Del. Mike Hite

Maddy summaryHJR 23 proposes removing a constitutional term limit for West Virginia sheriffs, which currently restricts them to two consecutive terms. If approved by voters, the amendment would eliminate this restriction, allowing sheriffs to seek re-election for additional terms. The bill requires voter approval at the 2026 general election to take effect. It directly affects sheriffs statewide by changing their eligibility to serve beyond two consecutive terms.

Maddy summaryHJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to give the West Virginia Legislature authority to reduce or eliminate ad valorem taxes on business inventory and other tangible personal property. The amendment would allow the Legislature to set different tax rates for various property types (like vehicles or business equipment), exempt specific items from taxation, or classify property as real or personal for tax purposes. It does not change current tax rates but creates a legal framework for future legislative action. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and must comply with existing constitutional tax rate limits.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Recovery Acceleration Act allows West Virginia homeowners to rebuild or repair homes damaged by natural disasters up to 125% of the original square footage without triggering new development standards or lengthy environmental reviews. It requires rebuilding to follow current building codes, while preserving any grandfathered rules (such as older construction standards) that applied to the original property. This applies directly to individuals restoring their own residential property after a disaster, aiming to simplify and speed up recovery efforts. The bill does not alter building code requirements but removes additional regulatory barriers for reconstruction.

Maddy summaryHB 4457 would allow unaffiliated voters (such as independents) to request voting in any major political party's primary election ballot, if the party's state committee permits it. Currently, unaffiliated voters in West Virginia cannot vote for party candidates in primaries and only receive ballots for nonpartisan races and public questions. The bill requires each major party's state executive committee to decide whether to allow unaffiliated voters to cast a ballot for that party's candidates. Unaffiliated voters would still receive separate ballots for nonpartisan races and public questions, as required by existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 4445 would exempt the sale of small arms (such as rifles, shotguns, and pistols) and related items from West Virginia's sales and service taxes. This includes small arms ammunition, accessories like holsters and optics, storage devices (e.g., safes and cases), and fees for shooting sports events. The bill defines these terms to clarify the scope of the exemption, ensuring it applies only to specified firearms and related products. The stated purpose is to reduce costs for residents purchasing these items to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryHB 4336 sets new operational standards for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs in West Virginia. It requires all MAT programs to have a licensed medical director who meets specific training and practice requirements, and mandates qualified counseling staff with defined certifications (e.g., licensed psychiatrists, certified addiction counselors). Programs must follow new billing rules, including obtaining written insurance denial before charging patients directly for treatment, and must document patient insurance status. These requirements apply to all MAT programs seeking state licensing or Medicaid enrollment.

Maddy summaryHB 2402 requires healthcare providers to share a minor's medical records with parents or legal guardians upon request, unless the minor (age 14 or older) specifically asks to keep their records private. This law directly affects minors, their parents/guardians, and healthcare providers who must now follow this access protocol. Key provisions mandate that providers inform minors about their right to request record privacy and establish clear procedures for handling access requests. The bill became law on April 25, 2025, after approval by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2121 extends an existing property tax exemption to widowed spouses of disabled veterans who died while receiving service-connected disability benefits. Previously, this exemption expired upon the veteran's death, but the bill allows widows to retain the tax break after their spouse's passing. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities who were receiving benefits at the time of death. The law, effective July 31, 2025, modifies the state's property tax code to maintain this benefit for qualifying widows.

Maddy summaryHB 3277 clarifies specific terminology used in West Virginia's Hospital Finance Authority Act. This procedural bill defines key terms to ensure consistent application of the existing law by the West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority and state agencies managing hospital funding programs. It does not create new programs or change funding levels, but standardizes language to improve administrative clarity. The bill was enacted into law on April 28, 2025, as Chapter 140 of the 2025 Acts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits specific food additives deemed unsafe from being used in school nutrition programs in West Virginia, directly affecting schools and meal providers participating in state and federal school feeding initiatives. The legislation explicitly bans butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, and six FD&C food colorings from meals served in schools, while allowing these ingredients in other food products outside of school nutrition programs. The law also updates existing definitions of adulterated food to include these specific additives and exempts minor violations from criminal penalties if the total value of adulterated food sold under $5,000 per month. These changes take effect on August 1, 2025, for school programs and January 1, 2028, for broader food safety provisions.