Rep. Wayne Clark

Maddy summaryHJR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment to give the West Virginia Legislature authority to reduce or eliminate ad valorem taxes on business inventory and other tangible personal property. The amendment would allow the Legislature to set different tax rates for various property types (like vehicles or business equipment), exempt specific items from taxation, or classify property as real or personal for tax purposes. It does not change current tax rates but creates a legal framework for future legislative action. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and must comply with existing constitutional tax rate limits.

Maddy summaryHB 4550 requires the state or its agencies to provide landowners with the property appraisal they used when making an initial offer to buy land in eminent domain cases. This applies to all eminent domain proceedings, such as when the government seeks to acquire private property for public projects like roads or schools. The bill mandates that the appraisal must be shared with landowners at the time of the first offer, increasing transparency in negotiations. This change directly affects landowners facing property takings and requires the government to disclose its valuation early in the process.

Maddy summaryHB 4578 amends West Virginia education code sections related to teacher contracts and employment, directly affecting school districts and teachers. It specifies that all teachers must sign county board contracts detailing salary, establishes probationary (1-3 years) and continuing contract statuses, and requires written notice with a hearing for termination after three years. The bill clarifies procedures for dismissal due to lack of need, including preferred reemployment lists based on seniority, and ensures released time for teachers serving in the Legislature. It does not address funding differentiation or operational efficiencies as implied in its title, focusing solely on teacher contract terms.

Maddy summaryHB 4595 would allow West Virginia to approve short-term job training programs for eligibility for federal Workforce Pell Grants. The bill requires the governor, working with the Workforce Development Board, to approve programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs (defined as those with earnings above 150% of the federal poverty level or identified in workforce projections). It establishes state rules for program approval and ensures alignment with federal requirements. This change would directly affect short-term training programs and their students seeking federal grant support for career-focused education. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4493, the West Virginia Real Estate Wholesaling Accountability Act, makes real estate wholesaling illegal in West Virginia. It defines "wholesaling" as entering property purchase contracts with intent to transfer contractual rights to a third party for a fee without taking legal title, specifically affecting residential transactions involving properties with fewer than four dwelling units. The bill prohibits wholesaling, allows sellers to cancel contracts without penalty and retain earnest money, requires buyers to receive full refunds, and imposes a civil penalty of 20% of the profit difference for unlawful transactions. This legislation directly impacts real estate wholesalers and their transactions, replacing current practices with specific legal remedies and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 4151 establishes the West Virginia Aviation Access and Tourism Growth Act to improve air travel infrastructure and boost tourism. It creates a $15 million state fund (with annual review) to provide matching grants for airport upgrades, revenue guarantees for new flight routes, and tax incentives like sales tax exemptions on jet fuel and property tax breaks for aviation facilities. The bill directly affects regional airports (prioritizing Yeager, North Central WV, Greenbrier Valley, and Eastern WV airports), tourism businesses through co-branded marketing programs, and aviation workers via new workforce training at community colleges. Key provisions include funding for airport modernization, tax credits for aviation employers creating jobs, and a 13-member task force to develop a 10-year aviation access plan. The act aims to enhance air connectivity to tourism destinations like national parks and rural communities.

Maddy summaryHB 4498 clarifies West Virginia's Right to Farm Act to specifically protect urban beekeeping and residential agricultural operations. It defines "agricultural residential land" as property zoned residential where owners may keep apiaries (beehives) within municipal boundaries for food production or non-hazardous sales, while maintaining that Homeowners Associations can still restrict beekeeping per their bylaws. The bill amends the Apiary Act to clarify that the state commissioner, not local governments, has authority over beekeeping regulations, except for HOA rules. This directly affects urban residents who keep bees or grow food on residential property within city limits. The key change is legally protecting these activities under agricultural protections while preserving local HOA authority.

Maddy summaryHB 4453 adjusts West Virginia's teacher salary schedule to increase pay for educators with 35 to 45 years of experience, directly affecting classroom teachers in the state. The bill updates the existing salary table to reflect higher compensation for these experienced teachers, while maintaining the current $600 annual supplement for teachers with 20+ years of experience. It also specifies that math teachers certified in their subject and teaching math 60%+ of the time will count as having three additional years of experience for salary purposes. The changes apply to the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, modifying how experience years are calculated for salary determination.

Maddy summaryHB 4376, titled "Say No to Good Old Boy Governance," prohibits elected state officials from appointing family members to state or local government positions. The bill defines "family member" broadly to include spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and extended relatives like aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. This law applies specifically to elected officials holding state office (such as state legislators or governors) who have appointment authority for public roles. It aims to prevent nepotism by banning the practice of favoring relatives in government appointments.

Maddy summaryHB 4049 replaces West Virginia's existing Contraband Forfeiture Act with a new Criminal Forfeiture Process Act specifically for property used in or derived from felony drug crimes (violations of the Controlled Substance Act). It establishes a criminal court process for forfeiture (replacing civil forfeiture), defines key terms like "contraband" (unlawful items such as drugs without prescription) and "innocent owner" (a person unaware of property use in crime), and prohibits offering seized property to federal agencies for federal forfeiture. The bill clarifies that courts handling the underlying criminal case have jurisdiction over forfeiture proceedings, and it explicitly states no property rights exist in contraband. This procedural bill directly affects law enforcement agencies, criminal defendants, and property owners involved in drug-related felony cases.