Del. Mike Hornby

Maddy summaryHB 2382 prohibits camping and storing camping gear (like tents, cots, or sleeping bags) on specific public property without permission. It bans these activities on Capitol grounds, courthouses, municipal offices, streets, parks, and trails - areas defined as public property owned or controlled by state, county, or municipal governments. Violators face fines of $25-$100 or up to 30 days in jail per day of violation. The bill includes exceptions for authorized uses but does not address broader homelessness or safety concerns beyond the defined legal prohibitions.

Maddy summaryHB 3310 requires all West Virginia utility companies to cover the full costs of maintaining, upgrading, and repairing their infrastructure - including pipes, cables, poles, and electrical lines - without passing these expenses to consumers through rate increases. The bill directly affects utility companies operating in the state and all customers who pay utility bills. Key provisions mandate that companies absorb these costs entirely, maintain records proving costs weren’t factored into future rate hikes, and prohibit any financial burden on consumers for infrastructure maintenance. This policy change ensures no rate increases can be justified by infrastructure costs alone.

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 summaryHB 2422 would require all municipal elections in West Virginia to be held on the same day as statewide primary or general elections, which occur on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years for general elections. This change would directly affect cities and towns (municipalities), eliminating separate local election dates and mandating coordination with county commissions on election timing, administrative costs, and election official use. Municipalities would share election costs based on their proportion of registered voters in the county, and must comply with existing rules for county election official coordination. The bill aims to streamline election administration by aligning municipal elections with the established statewide election cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 2651 changes employment terms for certain education administrators in West Virginia counties. It mandates that general and special supervisors or directors of instruction employed by county boards of education serve "at the will and pleasure" of the board, meaning they can be terminated without cause at any time. This directly affects these specific administrative roles, shifting their status from potentially protected positions to at-will employment. The bill amends Section 18-5-32 of the state code to explicitly state this employment condition, while maintaining existing requirements for teaching certificates and substitute teaching duties.

Maddy summaryHB 2087 requires West Virginia public schools to post adopted curriculum online by the start of each school year, with access limited to students, parents, or guardians. It grants parents, custodians, or guardians the right to inspect classroom materials (including books) upon request, including scheduling appointments within 10 business days and receiving explanations linking materials to state standards. The bill also mandates that teachers list required books on class syllabi and make them available to parents upon request. Additionally, it establishes a complaint process for non-compliance, allowing parents to report issues to school superintendents, with annual statewide reporting of complaints to the Legislative Oversight Commission. (Note: The bill specifically affects parents/guardians of enrolled students, not general taxpayers as noted in the title.)

Maddy summaryHB 2879 creates the West Virginia Math, Science and Special Education Teacher Scholarship Act, providing debt relief to qualifying educators. It offers up to $2,000 in debt relief after three years of teaching in West Virginia public schools and an additional $2,000 after six years, totaling a maximum of $4,000 per teacher. To qualify, teachers must hold a master's degree in math, science, or special education, be West Virginia residents for at least one year, and work full-time in eligible public school positions. The program, funded through state budget appropriations, runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2036.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 20) is a legislative request to name a specific bridge in Wetzel County, West Virginia, the "U.S. Tustin Brothers Memorial Bridge." It directly affects the Division of Highways, which would be asked to rename bridge number 52-250/00-003.88 (currently known as Stewart Street Bridge) and install identifying signs. The resolution commemorates Vernon and Vincent Tustin, along with five of their brothers, who all served in the U.S. military, including during the Korean Conflict. The request is purely ceremonial, with no new policy or funding changes, and seeks to honor their military service and local legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 3295 establishes a "Troops-to-Teachers" program to recruit veterans into teaching positions in West Virginia public schools. The bill requires the state superintendent to create this program specifically targeting veterans, including retirees, for teaching roles. Veterans will receive a hiring preference in public school employment, as outlined in existing law (§6-13-1). This program is integrated into West Virginia’s teacher certification framework under revised education code sections (§18A-3-1 and §18A-3-2a).

Maddy summaryHB 2939, the Remote Schools Support Act, creates a new definition for "extremely remote schools" in West Virginia and provides specific state funding to support them. The bill requires counties to keep these schools open by providing additional state aid, with enrollment in such schools counted as 2.5 students for funding calculations. It mandates state funding to cover building operations, extreme weather preparedness, and professional development for staff at these schools. This directly affects rural schools in sparse-density counties by altering how they receive state education funding to prevent closures.