Del. Larry Kump

Maddy summaryHB 2542 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers to record audio during all investigation visits with individuals under investigation for child abuse or neglect allegations. This applies to every interaction between CPS staff and a person under investigation, with exceptions: audio recording must have the person's informed consent or a court order during home visits or private interviews. The bill mandates that CPS must conduct a face-to-face interview with the child within 14 days of receiving a report. This law directly affects CPS workers who must implement the recording requirement and families involved in active investigations.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how election fraud cases are handled in West Virginia. Currently, the Secretary of State reports potential election fraud to local county prosecutors. Under this bill, if a county prosecutor declines to prosecute after 60 days, the Secretary of State must refer the case to the state Attorney General instead. This directly affects the Secretary of State, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General by shifting the referral pathway for election fraud investigations. The key change is the 60-day review period before cases can be escalated to the state level.

Maddy summaryHB 3113 increases the percentage of precincts required to undergo manual ballot audits during election canvassing in West Virginia. The bill mandates that a higher random selection of precincts (beyond the current threshold) must have voter-verified paper ballots manually counted. If discrepancies exceed 1% or change the election outcome in an audited precinct, all ballots in that precinct must be manually recounted, with the manual count becoming the official record. This directly affects election officials conducting canvasses and candidates who may demand recounts. The bill amends existing election code sections to implement these audit requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3114 prohibits lobbyists from receiving compensation for lobbying West Virginia state officials on behalf of designated "foreign adversaries," such as governments of China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and other entities listed in the bill. It requires lobbyists representing these entities to self-identify as agents of foreign adversaries and creates penalties including civil fines, court-ordered return of payments ("disgorgement"), and injunctive relief for violations. The bill defines "foreign adversaries" broadly to include specific countries, terrorist organizations, and entities controlled by them, with the list updated annually by the Secretary of Homeland Security. It directly affects lobbyists and lobbying firms working with these designated foreign entities within West Virginia. The bill is currently in the introduction phase, having been filed with the House Judiciary Committee on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (HJR 34) proposes changing West Virginia's constitution to give the legislature greater flexibility in taxing tangible personal property. It would allow the legislature to exempt specific property types (like motor vehicles) from ad valorem tax, reduce tax rates for certain items, set different tax rates for different property categories, or classify property as real vs. personal for tax purposes. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect. It does not enact a specific tax reduction but creates a constitutional framework for future legislative action on property taxation.

Maddy summaryHB 3104 would allow any person holding a master's degree in any field of study to take the West Virginia bar exam and become a licensed attorney. Currently, the law requires specific legal education (like a law degree) for bar exam eligibility, but this bill replaces that requirement with a master's degree in any discipline. The change directly affects individuals with master's degrees in non-law fields who seek to practice law in West Virginia. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals would need to update its admission rules to implement this new eligibility standard.

Maddy summaryHB 3087 prohibits "white bagging," a practice where insurers require patients to get certain medications from specific pharmacies rather than their doctor's office. It directly affects health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and healthcare providers by requiring insurers to pay for physician-administered medications (like cancer drugs) when medically necessary, regardless of whether the medication comes from a network pharmacy. The bill mandates that insurers pay at the agreed rate or wholesale cost, bans extra fees for patients, and forbids denying coverage based solely on where the medication is obtained. It does not stop insurers from setting different copays or requiring medical necessity criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for adopted adults in West Virginia and their children or grandchildren to request their original birth certificates from the State Registrar. It requires a written request and sworn affidavit of paternity or adoption, while keeping adoption records sealed from public view. The original birth certificate would be provided to eligible individuals, with adoption documents remaining confidential except for court orders, vital statistics administration, or specific legal proceedings. This changes current policy by creating a formal pathway for access to birth records that were previously restricted.

Maddy summaryHB 3074 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data. This data shows monthly changes to voter records (like additions, deletions, or address updates) as a "delta" from the previous month. The bill directly affects organizations and individuals who purchase this subscription for noncommercial purposes, such as election monitoring or research. The Secretary must provide this data within 30 days via a secure digital platform, making it part of the standard subscription package. The change does not alter subscription fees or eligibility but adds transparency about voter record modifications.

Maddy summaryHB 3057 would limit how much a county tax assessor can increase the property tax value of antique or classic cars each year in West Virginia. To raise a car's assessed value, the tax assessor must provide written justification based on inflation, the cost-of-living index, or actual market activity for antique/classic cars - not simply the county's revenue needs. This justification must be given to the vehicle owner before any increase takes effect. The bill directly affects owners of antique or classic cars in West Virginia counties by requiring transparency in tax assessments.