Del. Joe Funkhouser

Maddy summaryHB 4454 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older or those certified as permanently and totally disabled who have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill allows the exemption to apply to the first $40,000 of a home's assessed value, reducing property taxes for eligible primary residences. The change requires applicants to confirm they aren't receiving a similar exemption in another state.

Maddy summaryHB 4448 removes exemptions that currently protect bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from criminal charges when distributing or displaying obscene material to minors. The bill amends West Virginia law to eliminate these specific protections, meaning these institutions would no longer be shielded from prosecution under the existing obscenity statute (§61-8A-3). Previously, schools were exempt when showing material as part of approved curriculum, and libraries/museums were exempt if minors were accompanied by parents. This change directly affects how these public institutions handle materials accessible to minors. The bill does not alter other existing exemptions, such as those for medical professionals or internet service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 4455 gradually increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners, starting at $20,000 in 2028 and rising to $40,000 by 2031. It directly affects homeowners aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who have resided in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill requires a constitutional amendment to take effect and removes a cap on property tax books while repealing a prior limitation on levy rates. This change aims to reduce property tax burdens for qualifying senior and disabled residents over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4470 requires West Virginia election officials to capture and publish images of ballots cast in statewide elections, while giving voters a designated space (up to two square inches) to add a unique, non-identifying mark on their ballot for personal verification. The bill mandates that ballots include a unique number on a perforated stub and a specific area for voters to voluntarily mark their ballot with a symbol or dot. Officials must publish ballot images and cast vote records on the Secretary of State’s website within 24 hours after election results are certified, with special privacy protections for precincts with fewer than 10 absentee or provisional ballots. This applies to counties using electronic voting systems and ensures no personally identifiable voter information is included in published materials.

Maddy summaryHB 4434 increases criminal penalties for bribery and corrupt practices in West Virginia. It upgrades violations of bribery provisions (Section 3) to a felony punishable by 1-10 years in prison or fines up to $250,000 for corporations, while misdemeanor violations (Sections 4-5) carry up to 1 year in jail or $105,000 in fines. All convicted individuals face permanent disqualification from holding any state office or government position. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor corruption cases to six years. This directly affects public officials, contractors, and others engaging in bribery or corrupt acts under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 4190 would automatically restore the right to possess firearms and serve on a jury for eligible nonviolent felons in West Virginia upon completion of their sentences, without requiring a court petition. The bill clarifies that petitions for firearm rights may include restoration of jury service rights and specifies who can file such petitions (e.g., individuals with certain nonviolent felony convictions). It also requires the Attorney General to publish public guidance on the process. This change directly affects individuals with prior nonviolent felony convictions who have met the eligibility criteria for automatic restoration.

Maddy summaryHB 4099 prohibits West Virginia from recognizing driver's licenses issued by other states to individuals who cannot prove lawful presence in the U.S. (such as licenses marked for undocumented immigrants or issued exclusively to them). It makes these licenses invalid for driving in West Virginia, requiring law enforcement to issue citations for driving without a valid license when such a license is presented. The state’s motor vehicle department must maintain an online list of out-of-state license types deemed invalid under this law. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who hold out-of-state licenses and would be unable to legally operate vehicles in West Virginia under this policy.

Maddy summaryHB 4154 requires West Virginia's public employee and teacher retirement systems to provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to retirees who have been retired for over 10 years. It directly affects current retirees from both the Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System who voluntarily retired in good standing. The bill mandates the first full COLA payment by June 30, 2026, with subsequent annual payments, and extends these adjustments pro-rata to beneficiaries receiving retirement benefits. This policy change modifies retirement benefit payments without altering eligibility or contribution requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3080 grants hiring preference to military spouses for state government positions. It requires state agencies to give preference to qualified military spouses when filling open positions, provided they meet the minimum job requirements. This directly affects military spouses seeking employment with the state government. The bill became law on July 31, 2025 (Chapter 179, Acts of the 2025 Regular Session), making this preference a permanent part of state hiring policy.

Maddy summaryHB 3089 requires any person or entity recording more than five vehicle liens annually to use the West Virginia DMV's electronic lien and title system for all lien recordation, replacing paper-based processes. This creates digital titles for vehicle transactions, displaying liens in priority order with required details like lienholder name and address. Dealers holding vehicles as inventory for sale and rental agencies are exempt from paper title requirements but must still use the electronic system if they exceed five liens per year. The law modernizes lien tracking, reduces processing delays, and standardizes record-keeping for high-volume lienholders.