Rep. Dave McCormick

Maddy summaryHB 2981 establishes the Constitutional Office Fleet Management Act, exempting five constitutional offices (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and Commissioner of Agriculture) from existing fleet management rules and requiring them to follow new, specific guidelines. The bill mandates these offices to maintain vehicle logs, provide driver training, and submit annual reports detailing fleet usage (including miles driven, fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and personal vehicle reimbursements). Each office must submit a written intent to comply by July 1st and may develop its own department-specific vehicle operation rules. The law also permits constitutional offices to arrange for disposal of non-state-funded vehicles while adhering to federal and GSA standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2957 changes where fees from certain agricultural-themed license plates are deposited. Specifically, it directs all fees collected for "pollinator" special license plates to be deposited into the Agriculture Fees Fund, rather than the State Road Fund. Fees for existing FFA and 4-H themed plates will continue to go to their respective funds as currently required. This bill affects organizations that apply for these special license plates, such as agricultural groups or youth organizations, by altering the destination of the fees they collect. The change is a straightforward policy adjustment to fund allocation, with no new requirements for plate applications or fees.

Maddy summaryHB 2971 updates West Virginia's back-to-school sales tax holiday by increasing the price limits for exempt items. It raises the maximum price for clothing to $150 (from $125), school supplies to $60 (from $50), instructional materials to $25 (from $20), laptops/tablets to $600 (from $500), and sports equipment to $180 (from $150). The holiday remains active during the first Sunday of August plus the preceding Friday and Saturday and the following Monday. This change directly affects West Virginia consumers purchasing qualifying school items during this period, excluding business or trade purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 2925 would make certain panhandling practices unlawful in West Virginia, directly affecting individuals soliciting money in specific public or private locations. The bill prohibits panhandling at bus/train stops, in public transit, on streets/sidewalks (if blocking paths, following people, or threatening harm), and on private property without permission. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties: $100 for a first offense and $250-$1,000 for repeat offenses. Fire departments are exempt from these restrictions when soliciting donations for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 2533 requires the West Virginia Department of Human Services to conduct drug screening for all adults applying to become foster parents, kinship parents, or caregivers for children in the department's legal custody. The bill mandates testing for substances like cocaine, marijuana, and opiates, with applicants needing to complete approved substance abuse treatment if testing positive. A second positive test results in a 12-month suspension from placement, while a third positive test leads to permanent ineligibility. The department covers initial testing costs, but applicants must pay for any requested second test, and all test results remain confidential except as specified. The law also requires annual reporting on program costs, ineligibility rates, and successful treatment completions.

Maddy summaryHJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead exemption from $20,000 to $50,000. This would exempt the first $50,000 of assessed value on residential property (or mobile homes) owned by qualifying residents - those aged 65+ or permanently disabled - as their primary residence. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election to take effect. If passed, it would directly reduce property tax burdens for eligible homeowners.

Maddy summaryHB 2530 creates a state program within West Virginia’s Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the transport of "inspected unauthorized aliens" (people processed by federal authorities but not formally admitted under immigration law) within the United States. The bill establishes the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, authorizing the state to contract services and adopt rules for transporting these individuals, while requiring compliance with federal law. It does not address deportation or sanctuary cities, as the bill’s title misrepresents its purpose. The program is temporary, expiring June 30, 2028. This bill directly affects West Virginia’s administrative processes for handling individuals already processed by federal immigration systems.

Maddy summaryHB 2538 exempts retirement benefits received by retired West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Police Officers from the state's personal income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to specifically exclude these pension payments from taxation, applying only to officers who served in the DNR Law Enforcement Division. This change directly affects retired DNR officers who currently pay state income tax on their pension benefits. The policy provides a tax exemption for this specific group under existing retirement laws, without altering other tax provisions or creating new state spending.

Maddy summaryHB 2476 would increase all West Virginia state teacher salaries by 25% across every salary scale, effective for the 2024-2025 school year and continuing annually. This bill directly affects all public school teachers in the state, raising base pay rates shown in the State Minimum Salary Schedule table. The legislation amends existing law to implement this across-the-board increase, replacing current salary figures with new rates calculated at 125% of the existing amounts. It also maintains existing provisions for special education and math teachers (adding three years of experience for salary purposes) and the $600 annual payment for teachers with 20+ years of experience.

Maddy summaryHB 2474 would increase the minimum monthly pay for all West Virginia state school service personnel by 25% across every salary grade. This affects non-teaching school support staff, including aides, custodians, cafeteria workers, and other classified roles listed in the bill's pay scale schedule. The bill amends existing law to set new minimum pay rates effective July 1, 2024, applying the 25% increase uniformly to all existing pay grades (A-H) and experience levels. The change directly affects thousands of state school support workers by raising their baseline compensation.