Del. Bill Ridenour

Maddy summaryHB 4593 modifies West Virginia's public school physical education requirements by allowing students to opt out of mandatory PE classes if they can demonstrate five or more hours per week of outside physical activity through written evidence. The bill applies to middle and high school students, replacing required PE periods with supervised study hall for qualifying students. It maintains core PE time requirements (30+ minutes three days/week for elementary, full course credit for graduation in high school) but adds this exemption pathway. The policy directly affects students in West Virginia public schools who participate in organized sports or physical activities outside of school.

Maddy summaryHJR 20 proposes adding a new constitutional section recognizing the Holy Bible (66 books of Old and New Testaments) as "the divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document for our society and government" and requiring its "precepts" to be given "prominence and reverence" in West Virginia's public buildings, laws, policies, and schools. If approved by voters in 2026, this amendment would formally enshrine the Bible's role in state governance and public life. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee, awaiting further legislative action before a voter referendum. It does not mandate Bible instruction in schools but seeks to establish the Bible as a foundational reference for state policy.

Maddy summaryHB 4594 creates a new Department of Workforce Services to consolidate workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, adult education, and public assistance programs currently managed under the Department of Health and Human Resources. It transfers the Bureau for Family Assistance and Division of Rehabilitation Services into this new department and aligns work requirements for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid programs with federal law. The bill mandates an orderly transition of all records, personnel, and property by July 1, 2027, and terminates the Department of Health and Human Resources by devolving its functions into three new departments. This reorganization directly affects state agencies, program participants, and staff involved in workforce and human services.

Maddy summaryHB 4523 would move the election of West Virginia Supreme Court justices from the primary election to the general election. The bill requires justices to be elected on a nonpartisan ballot during the general election, with multiple seats handled through numbered divisions on the ballot. Voters would select one candidate per division, and the candidate receiving the most votes in each division would win the seat. This change does not alter the current method of electing justices statewide (by all voters in the state) or the vote-counting process.

Maddy summaryHB 4486 establishes fines for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers in West Virginia. It directly affects businesses and organizations that employ individuals without proper immigration authorization. The bill sets tiered penalties: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 or up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. Additional penalties apply for falsifying records or transferring assets to evade these requirements. The bill amends existing law to strengthen enforcement against employers who knowingly violate immigration hiring rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4525 would change the election date for West Virginia's Intermediate Court of Appeals judges to coincide with the state's general election, rather than holding separate elections. This aligns judicial elections with the larger general election cycle, which typically sees higher voter turnout, as stated in the bill's findings. The election would use a nonpartisan ballot, meaning candidates' political party affiliations would not appear on the ballot. The bill directly affects voters in West Virginia who would cast ballots for these judges during general elections, and judicial candidates who would campaign under this new schedule.

Maddy summaryHB 4515 would establish rules for religious organizations leaving a denomination while keeping property. It requires a local church to get a two-thirds vote from its members to disaffiliate and mandates that the parent denomination provide a detailed financial accounting within 60 days. Property is divided into three classes: real estate (Class A) can be kept if over 50% of its costs were raised locally, movable items (Class B) go to the buyer, and financial assets (Class C) are split based on funding sources over two years. The bill aims to clarify property division during disaffiliation disputes without favoring either side.

Maddy summaryHB 4524 requires West Virginia state agencies and public entities to obtain written certification from companies they contract with (for goods or services valued at $100,000 or more) that the companies are not boycotting Israel. It defines a "boycott of Israel" as actions intended to penalize or harm economic relations with Israel or Israeli businesses. Contracts lacking this certification would be void, and the rule applies to all public entities - including those previously exempt from similar contracting requirements. The bill clarifies that the prohibition extends to all state spending units, ensuring consistent application across government procurement.

Maddy summaryHB 4499 would change West Virginia's eminent domain law to require property owners whose land is taken for public use to receive compensation equal to twice the fair market value of the property, plus damages to any remaining property. This applies to all eminent domain cases - whether initiated by the state, local governments, or private companies - commencing after the bill's effective date. The bill specifies that fair market value would be determined using current legal standards as of the date the property is taken. It also requires initial payments in expedited cases to be based on the condemning authority's estimate of double the fair market value.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Recovery Acceleration Act allows West Virginia homeowners to rebuild or repair homes damaged by natural disasters up to 125% of the original square footage without triggering new development standards or lengthy environmental reviews. It requires rebuilding to follow current building codes, while preserving any grandfathered rules (such as older construction standards) that applied to the original property. This applies directly to individuals restoring their own residential property after a disaster, aiming to simplify and speed up recovery efforts. The bill does not alter building code requirements but removes additional regulatory barriers for reconstruction.