Del. Joe Funkhouser

Maddy summaryHB 3196 establishes West Virginia's first comprehensive regulations for teledentistry, requiring dentists and dental hygienists to hold valid state licenses and maintain professional liability insurance when providing remote dental services. The bill mandates that teledentistry services meet the same standard of care as in-person care, prohibits treatment based solely on online questionnaires, and requires providers to establish a "bona fide" provider-patient relationship through review of medical records and an in-person examination before offering ongoing care. It specifically defines key terms like "teledentistry" (including real-time and store-and-forward technology), "distant site," and "originating site," while allowing exceptions for emergent dental conditions requiring immediate treatment. This legislation directly affects dental providers offering remote services and patients receiving teledentistry in West Virginia, aiming to ensure safety and accountability in virtual dental care.

Maddy summaryHB 3141 requires private or government entities taking property through eminent domain to pay an additional 15% fee based on the court-ordered value paid to landowners. This fee must be paid to the county where the property is located and is in addition to all other costs. The funds collected can only be used by counties for acquiring or improving public forests, parks, recreation facilities, and related infrastructure. The bill does not reduce the amount paid to landowners and applies to all eminent domain proceedings under West Virginia law. It is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 3131, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits West Virginia state agencies from contracting with media monitoring organizations or advertising agencies that use them. The bill defines "media monitoring organizations" as entities that rate news sources for accuracy, bias, or journalistic standards (excluding those tracking audience size or demographics), and requires agencies to obtain written certification from bidders that they comply with this prohibition. It applies to all state departments, boards, institutions, and political subdivisions using state funds for advertising or marketing services. The law aims to prevent state funds from being used in ways that could lead to viewpoint discrimination in advertising. This bill directly affects state agencies and advertising/marketing contractors bidding on state contracts.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 8) is a symbolic request from the West Virginia House of Delegates asking Congress to pass the federal National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (HR 38). It states that West Virginia residents with valid concealed carry permits should be able to carry concealed weapons in any state that allows concealed carry, without needing to verify if that state recognizes their West Virginia permit. The resolution does not change any laws itself but urges Congress to enact HR 38, which would require all states to honor out-of-state concealed carry permits, similar to how driver's licenses are recognized across state lines. It directly affects West Virginia permit holders traveling to other states.

Maddy summaryHCR 74 is a West Virginia state resolution urging Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically requests a convention limited to proposing an amendment to repeal the 17th Amendment, which established the direct popular election of U.S. Senators (replacing state legislature selection). The resolution states West Virginia joins other states in this effort, noting applications on this topic will be counted together to meet the two-thirds state requirement for a convention. This is a procedural request - it does not repeal the 17th Amendment or change voting rules, but seeks to initiate the constitutional process for such a change.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's HCR 75 is a state resolution urging Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, specifically to propose repealing the 16th Amendment. This amendment authorizes Congress to levy federal income taxes, so the resolution targets the legal foundation of the federal income tax system. The resolution does not repeal the 16th Amendment itself but requests Congress to convene a limited convention for that purpose, aggregating West Virginia's application with similar efforts from other states to reach the required two-thirds state support. It also proposes potential legal action if Congress fails to act, though the resolution itself has no binding effect and must be referred to Congress for consideration.

Maddy summaryHCR 73 is a West Virginia state resolution urging Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose amendments requiring that U.S. Representatives, Senators, federal judges (Article III), and Cabinet Secretaries be natural-born U.S. citizens with sole U.S. citizenship. The resolution does not change current law but requests Congress initiate a convention to amend the Constitution on these specific eligibility requirements. This is a procedural state-level application, not a direct legislative change, and would require support from two-thirds of state legislatures to proceed.

Maddy summaryHB 2704 revises transportation and reimbursement rules for individuals involuntarily committed to mental health facilities in West Virginia. It allows counties to use multiple deputies during transport and permits counties to contract with closer out-of-state facilities if available. The bill amends existing law (§27-5-4) to give counties flexibility in managing transportation logistics after commitment. This directly affects individuals under involuntary commitment orders and local county mental health authorities. The changes aim to improve efficiency in the post-commitment transportation process.

Maddy summaryHB 3147 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines actively working with officers as "law-enforcement officers" for legal protection purposes. This makes it a felony to kill or injure a police canine while it is on duty, treating such acts as equivalent to assaulting a human officer under §61-2-10b. The bill directly affects police canine units and individuals who attack them during official duties. Key provisions redefine "law-enforcement officer" to include canines during active service and establish felony penalties mirroring those for harming human officers. It does not grant canines employee status or workplace protections.

Maddy summaryHB 3069 creates a salary adjustment for West Virginia teachers based on regional housing costs. It provides a "market pay enhancement" to certified teachers in counties where base salaries fall below competitive levels relative to neighboring areas, calculated using median home prices from the National Association of Realtors. The enhancement amount is determined annually by comparing the median home price in a teacher’s county and adjacent counties (including border states) to West Virginia’s statewide median, then applying a percentage-based multiplier to the county’s average teacher salary. This adjustment applies only to teachers in counties where base pay is deemed insufficiently competitive, with the first calculation effective July 15, 2025, and updated every five years thereafter. The policy directly affects public school teachers in West Virginia counties facing regional pay disparities.