Del. Mike Hornby

Maddy summaryHB 5345 would change how West Virginia pays child care subsidies by requiring payments to be based on a child’s monthly enrollment (how many children are registered for the month) instead of daily attendance (paying for each day a child attends). This directly affects licensed child care centers and family day-care homes that receive state subsidies, providing more stable monthly funding regardless of daily attendance fluctuations. The bill amends state code to replace the current daily-attendance payment system with a monthly enrollment model for these providers. It does not apply to exempt programs like public schools, short-term care, or certain summer camps. The change aims to simplify billing and ensure consistent funding for child care providers.

Maddy summaryHB 4695 doubles criminal penalties for specific offenses against minors in West Virginia. It increases maximum prison terms and fines for sexual assault in the third degree (from 5 to 10 years/ $10,000 to $20,000), sexual abuse in the third degree (from 3 to 5 years/ $500 to $1,000), child neglect resulting in death (from 15 to 40 years/ $5,000 to $10,000), and sexual abuse by parents/guardians (from 20 to 40 years/ $5,000 to $10,000). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these crimes against minors under 16 years old or in positions of trust over children. These changes amend sections §61-8B-5, §61-8B-9, §61-8D-4a, and §61-8D-5 of West Virginia law.

Maddy summaryHB 5455 directs all mandatory fees from special license plates in West Virginia to the State Road Fund for road maintenance. It adds a voluntary donation option at registration or renewal, allowing drivers to contribute to programs related to their plate's theme (e.g., military, education, or environmental causes). Donations must be clearly marked as optional, separate from fees, and distributed only to the designated program. The bill requires the DMV to disclose these details to applicants and report annual fee and donation totals to the legislature. This affects all drivers purchasing special license plates and ensures road funding remains primary while offering optional support for themed causes.

Maddy summaryHB 5391 amends West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services Retirement System (EMSRS) to benefit current and future EMS personnel. It changes retirement benefit calculations to use a member's five highest-earning years instead of the current method, exempts all EMSRS pension income from West Virginia personal income tax (removing a previous $2,000 tax cap), and eliminates the 1,040-hour annual work limit for retired EMS workers returning to service in areas with staffing shortages. These changes directly affect emergency medical services workers enrolled in the EMSRS, providing tax relief and greater workforce flexibility. The bill creates the "EMS Retirement Equity, Tax Relief, and Workforce Support Act" as part of these policy updates.

Maddy summaryHB 5355 requires West Virginia public school districts to place any teaching position held by an uncertified individual up for public bidding every school year. This applies directly to school districts and teachers currently working without valid teaching certification. The bill mandates that such positions remain open for bid annually until filled by a certified educator, ensuring only qualified staff occupy teaching roles. It does not change certification requirements but adds a recurring annual bidding process for uncertified positions.

Maddy summaryHB 5359 creates a new tax method for high voltage electric transmission line property in West Virginia, directing property tax revenue from newly constructed transmission projects into the existing Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund. This fund will use the collected revenue to support grid stabilization, security, and efficiency upgrades for regulated utilities, including maintenance of coal and natural gas generation facilities serving West Virginia ratepayers. The bill specifies that these funds must be used to lower electricity rates for West Virginia consumers, directly benefiting all ratepayers by reducing costs through improved grid infrastructure. Key provisions include defining "high voltage transmission line property," requiring tax returns to the Board of Public Works, and ensuring unspent fund balances carry forward annually. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 5356 modifies how students in the Mountaineer Challenge Academy are counted toward high school graduation rates for school accreditation purposes. The bill specifies that students who complete the academy program within five years of starting ninth grade will be counted as graduates for accountability metrics, provided this does not conflict with federal law. This change directly affects students enrolled in the Mountaineer Challenge Academy (a designated alternative education program) and the schools that report graduation rates. The key mechanism adjusts the state's calculation method for graduation rates, ensuring these students are included in accountability measures under specific completion timelines. The bill does not alter the academy's funding structure or operations, only the reporting criteria for school accreditation.

Maddy summaryHB 5358 authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to offer locality pay to Division of Highways employees working in specific areas where competitive wages are needed to recruit and retain staff. The bill allows employees in designated locations to receive an additional $10,000 annually on top of their regular salary, exceeding standard pay ranges for their position. This applies specifically to workers involved in state road projects, including planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and traffic regulation. The commissioner must create a policy to implement this, but the bill does not guarantee funding or specify which areas will be designated.

Maddy summaryHB 5064 addresses municipalities in West Virginia that fail to complete required annual financial audits for three consecutive years (defined as "chronic audit noncompliance"). It authorizes the State Auditor to evaluate a municipality's financial recovery potential, requires the municipality to submit a recovery plan, and allows for a structured transition to dissolution if recovery is unlikely. The bill mandates specific notice requirements to affected municipalities and clarifies the duties of a financial receiver during dissolution, including how dissolution affects utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission. This directly impacts local governments that miss audit deadlines, creating a formal process to address fiscal instability.

Maddy summaryHB 5196 allows West Virginia local governments (counties or municipalities) to enter formal agreements with the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation to have it operate as their designated land reuse agency. This bill amends land reuse agency law to explicitly permit such partnerships, requiring agreements to specify agency structure, board composition, and public input processes. The Land Stewardship Corporation, a state-created nonprofit, would then manage land reuse programs - like repurposing vacant properties - within the local government's jurisdiction under these agreements. This change streamlines collaboration between local governments and the state entity for economic development initiatives.