Del. Mike Hornby

Maddy summaryHB 4671 requires West Virginia law enforcement to immediately transfer individuals determined to be in the country without legal immigration status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. For a second offense (if the same person is again found without legal status), the bill classifies it as a felony, mandating 3 to 5 years in state prison before deportation. The bill also prohibits state and local law enforcement from interfering with this process or overriding federal immigration policy. It directly affects individuals without legal immigration status who are apprehended by law enforcement in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4627 requires health insurance plans and self-insured employer health plans in West Virginia to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters without cost-sharing (such as copays or deductibles), except in high-deductible health plans where standard deductibles apply. The bill applies to all firefighters employed by state, county, or municipal entities and mandates coverage based on the International Association of Fire Fighters' current screening guidelines. This ensures firefighters can access regular cancer screenings at no additional cost, promoting early detection and health monitoring for this occupational group.

Maddy summaryHB 4708 clarifies conditions for substitute teachers serving extended periods in West Virginia schools. It allows substitutes assigned to the same classroom for over half a grading period to remain until the grading period ends, provided the principal certifies the regular teacher has prepared them or is returning. The bill also creates a process for counties to hire retired teachers as substitutes in critical shortage areas without affecting retirement benefits (unless they start working in the same fiscal year they retired, in which case they lose annuity reserve benefits for that year). Additionally, all long-term substitutes must receive training on IEP and 504 plans upon hiring.

Maddy summaryHB 4713 exempts cash tips received by workers from West Virginia's personal income tax. This directly affects service industry employees, such as servers and bartenders, who earn cash tips. The bill adds a new section to the state tax code (§11-21-12o) stating that cash tips from any source are not subject to income tax. The change applies only to cash tips, not digital or non-cash tip payments.

Maddy summaryHB 4685 allows licensed concealed handgun permit holders to carry concealed firearms on West Virginia Capitol grounds and inside the Capitol building. It requires permit holders to show their permit and firearm upon entry if requested, while prohibiting concealed carry in the Governor's office, Supreme Court chambers, and specific areas of the Capitol complex. The bill maintains existing restrictions on open carry, pepper spray over one ounce, and willful damage to Capitol property. It directly affects licensed concealed carry permit holders visiting the Capitol, without changing open carry rules or general firearm laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4659 transfers oversight of most childcare services in West Virginia from the Department of Human Services to the West Virginia Department of Education. It requires residential child-care centers, day-care centers, and family day-care facilities to obtain licenses, certifications, or registrations from the Department of Education instead of the previous agency. The bill also updates requirements for evacuation plans, facility registrations, and exemptions (like public schools or summer camps) while maintaining existing standards for care. This change directly affects childcare providers operating under state oversight, shifting their regulatory authority to the education department.

Maddy summaryHB 4608, the School Board Election Date Act, requires all West Virginia school districts to hold board elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November - coinciding with general elections. It also mandates that candidate names be listed alphabetically on ballots for school board races. The bill applies directly to all West Virginia public school districts and their voters, standardizing election timing and ballot formatting without altering voting eligibility or school governance policies. This procedural change aims to streamline elections while aligning them with existing statewide voting schedules.

Maddy summaryHB 4609 allows magistrates to require mental health evaluations for defendants charged with specific offenses: violating protective orders (§48-27-903), personal safety orders (§53-8-11), or making threats of terroristic acts (§61-6-24), before setting bail. The bill requires the evaluation to be scheduled within 10 days, with a report to the magistrate within 48 hours, followed by a bond hearing within five days of receiving the report. This process aims to determine if mental health treatment or counseling is needed as a condition of bond. The bill directly affects defendants in these three offense categories appearing before magistrates in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4607 (introduced January 20, 2026) would require West Virginia state and local agencies to treat private and parochial schools equally to public schools for all school construction processes. The bill mandates that agencies must apply identical standards for building permits, fees, safety requirements, wastewater management, septic systems, and permitting timelines to private/parochial schools as they do for public schools. This addresses legislative findings that private schools have faced stricter construction rules than public schools. The bill directly affects private/parochial schools and the agencies overseeing construction regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 4567 requires retailers to verify the age of customers purchasing vape products by checking government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) for in-person sales to anyone appearing under 30, and using independent third-party verification services for online orders. The law directly affects all vape retailers (both physical stores and online sellers) and prohibits sales to anyone under 21. Key mechanisms include mandatory ID checks for in-person transactions and electronic age verification for remote purchases, modeled after requirements for prescription drugs. Violations may result in criminal or non-monetary penalties as specified in the bill.