Sen. Trenton Barnhart

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 2637 raises the competitive bidding threshold for construction contracts from $25,000 to $50,000 for West Virginia county governments and other local subdivisions (including municipalities and school boards). This means counties no longer need to solicit competitive bids for projects under $50,000, reducing administrative burdens for smaller contracts. The bill amends existing law to update the threshold while maintaining requirements for larger projects (over $50,000) and other provisions like bid bonds and subcontractor disclosure for contracts over $250,000. It directly affects county governments by changing their procurement process for routine construction work.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 20) is a legislative request to name a specific bridge in Wetzel County, West Virginia, the "U.S. Tustin Brothers Memorial Bridge." It directly affects the Division of Highways, which would be asked to rename bridge number 52-250/00-003.88 (currently known as Stewart Street Bridge) and install identifying signs. The resolution commemorates Vernon and Vincent Tustin, along with five of their brothers, who all served in the U.S. military, including during the Korean Conflict. The request is purely ceremonial, with no new policy or funding changes, and seeks to honor their military service and local legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 3295 establishes a "Troops-to-Teachers" program to recruit veterans into teaching positions in West Virginia public schools. The bill requires the state superintendent to create this program specifically targeting veterans, including retirees, for teaching roles. Veterans will receive a hiring preference in public school employment, as outlined in existing law (§6-13-1). This program is integrated into West Virginia’s teacher certification framework under revised education code sections (§18A-3-1 and §18A-3-2a).

Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific bridge in Wetzel County. It asks to name bridge number 52-250/12-000.02 (at coordinates 39.68344, -80.45906), currently known as Church Fork Bridge, as the "U.S. Army Private Terry F. Tustin Memorial Bridge." The resolution cites Private Tustin's military service in Vietnam, his long residence in Hundred, West Virginia, and his family ties as reasons for the memorial. The bill directs the Division of Highways to install signs identifying the bridge by its new name. This is a symbolic naming request with no policy changes or funding impact.

Maddy summaryHCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 0.5-mile stretch of Route 2 in Benwood (Marshall County) as the "Gold Star Mother Catherine Blake Highway." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the roadway with the name and two gold stars, honoring Catherine Blake who lost two sons in World War I - Edward Leo Blake (U.S.S. Cyclops, 1918) and William Thomas Blake (killed in action, 1918). The resolution commemorates Blake as Marshall County's only known "Double Gold Star Mother" and references the local American Legion post named in her sons' honor. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, solely focused on naming a highway segment.

Maddy summaryHCR 25 is a procedural resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific section of U.S. Route 250 (north of Moundsville city limits to just north of WV Route 891) to "Waynesburg Pike Road" and install a sign at the intersection of WV Route 88 and U.S. Route 250. It directly affects road signage and identification for drivers using this segment of road. The resolution follows a prior designation by the Marshall County 911 Infrastructure Renaming Committee and does not change traffic laws or regulations. It is a non-binding request for the Division of Highways to implement the name change and signage.

Maddy summaryHB 3097 prohibits credit services organizations from selling consumer information to third-party financing entities. The bill specifically bans these organizations from furnishing consumer reports for credit transactions not initiated by the consumer. It directly affects credit services organizations and consumers whose data they handle, preventing the sale of personal financial information for external financing purposes. The key provision (section 7 of §46A-6C-3) creates a clear legal barrier against this data-sharing practice.

Maddy summaryHB 3496 requires property and casualty insurers in West Virginia to provide written explanations for declining coverage, canceling policies, or refusing renewal. It specifically prohibits denying renewal for policies in force four years or longer solely due to: (1) a single weather-related claim within 36 months, or (2) two such claims within 12 months related to declared emergencies, unless the insured failed to maintain the property. The bill also allows insurers to use Intelligent Mail barcodes for mailings and permits electronic posting of policy notices on insurer websites for policyholder access. These changes directly affect insurers and policyholders by standardizing communication and limiting certain non-renewal practices.

Maddy summaryHB 3401 requires mineral lease agreements in West Virginia to explicitly list any existing or potential surface structures (such as pipelines, well pads, access roads, or storage areas) that could affect the land above the minerals. This applies to all mineral leases and must be included in the lease memorandum recorded with the county. Landowners and future property buyers will receive clear notice about these surface encumbrances through the recorded lease details. If no such structures exist, the lease must state this explicitly.