Del. Chuck Horst

Maddy summaryHB 3518 requires West Virginia to automatically disenroll individuals covered under a specific Medicaid expansion (established by the 2010 Affordable Care Act) if federal funding for that program decreases. It mandates written notice to affected beneficiaries, Medicaid managed care plans, and providers before coverage ends, following federal notification of reduced funding. The bill does not change eligibility or funding levels but sets a procedure for removing coverage when federal assistance declines. This directly affects people enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program under 42 U.S.C. §1396d(y)(1).

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 3304 (West Virginia House Bill 3304) directs the state to create four patriotic statues commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding. The bill establishes a state commission (chaired by the Tourism Secretary) to oversee construction of these statues in each of West Virginia's four geographic regions, requiring completion by the 2026 anniversary date. The statues must honor both U.S. history and West Virginia's heritage, with construction to follow state purchasing laws. This is a procedural bill focused on commemorative monuments, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHCR 52 is a ceremonial resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name I-64 Nitro Interchange Bridge (Bridge Number 40-064/00-044.47) in Putnam County as the "Ronnie W. Matthews Memorial Bridge." It commemorates Ronnie W. Matthews, a local businessman, Putnam County Circuit Clerk (2008), U.S. Army veteran, and community leader who passed away in 2018. The resolution directs the agency to install signage identifying the bridge with this name. This is a non-binding memorial gesture with no policy or funding changes, solely honoring an individual's contributions to the Nitro community.

Maddy summaryHB 2052 eliminates a restriction that previously limited West Virginia's apprenticeship training tax credit to wages paid to apprentices in the construction trades. The bill expands the credit to apply to wages paid to apprentices in any trade, provided they are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor's West Virginia State Office. The credit amount remains $2 per hour worked (capped at $2,000 per apprentice annually or 50% of actual wages, whichever is lower). This change takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and directly affects businesses across all industries that hire registered apprentices.

Maddy summaryHB 2146 would exempt slaughterhouses from collecting West Virginia's Consumer Sales and Service Tax when processing beef, pork, or lamb for individual livestock owners (e.g., farmers or ranchers processing their own animals). This amendment adds the specific exemption to the state's tax code, removing tax liability for this service when performed for personal ownership. It applies only to individual owners, not commercial businesses or slaughterhouse operations. The bill does not alter other existing tax exemptions or affect general meat processing services.

Maddy summaryHB 2688 would exempt overtime pay from West Virginia's personal income tax. The bill directly affects workers who earn overtime wages by removing the tax on that specific income. It adds a new provision (§11-21-12o) to the tax code stating "Overtime pay shall be exempt from the tax imposed by this article." This changes the tax treatment of overtime earnings without altering other tax rules or affecting non-overtime income.

Maddy summaryHB 2876 increases the Natural Resources Commission from seven to eleven members by adding four new positions. These additional members must be Division of Natural Resources staff wildlife biologists, each specializing in a specific wildlife area: deer, bears, turkeys, or fisheries. The bill directly affects the commission's structure and operations, requiring specialized expertise in key species management. This change takes effect with appointments in 2025, expanding the commission's capacity to address species-specific conservation needs.

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 2609 requires device manufacturers and app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent before allowing children under 16 to download applications. It mandates developers to provide parental controls - such as time limits, content filters, and account management tools - based on real-time age data provided by the app store. The law applies to new devices starting January 1, 2026, with older devices needing compliance by January 1, 2027. This directly affects parents/guardians, device makers (like Apple or Google), app developers, and children under 16.