Rep. Ian Masters

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors the life and legacy of the late West Virginia legislator Larry D. Kump, who passed away on February 28, 2026. The resolution formally expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to Kump's family and acknowledges his service as a representative for Berkeley County across three different terms. It recognizes his career in criminal justice and mediation, his commitment to limited government, and his role as a devoted family member and church leader. The document is a ceremonial tribute rather than a law that changes policy or affects public programs.

Maddy summaryHB 5198 amends West Virginia's hate crime law to explicitly include "disability" as a protected class alongside race, sex, and other characteristics. It increases penalties for crimes motivated by disability bias - such as violence or intimidation - by classifying such acts as felonies punishable by fines up to $5,000 or 10 years in prison. The bill applies to all individuals with disabilities as defined under state law (§16B-17-3), directly affecting victims of disability-targeted crimes and holding perpetrators accountable under existing hate crime provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4500 authorizes Berkeley County Commission to levy a special excise tax on sales of tangible personal property and services within the Berkeley County Economic Opportunity Development District. This tax would fund economic development initiatives in the designated district, directly affecting businesses operating within its boundaries and residents who purchase taxable goods or services there. The bill specifies that the district will remain active until 2054, unless terminated earlier under existing law, and aligns with similar provisions for other counties’ economic districts. The tax is limited to sales within the district’s defined boundaries and must be approved through required legislative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 5492 allows West Virginia's Department of Economic Development to pre-purchase standardized electric substation transformers from regulated utilities to accelerate industrial and commercial development projects. The bill specifies technical requirements for transformers (e.g., 150-200 MVA capacity, specific voltage levels) and authorizes the state to pay for initial ordering costs while utilities retain ownership until assigned to qualifying projects like industrial parks. If transformers aren't assigned by delivery, the state covers remaining costs and utilities hold them for future projects or system use. The state can recover funds through utility rate adjustments, project agreements, or other approved methods, without requiring Public Service Commission approval for these purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 5471 increases annual salaries for West Virginia judges and magistrates, effective July 1, 2026. It raises magistrates' pay to $75,880 (from $63,250), Supreme Court justices to $154,600 (from $149,600), circuit judges to $143,600 (from $138,600), and family court judges to $126,424 (from $103,950). The bill also clarifies retirement contribution rules for judicial positions. These changes directly affect all active state judges and magistrates, with no county-level funding required for these salary adjustments.

Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a study resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to examine whether West Virginia counties should direct a portion of new property tax revenue from large-scale investments (like manufacturing or energy projects) toward property tax relief for primary residence homeowners. The study would assess thresholds for "significant" revenue growth, prioritize relief for retirees, develop revenue allocation formulas, and analyze constitutional requirements for such a policy. It does not create new tax relief but evaluates feasibility and implementation details, including safeguards to maintain funding for schools and public safety. The committee must report findings by 2027, potentially leading to future legislation or constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 5665 amends West Virginia's ethics code to require House and Senate clerks to record individual roll call votes in the journal when a legislative vote concerns a member's direct personal or financial interest and more than one-third of members present vote using a voting machine. This provision increases transparency for votes involving potential conflicts of interest by mandating specific documentation of electronic votes. The bill does not change existing conflict-of-interest rules but adds a new record-keeping requirement for such circumstances. It directly affects legislative clerks (who must implement the recording) and members who may vote on matters involving their personal interests.

Maddy summaryHB 5666 amends West Virginia law to change the phrase on state-issued driver's licenses and IDs from "Not for REAL ID Purposes" to "Authorized for all West Virginia State ID Purposes." This change directly affects all residents who hold or apply for a West Virginia driver's license or state ID card. The bill modifies §17B-2-8 of the state code to require this new wording at the top of all licenses, clarifying that they are valid for any state ID purpose within West Virginia. The change removes a previous disclaimer about federal REAL ID requirements, making state IDs more clearly usable for routine state services without confusion.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's HCR 19 is a resolution urging Congress to call a Convention of States under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution states that two-thirds of state legislatures have already applied for such a convention to propose a balanced budget amendment, making it Congress's constitutional duty to convene it immediately. It specifies the convention would be limited to fiscal responsibility proposals, with states selecting their own commissioners. The resolution also declares West Virginia's readiness to host the convention if chosen, emphasizing states' constitutional right to initiate this process without congressional interference.

Maddy summaryHJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how the West Virginia State Board of Education is structured. It would replace the current system of nine governor-appointed members with five elected regional members (serving four-year terms, limited to two terms) and four appointed members (serving staggered terms). The amendment requires the Board to submit proposed policies to the Legislature for review, approval, or rejection. This change, if approved by voters in 2026, would take effect for the 2028 election cycle and directly affects how board members are selected and how education policies are reviewed.