (such as ballot initiatives) to certify to the Secretary of State whether they knowingly receive foreign donations. This affects organizations or individuals funding state ballot measures, not voters or candidates. The bill mandates annual certification updates within five business days of new information, with penalties including fines of three times the donation amount for false or late filings, and invalidates agreements for non-compliance. It also requires government entities to submit quarterly reports on such funding and mandates public posting of certifications on the Secretary of State’s website.