Del. Larry Kump

Maddy summaryHB 3291 (West Virginia House Bill 3291) increases penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. It directly affects businesses and organizations in West Virginia that employ unauthorized workers, imposing escalating fines: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 plus up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also penalizes employers who provide false work status records or transfer assets to evade these requirements, with fines of $1,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. These provisions amend existing West Virginia law (§21-1B-5) to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized employment.

Maddy summaryHB 3227 would require the West Virginia Governor to appoint a replacement for a vacant House of Delegates seat from the same political party as the member who vacated the position. The bill mandates that the party executive committee must submit a list of three qualified candidates within 15 days of the vacancy, and the Governor must appoint from that list within five days. This change ensures the political party affiliation of the vacating member is maintained in the replacement. The bill applies only to House of Delegates vacancies, not Senate vacancies.

Maddy summaryHB 3262 requires county commissioners who also serve on non-statutory boards to recuse themselves from voting when decisions involve both the county commission and the other board. It directly affects county commissioners holding dual roles on voluntary boards, such as planning or economic development commissions. The bill mandates that these commissioners step aside from specific votes where their participation in both bodies could create a conflict of interest. This policy change aims to prevent conflicts by ensuring decisions are made without overlapping influence. The bill is currently in committee for review after its March 7, 2025, introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 3222 requires doctors who issue medical cannabis certifications to maintain a physical office within West Virginia. This bill amends existing law to add a new eligibility requirement for physicians in the state's medical cannabis registry. Specifically, it mandates that doctors must have a physical office location in West Virginia to qualify for the registry, which previously did not require this. The change directly affects physicians seeking to certify patients for medical cannabis use under West Virginia's program.

Maddy summaryHJR 35 proposes amending West Virginia's Constitution to change how the state superintendent of schools is selected. Currently appointed by the State Board of Education, the superintendent would instead be elected directly by voters in general elections every four years under this amendment. The bill does not alter the superintendent's duties, qualifications, or existing responsibilities as the chief school officer. It specifically targets the selection method for this education leadership role, shifting from an appointed position to an elected one. The amendment would require voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHJR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify the duties and authority of the West Virginia Board of Education. The amendment would update Article XII, Section 2 of the state constitution to specify that the Board "shall perform only such duties as may be prescribed by law." This resolution requires voter approval at the 2026 general election to become part of the constitution. The change aims to provide clearer constitutional language but does not alter the Board's existing structure, appointment process, or current responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 3171, the "Citizen and State Accountability Act," requires state and local government agencies to seek the Governor's approval before accepting certain grants. For grants over $1 million (defined as "major grants"), agencies must submit a detailed 60-day analysis covering costs, policy impacts, and compliance requirements to the Governor and a fiscal office. For smaller grants ($1 million or less, "minor grants"), agencies must notify the Governor one week before applying. The bill mandates public reporting of all grant applications and requires the Governor to provide written consent for major grants or block minor grants entirely, with all grant details recorded in a public database.

Maddy summaryHB 3238 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots exclusively and restricts absentee voting eligibility to only active U.S. military members (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities. The bill eliminates current absentee categories, including voters traveling for work or education, college students, first responders, and those using emergency absentee ballots. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election and applies to all subsequent primary and general elections. This change directly affects most voters who currently qualify for absentee voting by mail or in person. The legislation removes provisions allowing absentee voting for reasons like medical confinement, incarceration (non-felony), or remote work.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 prohibits public utilities (such as gas, water, and electric companies) from using funds paid by ratepayers to make political contributions or charitable donations. The bill bans these contributions to political candidates, campaigns, political action committees, and charitable organizations. Violations would be classified as criminal offenses with penalties. This applies to all public utilities operating in West Virginia under the state's regulatory code.

Maddy summaryHB 3178 would amend West Virginia law to allow female inmates to work on state convict road crews, currently restricted to males. The bill removes the existing provision stating "no road crew assembled under this article shall be composed of both male and female persons" from §17-5-1 of the Code. This change would directly affect female inmates in state correctional facilities who are currently ineligible for these road maintenance and construction jobs. The policy shift makes all inmates, regardless of gender, eligible for this specific work program under the state road commissioner's supervision.