Broadband: Closing the Digital Divide in District 88

High-speed internet isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s basic infrastructure. When families and businesses can’t get reliable service, it creates a real divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” That hurts jobs and small business growth, students and schools, and access to telehealth—especially in rural communities.

Today, if an internet service provider isn’t delivering 100 Mbps download speeds, an area is considered “underserved.” If speeds are below 25 Mbps, it’s effectively not high-speed internet at all.

As Vice Chairman of the House Infrastructure, Environment & Technology Committee, I’ve pushed for practical, rural-focused solutions—and while West Virginia is making progress, it’s not moving fast enough. I will continue fighting to expand true high-speed broadband across District 88, not just in the easiest-to-serve areas.

I’m also working to hold providers accountable. In 2025, I introduced HB 4807, which would have required automatic billing credits for service outages. It passed the House with support from AARP and the Speaker of the House, but it died in the Senate. I will reintroduce this bill in 2026—because West Virginians shouldn’t have to pay full price for service they didn’t receive.

Water & Sewer: Fair Rules that Respect Rural Property Owners

Water and sewer issues consumed a major share of committee work in 2025. Over the summer, I worked to craft compromise legislation—already supported by several co-sponsors—that balances the needs of rural and urban communities.

A key part of this effort is addressing mandatory sewer connection requirements, where a PSD can compel connection even if a homeowner has a fully functioning septic system. We need rules that protect public health and water quality without forcing unnecessary costs onto responsible property owners.

I’ve also advocated for long-term solutions that deliver reliable water. By the time you read this, Piedmont should finally have an independent and dependable water supply—a project I’ve supported since before I was elected in 2022 and helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars to move forward.