Del. Joe Funkhouser

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 3190 expands West Virginia's public intoxication law to include intoxication from controlled substances, not just alcohol. It defines "intoxicated" to cover impairment from any controlled substance under state law, directly affecting individuals appearing in public while impaired by such substances. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations, including fines ($5-$100) and optional alcohol/controlled substance education programs for first offenses, with stricter penalties for repeat violations. It also updates provisions for law enforcement arrests and handling of intoxicated individuals in public settings.

Maddy summaryHB 3271 authorizes West Virginia courts to maintain digital records instead of physical order books, directly affecting court clerks and judicial staff. The bill amends court record-keeping laws to require clerks to preserve both digital and physical records, while allowing orders to be stored digitally rather than entered in a physical book. It removes the requirement for judges to personally sign physical copies of orders when digital copies are used, streamlining record-keeping processes. This change applies to all courts in the state and focuses on modernizing record storage without altering judicial procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 2881 expands West Virginia's State Police Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit by increasing its minimum membership size and adding more regional members to directly assist Child Protective Services offices. It allows honorably retired State Police officers to rejoin the unit under specific conditions, including completing required training (like firearms and criminal law updates) but prohibiting pension accrual, promotions, or rank changes. The unit must maintain statewide statistics on child abuse convictions and submit annual reports to the legislature, tracking case investigations without disclosing individual details. These changes aim to strengthen coordination between law enforcement and child protective services in handling abuse cases.

Maddy summaryHCR 94 is a request for the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study establishing an artificial intelligence (AI) elective course in West Virginia public high schools. The study would assess current AI education programs, identify gaps in student access, evaluate funding options, analyze AI’s impact on future industries, and recommend legislative or partnership actions. If implemented, the proposed course would teach foundational AI concepts (like machine learning), practical applications in fields like business and defense, and hands-on tool usage. This resolution does not create the course but asks for a study to inform future decisions. The committee must report findings by the 2026 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHB 2702 amends West Virginia law to change how vacancies in state elected offices are filled. It requires that anyone appointed to fill a vacancy in a partisan office (like Secretary of State or Treasurer) must have been a member of that officeholder's political party for at least one year before the vacancy occurred. For magistrate positions with more than two years remaining in the term, the bill mandates a nonpartisan election held concurrently with the next primary or general election, rather than an appointment. The bill also allows governors to appoint acting officials temporarily to handle duties until a permanent appointment is made, while maintaining party affiliation requirements for all partisan appointments.

Maddy summaryHB 3494 requires individuals convicted in West Virginia of specific crimes to formally acknowledge their firearm prohibition and transfer firearms at the time of sentencing. It directly affects people convicted of felonies (over one year imprisonment, under §61-7-7(a)(1)) or misdemeanor domestic violence assaults/batteries involving intimate partners, spouses, or household members (under §61-7-7(a)(8)). The bill mandates they sign a form confirming the prohibition and hand over firearms to someone legally allowed to possess them. This adds a new procedural step to existing firearm restrictions, focusing on immediate compliance at conviction. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2131 gives the West Virginia Legislature legal standing to sue state officials - including the Governor, Secretary of State, or election officials - who make unauthorized changes to election laws or rules, or waive those laws through settlements. It also allows the Legislature to automatically intervene as a "real party in interest" in any lawsuit challenging election laws or regulations. The bill requires courts to prioritize election-related cases, mandating decisions within five days for the Supreme Court and setting strict deadlines for election boards to finalize results before January 2nd. This directly affects the Legislature, election officials, and courts handling election disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 3450 would reclassify titled vehicles (such as cars and trucks) in West Virginia from Class IV to Class II for property tax purposes, excluding mobile homes. This change directly affects vehicle owners in municipalities who pay personal property tax on titled vehicles, reducing their tax burden by moving these vehicles to a lower tax bracket. The bill amends state law to adjust the property classification system, shifting titled vehicles from a higher municipal tax class (Class IV) to a lower residential class (Class II). As a result, owners would pay less tax on their vehicles, though mobile homes remain unaffected by this change.

Maddy summaryHB 3451 proposes a phased increase in the homestead property tax exemption for West Virginia residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled. Starting in 2027, the exemption for primary homes would rise from $20,000 to $40,000 over four years, contingent on a state constitutional amendment. To qualify, applicants must have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years (with limited exceptions for military veterans or returning residents), and cannot claim a similar exemption in another state. The bill also removes limits on property tax rates and levy rates, which would allow for higher property tax collections overall.