Del. Lisa White

Maddy summaryHB 3005, the West Virginia Consumer Privacy Act of 2025, requires businesses to obtain explicit consumer consent ("opt-in") before selling or sharing their personal financial information. It directly affects West Virginia consumers and businesses like financial institutions, credit reporting agencies, mortgage lenders, and brokers that handle consumer financial data. The law mandates that businesses clearly disclose what information is being shared and gives consumers control over their data to prevent identity theft and unsolicited marketing. Violations carry fines of up to $10,000 per offense, with additional penalties for bad-faith lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 3006, the Non-Profit Transparency and Accountability Act, requires nonprofit organizations in West Virginia that receive any public funding (state or federal) to comply with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests just like government bodies. This means these nonprofits must publicly disclose records and respond to requests within standard timelines. The bill also mandates that such organizations enroll in the state’s Open Checkbooks system to track public funds. It directly affects nonprofits relying on public money, aiming to increase transparency in how these funds are used.

Maddy summaryHB 2993, the Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act of 2025, aims to boost coal-based electricity generation and coke production for steelmaking in West Virginia. It directs the Department of Economic Development to identify suitable sites near coal deposits, transmission infrastructure, and steel facilities that meet air quality standards, streamlining regulatory processes for these projects. The bill directly affects coal energy companies, steel manufacturers, and local communities by prioritizing economic development tied to West Virginia’s coal resources. Key provisions require agencies to review and simplify regulations hindering coal project approvals, with the goal of enhancing the state’s competitiveness in energy and steel production. This focuses on policy coordination rather than new taxes or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2990 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to annually develop and submit a comprehensive plan for routine repaving of all normally asphalt-surfaced state roads. The bill amends existing highway duties to mandate this annual plan, directly affecting the Commissioner's office and the state's road maintenance program. This legislation focuses on establishing a regular schedule for repaving infrastructure, without specifying funding mechanisms or timelines for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2819 imposes fines on West Virginia county and state school boards that provide false or misleading information to parents about homeschooling, public school access, or scholarship programs. Specifically, it requires boards to pay $500 per incident for incorrect guidance (e.g., on homeschool filing forms, diploma validity, or sports eligibility) and $5,000 for misinformation on official websites/social media, with daily penalties for ongoing errors. Fines are paid directly to affected parents or split between homeschool advocacy groups. The bill targets misinformation related to homeschool exemptions, HOPE Scholarship paperwork, and other educational rights as defined in existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 2478 clarifies eligibility rules for West Virginia's HOPE Scholarship Program, directly affecting students seeking to use the scholarship. It updates the definition of an "eligible recipient" to specify that students must be enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public school for at least 45 days during an instructional term (or meet specific kindergarten enrollment criteria), with an exception for kindergarten students if the program's participation rate remains below 5% of public school enrollment. The change would take effect July 1, 2026, allowing kindergarten-eligible students to qualify without full-term enrollment if participation is low. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or funding but streamlines eligibility criteria. This is a substantive policy clarification, not a procedural change.

Maddy summaryHB 2405 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who homeschool or send children to private schools for primary and secondary education. It provides a credit equal to the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer, regardless of how many children are homeschooled or in private school. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship are excluded from this credit. The State Tax Commissioner must establish rules for claiming the credit, which reduces income tax liability but does not impose new education regulations on homeschooled children.

Maddy summaryHB 2989 requires West Virginia electricity providers to offer customers a choice between smart meters and manual meters for their homes, businesses, or rental units. It directly affects all utility customers who currently have smart meters installed. The bill mandates that utilities must provide the option to decline smart meters in favor of manual meters that are read manually, contain no battery, and emit no electromagnetic signal. Incidental radiation from electricity flow (not from the meter itself) is excluded from the definition of an electromagnetic signal under this provision. This bill does not change utility rates or require utilities to install manual meters, only to offer the choice upon request.

Maddy summaryHB 2954 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine side effects and injuries to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that professionals administering vaccines receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill creates a public reporting mechanism allowing individuals, including parents, to submit vaccine-related concerns directly to the Bureau. The Bureau must then produce an annual report for the West Virginia Legislature summarizing this data. This legislation directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and parents by expanding vaccine safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2974, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," declares federal regulations on intrastate firearm sales within West Virginia invalid, prohibiting state officials from enforcing such rules. It imposes $50,000 civil penalties for violations and requires the West Virginia Attorney General to defend residents facing federal charges over intrastate firearm transactions or prosecute federal agents who enforce prohibited regulations. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents engaging in local firearm sales, law enforcement, and federal agencies like the ATF operating within the state. It explicitly states that federal laws restricting intrastate firearm transfers violate both the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions.