Del. Bill Ridenour

Maddy summaryHB 4447 prohibits election officials and others from sending absentee ballot applications to voters who haven’t specifically requested one. It limits anyone from delivering more than 10 unsolicited applications to a single voter. The bill requires absentee ballot applications to be available at county clerk offices and online, but ensures they are only sent upon direct request. Violations could result in misdemeanor penalties. This directly affects election officials, political groups, and individuals distributing ballot materials.

Maddy summaryHB 4444 would impose penalties on West Virginia delegates attending a Convention of States (a proposed meeting to amend the U.S. Constitution) who exceed their assigned authority. Delegates who deviate from their mandate would face mandatory immediate recall, fines of $100,000 to $500,000, up to 10 years in prison, and voided votes. The bill directly affects state delegates selected to represent West Virginia at such conventions. It establishes these consequences to ensure delegates strictly adhere to their pre-defined roles during constitutional convention proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 4454 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older or those certified as permanently and totally disabled who have lived in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill allows the exemption to apply to the first $40,000 of a home's assessed value, reducing property taxes for eligible primary residences. The change requires applicants to confirm they aren't receiving a similar exemption in another state.

Maddy summaryHB 4448 removes exemptions that currently protect bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from criminal charges when distributing or displaying obscene material to minors. The bill amends West Virginia law to eliminate these specific protections, meaning these institutions would no longer be shielded from prosecution under the existing obscenity statute (§61-8A-3). Previously, schools were exempt when showing material as part of approved curriculum, and libraries/museums were exempt if minors were accompanied by parents. This change directly affects how these public institutions handle materials accessible to minors. The bill does not alter other existing exemptions, such as those for medical professionals or internet service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 4455 gradually increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible homeowners, starting at $20,000 in 2028 and rising to $40,000 by 2031. It directly affects homeowners aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who have resided in West Virginia for two consecutive years. The bill requires a constitutional amendment to take effect and removes a cap on property tax books while repealing a prior limitation on levy rates. This change aims to reduce property tax burdens for qualifying senior and disabled residents over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4434 increases criminal penalties for bribery and corrupt practices in West Virginia. It upgrades violations of bribery provisions (Section 3) to a felony punishable by 1-10 years in prison or fines up to $250,000 for corporations, while misdemeanor violations (Sections 4-5) carry up to 1 year in jail or $105,000 in fines. All convicted individuals face permanent disqualification from holding any state office or government position. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor corruption cases to six years. This directly affects public officials, contractors, and others engaging in bribery or corrupt acts under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 4399 clarifies the definition of a "disabled veteran taxpayer" in West Virginia law to ensure consistency for property tax benefits. The bill specifically adds that a disabled veteran must have a 90% or greater service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or qualify for individual unemployability under VA disability ratings. This change directly affects disabled veterans who seek the property tax credit authorized under §11-13MM-4 of the code, as it defines eligibility more precisely. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new benefits, but ensures the existing credit applies only to veterans meeting the clarified VA disability standard.

Maddy summaryHB 4451, the Veteran Justice Act, creates a program allowing eligible veterans charged with certain offenses to avoid a criminal conviction or have a felony reduced to a misdemeanor. It applies to veterans with military-related conditions like PTSD, TBI, or substance use disorder (SUD) that contributed to their offense, provided the crime is probation-eligible and not excluded (e.g., murder, sexual assault). Eligible veterans enter a court-supervised program involving evidence-based treatment tailored to their military service challenges, a personalized case plan, and probation instead of incarceration. If they successfully complete the plan, they avoid conviction; failure results in standard sentencing. The bill excludes serious crimes like human trafficking and requires verification of veteran status using federal databases like SQUARES.

Maddy summaryHB 4445 would exempt the sale of small arms (such as rifles, shotguns, and pistols) and related items from West Virginia's sales and service taxes. This includes small arms ammunition, accessories like holsters and optics, storage devices (e.g., safes and cases), and fees for shooting sports events. The bill defines these terms to clarify the scope of the exemption, ensuring it applies only to specified firearms and related products. The stated purpose is to reduce costs for residents purchasing these items to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryHB 4338 clarifies definitions and procedures for eminent domain in West Virginia's slum clearance and blight removal programs. It defines key terms like "blighted area" (properties with deteriorated conditions endangering health/safety) and "area of operation" (geographic limits for redevelopment authorities), requiring municipal resolutions before authorities can take property in other municipalities. The bill specifies that eminent domain can only be used for acquiring slum or blighted properties, not general development, and mandates that regional authorities obtain local consent before operating in municipal areas. This amendment to West Virginia Code §16-18-3, §16-18-8, and §54-1-2 updates existing law without creating new powers.