Del. George Miller

Maddy summaryHB 2922, the Safer Communities Act, allows West Virginia counties to impose a public safety sales or amusement tax of up to 1% on qualifying purchases, subject to voter approval via referendum. It directly affects counties that meet specific requirements (e.g., current on state fees, utilizing maximum millage rates, and having fire/EMS levies). The tax funds public safety services, emergency response, and school resource officers in unincorporated areas, while excluding municipalities already in the Municipal Home Rule Program or with existing amusement taxes. Counties must notify state tax officials 180 days before implementing the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 updates West Virginia's child welfare laws to improve reporting and oversight of child abuse and neglect cases. It requires immediate reporting via a 24-hour hotline or web system with a case identifier, mandates a backup reporting system by July 1, 2023, and creates a Critical Incident Review Team to analyze serious cases. The bill also permits the Foster Care Ombudsman access to case details (including reporter identity) and changes public access to abuse reports to align with the team's reporting guidelines. Additionally, it adds new requirements for the child welfare dashboard and ensures confidentiality for reporters.

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 summaryHJR 40 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how members of the West Virginia State Board of Education are selected. It would replace the current system of nine appointed members with a hybrid model: five members elected on a partisan basis from five geographic regions (serving staggered four-year terms), and four members appointed by the Governor with Senate consent. The amendment would require the Board to submit any rules or policies they create to the Legislature for review, approval, amendment, or rejection. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, these changes would take effect with the 2028 general election, modifying the current appointment system for the Board.

Maddy summaryHB 3468 modifies West Virginia tax law to expand tax exemptions for certain public safety workers' pension benefits. It removes a $2,000 annual cap on tax-free treatment for pension payments, making full pension benefits exempt for Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers. The bill amends Section 11-21-12 of the West Virginia Code to include these specific professions in the existing pension exemption, which previously applied only to some public employees. This change directly affects law enforcement and emergency service workers receiving retirement benefits under state pension systems, eliminating federal adjusted gross income tax on their full pension payments.

Maddy summaryHB 3414 automatically establishes a $100 Smart 529 savings account for every newborn in West Virginia who resides in the state at birth or is adopted by West Virginia residents. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to share birth data with the State Treasurer within 90 days of birth, triggering the grant to cover college costs at eligible institutions. It creates the "Mountaineer Scholars Grant Program," with funds drawn from the Savings Plan Trust Fund to provide one-time grants plus investment earnings for qualified higher education expenses. The program applies to children born after December 31, 2024, and excludes parents who opt out.

Maddy summaryHB 3386, the Taxpayer Accountability for Public Service Act, requires all candidates for public office in West Virginia (local, state, or judicial positions) to prove they have paid all personal property taxes or are in an approved payment plan. It mandates that candidates submit tax compliance documentation when filing for office, with election authorities verifying this with tax agencies before certifying candidates for ballots. Exceptions allow candidates with approved payment plans or pending tax challenges to run. The bill enforces this by removing ineligible candidates from ballots and disqualifying those who provide false tax information for five years. This policy directly affects all individuals seeking elected office in West Virginia by adding tax payment as a new eligibility requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 3341 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders in West Virginia. It allows specific licensed mental health professionals - such as psychologists, licensed counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners - to diagnose PTSD as a compensable injury, rather than restricting it to psychiatrists alone. Employers must elect to cover PTSD under their workers' compensation policies, and claims must be filed within three years of diagnosis. The law applies only to diagnoses made on or after July 1, 2021, and expires on July 1, 2026, unless extended by the legislature. This directly affects law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and emergency dispatchers who develop PTSD from work-related traumatic events.

Maddy summaryHB 2697 prohibits all state-funded colleges, universities, and community colleges in West Virginia from charging students, former students, or graduates for academic transcripts. The bill directly affects these institutions and their students by banning transcript fees as a standard practice. Key provision: It amends state law to explicitly state that no such institution may impose a fee for issuing transcripts. This is a concrete policy change eliminating a common administrative cost for students. The bill does not alter other fees or services.