Del. Bill Ridenour

Maddy summaryHB 3149 establishes a program to provide one-time, equal grants to all chartered American Legion posts in West Virginia without requiring applications or financial documentation. The Department of Veterans Assistance will distribute these grants equally to all eligible posts by October 1, 2026, using funds appropriated through the state budget process. The bill requires the Governor to include a dedicated budget line item for this purpose in the fiscal year 2026 budget and mandates a post-distribution report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by January 1, 2027. This program directly supports American Legion posts statewide, which provide community and veteran services, by offering streamlined, no-strings-attached funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3197 clarifies when West Virginia's DMV can issue a new vehicle title after a title is lost, damaged, or illegible. It requires owners to provide a notarized bill of sale signed by both parties and confirm the vehicle isn’t reported stolen, with simplified proof needed for vehicles 25+ years old. If a vehicle appears on a stolen list, the new title is void and triggers a law enforcement investigation. This bill directly affects vehicle owners seeking replacement titles and streamlines the process for older vehicles while enhancing theft prevention.

Maddy summaryHB 3198 prohibits West Virginia state agencies from using taxpayer funds to subsidize private businesses. The bill defines "private enterprise" as businesses managed by independent companies or individuals and requires all current subsidies to end by July 1, 2025. It also bans future use of state funds for such subsidies, applying to all taxpayer-derived monies. This directly affects private businesses currently receiving state subsidies, eliminating both existing and future financial support from the state budget.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 prohibits public utilities (such as gas, water, and electric companies) from using funds paid by ratepayers to make political contributions or charitable donations. The bill bans these contributions to political candidates, campaigns, political action committees, and charitable organizations. Violations would be classified as criminal offenses with penalties. This applies to all public utilities operating in West Virginia under the state's regulatory code.

Maddy summaryHB 3204 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to verify that voters live at the physical address listed on their registration records. This applies directly to all registered voters in the state, ensuring their address information matches their actual residence. The bill mandates the Secretary of State implement a process to confirm voter addresses, either directly or through authorized third parties, to prevent registration inaccuracies. It does not change penalties for false registration but adds this verification step to the existing voter registration system.

Maddy summaryHB 3203 revises how West Virginia fills vacancies in the state legislature and county commissions. For legislative vacancies (House or Senate), the Governor appoints from a list of three candidates provided by the same-party committee within 15 days, or a special election is held for expulsions or prevention from taking office. County commission vacancies require the county commission to appoint a replacement from the same party (with 60 days of prior party membership), or if they fail within 30 days, a party committee submits a list and commissioners eliminate names until one remains. These changes clarify timelines, party requirements, and backup procedures for all vacancy scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 3205, the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act," creates a special legal process to quickly dismiss lawsuits targeting protected speech. It applies when someone is sued for expressing views on public issues (like in government proceedings or matters of public concern), directly affecting individuals, journalists, activists, or organizations facing such lawsuits. Key mechanisms include a 60-day deadline for defendants to file a motion to dismiss, an automatic stay of all other court proceedings during the motion, and expedited hearings. The law excludes cases involving government officials acting in their official capacity or threats to public health/safety.

Maddy summaryHB 3202 establishes a process for recalling county commissioners and county board of education members in West Virginia. It requires petitions with handwritten signatures from at least 10% of qualified voters to initiate a recall, and at least 20% to hold a vote on the recall. If approved, a special election would be held to decide whether the official is removed, with no more than one recall election allowed per term. The bill directly affects county elected officials and provides voters with a mechanism to remove them before their term ends.

Maddy summaryHB 2683 prohibits the use of ranked choice voting for all local, state, and federal elections in West Virginia. The bill defines ranked choice voting as a system where voters rank candidates by preference, with votes redistributed in rounds if no candidate wins a majority. It declares any election using this method invalid and prevents officials from being sworn into office based on such results. The prohibition does not apply to internal political party processes like conventions or party officer elections.

Maddy summaryHB 3141 requires private or government entities taking property through eminent domain to pay an additional 15% fee based on the court-ordered value paid to landowners. This fee must be paid to the county where the property is located and is in addition to all other costs. The funds collected can only be used by counties for acquiring or improving public forests, parks, recreation facilities, and related infrastructure. The bill does not reduce the amount paid to landowners and applies to all eminent domain proceedings under West Virginia law. It is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.