Del. Corby Dillon

Maddy summaryHB 5039, titled "Fueling Modern Life," repeals all existing West Virginia air pollution control statutes (§22-5-1 through §22-5-20) and replaces them with a new policy declaring carbon dioxide (CO₂) a "foundational nutrient" necessary for life, not a pollutant. The bill mandates that West Virginia will not treat CO₂ as a pollutant, reject "net-zero" emission targets, and actively support carbon-based fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This directly affects all entities regulated under air pollution laws, including power plants and industrial facilities, by eliminating CO₂ emission requirements. The legislation shifts state policy to prioritize fossil fuel use for economic development while asserting CO₂ levels are beneficial and historically low.

Maddy summaryHB 5037 would require all West Virginia residents who wish to vote in state or local elections or run for public office (including state, county, city, town, or village positions) to be natural-born U.S. citizens. The bill amends election code definitions to specify that "voter" and "candidate" must be natural-born citizens, excluding naturalized citizens from eligibility. These changes would take effect on January 1, 2028, applying to all general, primary, and special elections. The bill directly affects voters and candidates seeking public office in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5038, the Affordable Electricity and Economic Growth Act of 2026, directs West Virginia's Department of Economic Development to identify suitable sites for coal-fired electricity generation and coke production facilities near coal deposits, transmission infrastructure, and steel manufacturing locations. It requires state agencies to streamline regulations and review existing rules to reduce delays for projects using locally mined coal. The bill aims to support economic development by making it easier to build facilities that produce electricity and coke (used in steelmaking) within the state. This directly affects coal producers, steel manufacturers, and state regulatory agencies responsible for permitting and oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 5033, the Pro-Growth Regulatory Reform Act of 2026, requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new regulations that cost more than $500,000 over five years. Agencies must submit such proposed rules to the Legislative Rule-making Review Committee 30 days before the next regular session, and the legislature must enact ratifying legislation for the rule to take effect. If the legislature fails to approve the rule during the session, the agency must terminate the proposed rulemaking. This bill directly affects state agencies creating regulations, adding a cost-based approval step while exempting emergency rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5041 requires West Virginia electricity providers to give all residential, business, and rental unit customers the choice between installing a "smart meter" or a manual meter. The manual meter must be read manually, contain no battery, and not emit an electromagnetic signal. Utilities must offer this choice without charging extra fees, while clarifying that normal electricity flow through any meter does not count as an electromagnetic signal under the law. This bill directly affects every electricity customer in West Virginia who currently has a smart meter installed.

Maddy summaryHB 5040 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to create and submit an annual plan for routine repaving of all state roads with asphalt surfaces. This bill amends existing law to mandate that the Commissioner present this comprehensive paving plan to the Legislature each year. The plan would establish a systematic approach to maintaining state highways by scheduling regular repaving, rather than responding only to urgent repairs. It directly affects the Commissioner's office and the state's road maintenance process, but does not create new funding or change current road standards. The bill focuses solely on requiring an annual planning mechanism for routine pavement maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 5036 prohibits West Virginia courts and agencies from enforcing any legal system not created through the state legislature, Congress, or recognized common law. It makes contracts, arbitration agreements, or private adjudication unenforceable if they violate constitutional rights, deny court access, or restrict due process. The bill specifically bars recognition of family law decisions (like custody or inheritance) based on unauthorized legal systems and creates a private legal remedy for people harmed by such enforcement. It explicitly preserves private religious practices and compliant arbitration while targeting "parallel legal systems" that bypass democratic legislative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 5032, titled "Prevention of data center collection of citizen data," creates the Citizens' Data Center Transparency Act. It prohibits West Virginia data centers from facilitating warrantless collection of personal data by federal agencies (like the NSA) or others in ways violating the Fourth Amendment or West Virginia’s Constitution. The bill requires data center operators to annually report to the Joint Standing Committee on Technology and Infrastructure the types and amounts of data collected, how it’s used, and who the data is shared with (including government agencies or nonprofits). This law directly affects data center operators in West Virginia and aims to increase transparency around data handling practices.

Maddy summaryHB 4948 would require new data center construction or establishment in West Virginia to maintain a minimum 500-foot buffer zone from residences, schools, or houses of worship. This rule applies to planning and building new facilities, directly affecting developers seeking to locate data centers near these sensitive locations. The bill does not apply to existing data centers but sets a new siting standard for future projects. It aims to balance data center development with community proximity concerns without altering operational requirements for current facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4914, the West Virginia Education Freedom and Parental Empowerment Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) funded by federal block grants to give parents direct control over K-12 education spending. It requires state funds to be allocated equally per student into parent-controlled accounts, usable for tuition at private/charter schools, tutoring, materials, and other qualified educational expenses. The bill dissolves the State Board of Education’s regulatory powers over K-12 education, limiting it to only transferring federal funds to the State Treasurer, who administers the program and tracks spending. This directly affects all West Virginia K-12 students and their families by shifting educational funding and decision-making from state authorities to parents.