Del. Joe Funkhouser

Maddy summaryHB 2649 expands existing school disciplinary rules to include elementary school students, removing the current grade limitation that only applied to students in grades 6-12. The bill modifies §18A-5-1 to allow elementary teachers to exclude students for disruptive behavior and follow the same procedures for reporting and disciplinary actions as middle/high school teachers. This directly affects elementary school teachers, students in elementary grades, and school principals who must now implement these procedures for younger students. The key change is extending the existing disciplinary framework - such as classroom exclusion, electronic reporting to WVEIS, and suspension protocols - to cover all elementary school students.

Maddy summaryHB 2680 creates a pilot program for a "work/incarceration prison" in West Virginia, allowing only one county to establish the facility. It applies to adult offenders sentenced to two years or less for non-violent, non-sex-related offenses who maintain good conduct, offering a 20% sentence reduction for participation. Offenders violating program rules face transfer to a standard facility with an additional year added to their sentence. The bill requires the facility to become self-sustaining through offender work, proposes a $500,000 initial appropriation, and mandates annual evaluation by the Division of Corrections to assess effectiveness and potential expansion.

Maddy summaryHB 2652, the "Protection of Shared Physical and Digital Property from Warrantless Searches Act," requires government agents to obtain a person’s consent or a judicial warrant based on probable cause before searching or seizing digital or physical information shared with third parties (like banks, cloud services, or service providers) for goods or services. It directly affects all West Virginia residents who share personal information with third parties to access everyday services, such as financial or digital accounts. The bill defines "shared property" to include digital records and physical documents held by third parties for service provision, and explicitly rejects the current "Third Party Doctrine" that allows warrantless access to such information. It establishes that individuals retain constitutional privacy protections for shared information, requiring government action to follow standard warrant procedures. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary committee after being introduced on February 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2677 requires West Virginia's state education board to create a model policy banning K-12 students from using personal cell phones or handheld devices during instructional time, with exceptions for emergencies or contacting parents. County school boards must adopt policies consistent with this model, though enforcement details remain local. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools and students in West Virginia by mandating a statewide framework for phone restrictions during class. It focuses on balancing academic focus with safety needs, without specifying penalties or device types beyond "personal handheld communication devices."

Maddy summaryHB 2671 creates a $60 monthly (capped at $720 annually) income tax exemption for West Virginia residents who pay for gym memberships at facilities located within the state. This provision directly affects individual taxpayers who maintain gym memberships at in-state fitness centers. The bill sets a specific, fixed amount for the exemption with a clear annual cap, rather than offering a percentage-based deduction. It applies to personal income tax returns filed by West Virginia residents who meet the membership requirement. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2703 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to allocate 20% of the state road fund annually to reimburse counties for local funds they spent on feeder and state local roads, with applications due by March 1 and distributions based on matching or pro rata methods if demand exceeds funds. The remaining 80% of funds must be distributed for road maintenance (based on road surface types) and construction (based on unimproved mileage) using specific formulas. The bill also mandates the Commissioner to develop a district allocation formula, hold annual public meetings, solicit input, include certain factors in the formula, and submit it to the Legislature for approval as a legislative rule.

Maddy summaryHB 2660 requires buyers of properties sold at tax auctions (by the West Virginia Auditor for unpaid taxes) to pay off any city or town tax liens before receiving a deed. Purchasers must provide the Auditor with certified proof that the lien has been satisfied by the local government. This ensures local government claims are resolved before property ownership transfers. The bill directly affects tax sale buyers and municipalities that issue lien satisfaction records.

Maddy summaryHB 2666 (West Virginia House Bill 2666) allows landowners or lessees whose property is damaged by deer or wildlife to hire a third-party hunter to kill the animals using a bow and arrow. The bill amends existing law to explicitly permit this hiring process, requiring the director of natural resources to issue permits for such activity. It maintains existing restrictions, requiring hunters to follow the same bow and arrow specifications as during regular hunting seasons. This directly affects landowners facing property damage from wildlife, providing a new option to address the issue through authorized third-party hunting. The bill does not change general hunting regulations but streamlines a specific damage-control mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 2562 would remove the state sales tax on gun safes and specific firearm safety devices, such as trigger locks or storage containers. The bill amends West Virginia's tax code to explicitly exempt these products from the consumer sales tax, which currently applies to most retail purchases. This change would directly affect consumers who purchase these safety items, making them less expensive at the point of sale. The policy focuses on reducing the cost of legally storing firearms safely, without altering firearm ownership laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2558 requires rail companies to coordinate with West Virginia's Division of Highways before conducting construction or maintenance activities that affect state roads, such as closing roadways for repairs. The bill amends existing law to mandate that rail companies obtain approval from the Division of Highways for such work, ensuring proper planning and communication. This directly affects rail companies operating on or near state roads, aiming to prevent unnecessary road closures that disrupt public access to emergency services, schools, and workplaces. The measure focuses on procedural coordination rather than altering road construction standards.