Rep. Bryan Ward

Maddy summaryHB 2688 would exempt overtime pay from West Virginia's personal income tax. The bill directly affects workers who earn overtime wages by removing the tax on that specific income. It adds a new provision (§11-21-12o) to the tax code stating "Overtime pay shall be exempt from the tax imposed by this article." This changes the tax treatment of overtime earnings without altering other tax rules or affecting non-overtime income.

Maddy summaryHCR 40 is a resolution directing West Virginia's Economic Development Authority to identify land near Flatwoods for a tourism and entertainment complex modeled after attractions like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It requires the Authority to locate suitable sites, secure funding, and recruit private and public developers to build facilities for tourism, entertainment, and amusement. The bill specifically targets the Flatwoods area near Interstate 79 exit 67, citing its central location and access to major regional cities. This resolution aims to replicate economic benefits seen in neighboring states through new tourism infrastructure, directly affecting Flatwoods and surrounding communities.

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 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 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 3468 modifies West Virginia tax law to expand tax exemptions for certain public safety workers' pension benefits. It removes a $2,000 annual cap on tax-free treatment for pension payments, making full pension benefits exempt for Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers. The bill amends Section 11-21-12 of the West Virginia Code to include these specific professions in the existing pension exemption, which previously applied only to some public employees. This change directly affects law enforcement and emergency service workers receiving retirement benefits under state pension systems, eliminating federal adjusted gross income tax on their full pension payments.

Maddy summaryHB 3421 requires West Virginia coal-fired power plants to operate at a consistent 69% capacity level through 2040, maintain a 45-day on-site coal supply, and submit detailed operational plans to the Public Service Commission. It directly affects electric utilities operating coal plants by mandating they balance plant operations to preserve local jobs, stabilize energy costs, and avoid shutdowns without Commission approval. Key provisions include requiring utilities to provide supplemental plans for extending plant lifespans beyond retirement dates and preventing the use of securitized funds to close facilities. The bill also directs the Public Service Commission to coordinate West Virginia’s participation in regional energy markets to benefit ratepayers. These measures aim to secure coal generation as a stable energy source while protecting consumers from rate volatility.

Maddy summaryHB 3466 requires West Virginia's Division of Highways to install "blue light" emergency alert stations at all state rest areas and welcome centers by July 1, 2025. Each station must include a help button, camera/video capability, and direct connection to local emergency dispatch. The bill aims to provide immediate assistance for individuals in distress, including potential prevention of human trafficking or domestic violence incidents. This affects travelers using state rest areas and welcome centers, with the Division of Highways responsible for funding and installing the stations.