Rep. Ryan Browning

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 3190 expands West Virginia's public intoxication law to include intoxication from controlled substances, not just alcohol. It defines "intoxicated" to cover impairment from any controlled substance under state law, directly affecting individuals appearing in public while impaired by such substances. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations, including fines ($5-$100) and optional alcohol/controlled substance education programs for first offenses, with stricter penalties for repeat violations. It also updates provisions for law enforcement arrests and handling of intoxicated individuals in public settings.

Maddy summaryHB 2939, the Remote Schools Support Act, creates a new definition for "extremely remote schools" in West Virginia and provides specific state funding to support them. The bill requires counties to keep these schools open by providing additional state aid, with enrollment in such schools counted as 2.5 students for funding calculations. It mandates state funding to cover building operations, extreme weather preparedness, and professional development for staff at these schools. This directly affects rural schools in sparse-density counties by altering how they receive state education funding to prevent closures.

Maddy summaryHB 3116 updates West Virginia's incest statute to clarify and expand the definition of family relationships covered under the law. It specifically adds "aunt" and "uncle" to include relatives by marriage (e.g., a person's wife of an uncle or husband of an aunt) and ensures the law applies equally to same-sex marriages. The bill directly affects individuals in familial relationships involving married aunts/uncles or same-sex spouses, making the legal definitions more inclusive. It does not change penalties (5-15 years imprisonment or fines) but ensures the statute applies to all qualifying familial relationships, including those formed through marriage.

Maddy summaryHB 3491 limits counties' financial responsibility for jail costs to 30 days for felony inmates awaiting transportation to a state correctional facility. Specifically, it requires counties to pay daily jail costs only during a 30-day period while inmates wait for a 60-day evaluation at a state facility. This applies to inmates incarcerated for felony convictions who are not immediately transferred to state prisons. The bill amends West Virginia law to cap county costs at 30 days, rather than covering full costs until transfer.

Maddy summaryHB 2378 makes syringe services programs unlawful in West Virginia, prohibiting operators from providing sterile syringes or needles without a prescription. It requires all such programs to cease operations immediately upon the bill's effective date, with a 120-day administrative transition period solely for care referrals (no syringe exchanges allowed during this time). The bill permits harm reduction services like overdose prevention education and referrals to treatment programs, as long as they do not involve syringe exchanges. Violators face civil penalties up to $2,500 per day, and the Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification may seek injunctive relief for noncompliance. This replaces all previous regulations on syringe services programs (repealing §16-64-1 through §16-64-10).

Maddy summaryHB 2381 allows West Virginia residents to vote in municipal elections of cities they don't live in, provided they meet specific conditions. To qualify, voters must either own property in the municipality for 60 consecutive days (holding at least 50% ownership), pay municipal fees during the prior year, or own 25% of a business that paid local taxes. The bill prohibits nonresidents from voting for ward-specific representatives and requires them to register with the county clerk before voter registration closes, providing documentation of eligibility. It ensures nonresidents cast only one vote per municipality and aligns with the "one person - one vote" principle. Municipalities must provide paper ballots for nonresidents at assigned precincts.

Maddy summaryHB 3378 establishes a legal expectation of privacy in West Virginia legislators' private offices within the State Capitol or official legislative spaces. It makes it illegal for anyone - including staff, visitors, or journalists - to record audio, video, or electronic communications without the legislator’s prior consent, or to install surveillance devices without written permission. Exceptions include security measures by Capitol personnel, recordings with explicit consent, and court-authorized surveillance. Violating this law would be a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill directly affects legislators, their staff, and anyone entering legislative offices.

Maddy summaryHB 2774, the "Coach Protection Act," amends West Virginia law to increase penalties for assault and battery against athletic officials and participants during sports events. It establishes minimum jail terms (5 days for assault, 10 days for battery) and fines ($250-$500 for assault, $500-$1,000 for battery), explicitly defining "athletic official or participant" to include coaches, referees, players, and team supervisors. The bill also authorizes school boards to ban convicted offenders from all state school sports events for at least one year, with violations treated as trespassing. This directly affects individuals who commit violence at sports events, schools enforcing bans, and participants in organized sports.

Maddy summaryHB 3332 permanently grants land reuse agencies and municipal land banks the right of first refusal to purchase certain tax-delinquent properties before public auction. It affects these specific local entities by allowing them to buy properties meeting one of three criteria: assessed value of $50,000 or less, municipal liens exceeding current back taxes, or being on a vacant property registry for 24+ consecutive months. The bill removes a sunset date on this provision, making the right permanent. This change enables these agencies to acquire qualifying properties directly, bypassing public auction, without altering the existing tax lien process.