Rep. Wayne Clark

Maddy summaryHB 4759 requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to update its rules about athletic eligibility for students who transfer between schools. It directly affects students transferring schools, public and private schools, and the WVSSAC itself. The bill mandates that WVSSAC modify its existing rules to address eligibility after school transfers and also updates rules for incoming ninth-grade students' academic eligibility. These changes aim to standardize transfer protocols and ensure consistent athletic participation rules across school districts. The bill does not alter academic requirements but focuses on administrative procedures for student eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 5179 modernizes West Virginia's auctioneer licensing regulations. It directly affects licensed auctioneers, auction firms, and the Department of Agriculture by updating definitions (like "absolute auction" and "estate auction"), raising the required bond amount for auctioneers, and requiring fees to be set via legislative rules instead of administrative action. Key provisions include extending the time an apprentice auctioneer can operate after a license expires, clarifying complaint investigations, and directing civil penalties to the Department of Agriculture. The bill also revises exceptions for self-sellers (limiting personal property sales to once yearly) and clarifies advertising rules to prevent misleading promotions. These changes aim to streamline oversight while increasing accountability for auction professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 5070 requires real estate brokerage firms in West Virginia to pay realtors their earned commissions on open contracts when those realtors leave the firm to join another brokerage. Specifically, it amends the real estate license law to mandate that brokers must remit to the departing agent any compensation due from contracts signed while the agent was affiliated with that brokerage, upon receipt of the commission. This directly affects real estate agents who transition between brokerages and ensures they receive payment for work completed under prior contracts. The bill does not alter other licensing requirements or commission-sharing rules but focuses solely on ensuring fair payment for existing contracts during agent transitions.

Maddy summaryHR 9 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late West Virginia House Delegate Douglas John Skaff Jr. It expresses the House of Delegates' condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his roles as a delegate representing multiple districts and as Minority Leader. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, acknowledging his career in public service, business, and community leadership. It was unanimously adopted by the House on February 5, 2026, the same day it was introduced.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4918 requires West Virginia public schools to provide a minimum of 180 instructional days per year, with specific daily minute requirements: 315 minutes for kindergarten through fifth grade, 330 minutes for sixth through eighth grade, and 345 minutes for ninth through twelfth grade. Counties may extend the school day by at least 30 minutes to meet the 180-day requirement, using the extra time for up to five days of weather-related closures or teacher professional development. The bill also mandates that noninstructional days total 20 annually, including holidays, election day, and designated days for staff training and school preparation. This directly affects all West Virginia public school districts and their annual calendars.

Maddy summaryHB 4853 requires West Virginia hospitals to create protocols for providing trauma-informed care to patients who have experienced miscarriage, abuse, neglect, or other stressful events. Hospitals must implement staff training, compile patient resources (including mental health contacts, grief guidance, crisis hotlines, and support groups), and develop a specific "Butterfly Protocol" for miscarriage cases. This protocol uses a discreet butterfly symbol on patient records to alert staff, who must be trained to recognize it and provide appropriate care. The bill directly affects all West Virginia hospitals by mandating these concrete procedures. It focuses on hospital operational changes rather than altering patient rights or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 4810 requires dental insurance companies in West Virginia to publicly report how they spend premiums collected from enrollees, similar to federal health insurance rules. It mandates annual reports detailing patient care spending versus administrative costs, prohibits insurers from restricting payment methods to dentists, and requires rebates to customers if less than 80% of premiums are spent on dental care. The bill directly affects dental insurers, licensed dentists, and patients enrolled in private dental plans (excluding Medicaid). Key provisions include transparency requirements for premium expenditures, rules against unfair payment restrictions, and automatic premium reductions when patient care spending falls below the 80% threshold.

Maddy summaryHB 4913 exempts the first 100 acres of qualifying working farms from all state, county, and municipal property taxes. A "working farm" is defined as land primarily used for agricultural production (crops, livestock, etc.), actively managed, and producing goods for sale. The exemption applies per parcel - not per owner - to prevent landowners from splitting parcels to gain more tax breaks, and a clawback provision reinstates taxes if the land stops farming or is subdivided. The bill also prohibits reassessments based on nearby development or "highest and best use" theories unrelated to agriculture.