Del. Wayne Clark

Maddy summaryHB 3078 establishes a 15 mph speed limit in licensed childcare zones during childcare hours (when children are entering or leaving). It defines childcare zones as all licensed childcare property, including grounds and 125 feet of adjacent streets or highways, similar to existing school zone rules. The bill requires the West Virginia Division of Highways to install signage marking these zones and applies the speed restriction during childcare operation times. This directly affects drivers passing near licensed childcare facilities during drop-off/pick-up periods, mirroring the safety measures already in place for school zones. The bill does not change existing speed limits outside these designated zones.

Maddy summaryHB 2883 creates a state-maintained directory of e-cigarette products (ENDS) sold in West Virginia, requiring manufacturers to certify FDA compliance annually. Manufacturers must submit documentation proving their products have FDA marketing authorization or a valid premarket application, pay a $100 fee per product, and list all brands, categories, and flavors. Only products appearing on this publicly accessible directory - updated monthly - can be legally sold, with retailers facing unannounced compliance checks. The Alcohol Beverage Control Administration enforces the rule, imposing fines for violations like selling non-listed products or failing to update certifications. This directly affects e-cigarette manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2060 creates a tax exemption for agricultural cooperative associations in West Virginia, directly affecting these organizations operating under Chapter 19 of the state code. The bill exempts qualifying cooperatives from the business and occupation tax on their in-state units starting January 1, 2025, with proration for any tax year containing that date. It defines "agricultural cooperative association" as organizations formed under §19-4-1, which include entities handling agricultural products, food, and related services. The exemption applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, and aligns with existing cooperative association laws. This policy change reduces tax liability for these specific agricultural cooperatives operating within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 3311 exempts West Virginia counties with 0.5% or greater annual population growth (since 2020) from certificate of need (CON) requirements for healthcare facilities. This permanent exemption applies to counties meeting the threshold and covers specific CON regulations (§16-2D-8, -12, -13, -14). The bill requires the Health Care Authority to publish an annual report listing qualifying counties using birth, death, immigration, and emigration data starting July 2025. It directly affects counties meeting the population growth criteria, removing a regulatory barrier for healthcare expansion. The legislation aims to streamline healthcare development in growing areas without altering CON standards for other counties.

Maddy summaryHB 3214, the Mountain Homes Act, creates a state-funded program to support housing construction for workers in West Virginia. It establishes the Mountain Homes Fund, which provides loan guarantees to eligible business entities (like developers or private partners) to finance housing projects. To access funds, applicants must submit detailed applications meeting specific criteria, and projects must align with the fund's purpose of addressing housing needs for the workforce as the state's economy diversifies. The Department of Economic Development administers the program, requires annual reporting to the Governor and legislature, and prohibits use of funds for certain purposes like luxury housing.

Maddy summaryHB 3210 modifies West Virginia public school teachers' personal leave procedures. It increases the annual leave without cause from four to five days (effective July 2023) and requires teachers to arrange substitute coverage at least seven days in advance for non-consecutive days off. The bill mandates county school boards to establish leave banks where teachers can contribute up to two days of leave annually, available only to active teachers with fewer than five accumulated days. It also sets rules for principal approval of leave requests (denying if 15% of staff or three employees have already requested the same day) and coordinates leave with workers' compensation benefits.

Maddy summaryHCR 81 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Department of Tourism to collaborate with the West Virginia Golf Association to develop a plan for a "West Virginia’s Almost Heaven Golf Trail." The plan must include at least one public golf course in each of the state’s nine tourism districts, incorporating five specific state park courses (Stonewall, Cacapon, Pipestem, Twin Falls, and Canaan Valley Resorts). The Department of Tourism must submit this plan to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 1, 2025. This resolution does not fund or create the trail but directs a feasibility study for tourism promotion.

Maddy summaryHB 3268 modifies rules governing student transfers for athletic and academic eligibility in West Virginia secondary schools. It requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to update its rules regarding athletic eligibility for students transferring between schools and for incoming ninth-grade students' academic eligibility. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify the commission's authority to adjust these rules, directly affecting student-athletes and their eligibility to participate in school sports programs. This is a procedural change to commission rulemaking authority, not a new law affecting student rights or school funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 would allow K-12 teachers in West Virginia who hold valid concealed handgun permits to carry concealed firearms on school grounds when designated as "school protection officers" by their school. The bill amends state law to create this exception, explicitly permitting teachers (but not all staff) to carry concealed weapons as part of their role, provided they meet standard concealed carry requirements. This changes existing rules that generally prohibit firearms on school premises, except for specific exemptions like law enforcement. The bill is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee after initial referral to Education.

Maddy summaryHB 3165, the Streaming Rights and Equality Act, sets maximum fees for streaming high school sports in West Virginia: $250 per football game and $100 for other sports, with annual increases capped at 5%. It requires publicly funded high schools to allow West Virginia-based streaming producers to broadcast events at these rates, ensuring equal access statewide. The bill mandates that schools cannot deny local producers access to regular-season or playoff games if fees are paid, and requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to make championship events available to local producers under the same terms as regular season. Violations incur penalties, including double the streaming fee for non-compliance or failure to provide required on-camera oversight during events.