Del. Mike Hornby

Maddy summaryHB 2164 allows West Virginia public and private K-12 schools to directly hire security personnel without needing separate state approval. The bill updates existing law to remove previous restrictions on school security staffing, streamlining the process for schools to employ officers or guards. This change directly affects all schools seeking to enhance safety measures through on-site security. The law took effect on July 30, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2411 updates high school graduation requirements and revises academic content standards for public schools. It directly affects high school students, school districts, and educators by changing the specific courses and assessments needed for graduation. The bill modifies the existing standards to align with updated educational goals, requiring schools to adjust their curriculum and assessment methods accordingly. This law became effective upon the Governor's approval on April 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2871 creates new vehicular homicide offenses (including aggravated versions and those occurring in school/construction zones) and expands criminal protections to embryos. It establishes specific fines, penalties, and automatic driver's license revocation for convictions related to these offenses. The bill also links these new crimes to commercial driver's license disqualification, insurance policy cancellation, and updated definitions in juvenile court proceedings. This directly affects drivers involved in fatal crashes, insurance companies, and law enforcement handling traffic-related deaths.

Maddy summaryHB 2709 allows voters who have moved to a new address to vote in their new precinct without needing to cast a provisional ballot. It directly affects voters who have changed residence but have not yet updated their voter registration with election officials. The bill eliminates the requirement for provisional ballots in these cases, enabling voters to cast a regular ballot immediately upon moving. This change streamlines the voting process for address-changers and takes effect as part of Chapter 109 of the 2025 regular session laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2678, now Chapter 100 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts, establishes new regulations for school zones around public and private schools in the state. The bill directly affects school districts, local law enforcement, and drivers operating near school property during designated hours. While the specific provisions (such as speed limits or enforcement protocols) are not detailed in the provided context, the bill creates a statutory framework for defining and managing school zone boundaries. It became law after receiving gubernatorial approval on April 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3503 transfers authority from the state to local governments for regulating commercial horticulture (such as large-scale nurseries or greenhouses) under the state's Water Pollution Control Act. It requires counties, municipalities, and other local political subdivisions to develop and enforce their own rules for these operations to protect water quality. The bill directly affects commercial horticulture businesses and local governments responsible for implementing these regulations. This law was enacted on April 29, 2025, becoming Chapter 118 of the 2025 regular session statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 3166 requires public school districts to create and annually update detailed safety maps for all school buildings. These maps must show emergency exits, security cameras, communication systems, and other safety features, and be made available to law enforcement upon request. The bill directly affects all public school districts in the state by mandating this standardized safety documentation. It became law on April 29, 2025, after approval by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2897 requires the West Virginia Legislative Auditor to conduct regular performance and financial audits of the West Virginia Department of Education. The bill authorizes the Auditor to examine the Department’s finances, records, and operations while protecting the confidentiality of any protected information. It mandates that the initial audit be completed by December 1, 2025, and reported to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 2120 requires West Virginia's Ethics Commission to develop an online registration and reporting system by July 10, 2025, with specific functionality standards. It increases the number of annual lobbying activity reports required from lobbyists and mandates the Commission to post public resources and disclosure information on its website. The bill also adds new recusal rules for Commission members who contribute to political campaigns, requiring them to step aside from decisions involving those campaigns. These changes directly affect lobbyists, Commission members, and the public by increasing transparency and updating disclosure processes.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 24) requests the West Virginia Division of Highways to rename bridge number 52-250/00-009.13 (currently known as Littleton Bridge) in Wetzel County as the "Postlethwait Brothers Memorial Bridge." It honors four brothers - Clarence, John Lloyd, Frank, and George Postlethwait - who served in multiple wars (World War II, Korea, Vietnam) with distinguished military careers. The resolution, which passed unanimously on April 12, 2025, directs the Division of Highways to install signage identifying the bridge with this new name.