Rep. Jordan Maynor

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a program of child protection commissioners to support child welfare services across the state. The legislation defines the qualifications, powers, and duties of these commissioners while allowing for multi-circuit regions to improve efficiency. It also specifies that retired senior judges and justices may serve in this role without losing their retirement annuities, and requires the court to report annually on the program's activities.

Maddy summaryHB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, increases penalties for specific domestic violence offenses in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence for strangulation, suffocation, or asphyxiation of a family or household member (causing injury or loss of consciousness) from one year to two years, and for repeat offenders from one year to three years. For second offenses of domestic battery or assault, the bill sets a minimum jail term of 60 days and increases the maximum fine from $500 to $4,000. The bill also alters bail requirements for domestic violence cases to enhance victim safety protections.

Maddy summaryHB 5437, the Vape Safety Act, requires vape or smoke retailers (businesses selling vapor products, tobacco, or nicotine products) to obtain a license from West Virginia’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner. The bill restricts vape shop locations (prohibiting them near schools, parks, or residences), mandates compliance with advertising standards, and creates a product directory listing only approved "authorized vapor products." It also establishes fees, civil/criminal penalties for violations (up to $10,000 fines or 1-year jail time), and sets operating standards for retailers and manufacturers. The law directly affects vape shop owners, manufacturers, and wholesalers by imposing new licensing, location, and product approval requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4577 creates a reciprocity agreement with the Republic of Ireland for driver licenses, allowing Irish license holders to drive in West Virginia without retaking tests if their license meets comparable standards. The bill requires that foreign license standards (specifically for Ireland) align with West Virginia's, and mandates that drivers operating under this agreement comply with the state's mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance and financial responsibility laws. This agreement applies only to Ireland and does not alter the standard driver's license examination process for new applicants in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 4756 requires commercial truck drivers in West Virginia who cannot comprehend English to pay triple the standard compensation for all accident-related damages and medical expenses if they cause an accident. It directly affects non-English-speaking commercial truck drivers and their employing companies. The bill’s key provision replaces standard damages with automatic "treble damages" (triple the usual amount) for qualifying accidents, without requiring separate legal proceedings. This policy change specifically targets language barriers in commercial driving incidents, mandating higher financial accountability for drivers unable to understand English during operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4008 establishes West Virginia's Business Ready Sites Program, which certifies properties for economic development readiness. Local governments and economic development entities (like counties, cities, or economic development authorities) can apply to have their sites evaluated for readiness, including access to utilities, transportation, and environmental status. The program provides two funding mechanisms: matching grants (up to 50% of improvement costs) and micro grants (up to $100,000 for sites ≥5 acres, $250,000 for sites >20 acres), both requiring repayment if the site is sold or leased for development within 12 months. All funds must be used directly to fix site deficiencies identified in the evaluation, with re-evaluations and recertification required after improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 4433 amends West Virginia law to create new criminal offenses for human smuggling (transporting undocumented people to evade enforcement) and human trafficking (recruiting or moving people for forced labor or sexual exploitation). It specifically targets individuals who transport adults or minors for these purposes, defining key terms like "coercion" and "forced labor" to clarify illegal conduct. The bill establishes penalties for these crimes, allows asset forfeiture of property used in trafficking, and requires restitution for victims. It also includes an exemption permitting medical, mental health, and legal services for undocumented individuals without criminal liability.

Maddy summaryHB 4865 creates a program allowing high school juniors and seniors (with a 3.0 GPA or higher) to serve as election officials in West Virginia. To qualify, students must meet standard election official requirements (like being a registered voter and completing training), get written approval from their school principal and parent, and agree to one political party affiliation per precinct. The bill ensures these student officials are not marked absent from school on election days and limits appointments to one per political party per precinct. This change directly affects eligible high school students and county election officials who would appoint them.

Maddy summaryHB 4784 extends West Virginia's Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ) tax incentive program until July 1, 2032. This bill modifies the tax code to allow new businesses in designated opportunity zones to continue receiving a tax reduction on income derived from their operations. Specifically, it permits corporate taxpayers to subtract from federal taxable income an amount equal to net income earned by a qualified opportunity zone business (QOZB) located in West Virginia, provided the business was newly registered between January 1, 2019, and July 1, 2032. The tax benefit applies for a 10-year period starting from the business's first qualifying year, and existing businesses that registered before July 1, 2032, retain their full entitlement.

Maddy summaryHB 4418, titled "The Tax Efficiency Act of 2026," would allow West Virginia municipalities to pay and manage their business and occupation or privilege taxes through a statewide electronic data processing system. This change directly affects all cities and towns in West Virginia that impose such taxes on local businesses. The bill amends existing tax code to establish this electronic system as an official method for tax collection and administration, replacing manual or paper-based processes. The key provision enables streamlined, centralized processing to reduce administrative costs and improve accuracy for both local governments and businesses.