Del. Bill Ridenour

Maddy summaryHB 2463 would establish gold, silver bullion, and physical coins (specie) as legal tender in West Virginia, alongside creating a state-run West Virginia Bullion Depository managed by the State Treasurer. The depository would allow residents and businesses to deposit precious metals, receive digital "transactional currency" (backed 1:1 by physical metals), and use these as payment for debts within the state. It prohibits interest on deposits, exempts depository assets from state taxes, and requires the Treasurer to maintain metals in trust for account holders. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents, businesses, and financial institutions engaging in transactions using precious metals or the new digital currency. (Note: The bill does not include cryptocurrency as legal tender, despite the title's phrasing.)

Maddy summaryHB 2464 would establish the State Bank of West Virginia within the State Treasurer’s Office to securely hold precious metals (like gold, silver, and bullion) owned by the state, its agencies, or political subdivisions. The bank would function as a custodian, tracking deposits, managing transactions, and requiring strict record-keeping, but would not pay interest or provide banking services to the public. Only state entities, authorized agents, or designated political subdivisions could open accounts, and the Treasurer would appoint an Administrator to oversee operations. This bill creates a new state-run custody system for precious metals, not a commercial bank.

Maddy summaryHB 2061 modifies how lottery revenues from racetrack video games are distributed in West Virginia. It redirects all funds that would have gone to specific programs (like racetracks and workers' compensation debt reduction) into the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund, effectively stopping those payments starting in 2014. The bill also allows the Governor to temporarily redirect half of these lottery revenues to the General Revenue Fund during severe budget shortfalls (over $100 million) until the state's workers' compensation debt is fully covered. This directly affects how state funds are allocated from lottery activities, shifting money away from targeted programs toward a central lottery fund.

Maddy summaryHB 2458, the School Board Election Date Act, requires all West Virginia school districts to hold board elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November - coinciding with general elections. This directly affects school districts and candidates running for school board positions by standardizing election timing. The bill mandates that school board candidate names be listed alphabetically on ballots and references existing law for filling vacancies. It does not change election eligibility or voting procedures beyond the date and candidate listing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2525 requires all West Virginia public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, include the exact biblical text listed in the bill (including the full wording from "I AM the LORD thy God" to "nor anything that is thy neighbor's"), and be visible from anywhere in the classroom. Schools must accept private donations meeting these specifications if they lack compliant displays, and may replace non-compliant existing displays using public funds or donations. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools in West Virginia, mandating a specific religious text in every classroom.

Maddy summaryHB 2425 would allow West Virginians aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed weapons without a permit, expanding current law that only permits this for those 21 and older. The bill amends sections of state code to remove the permit requirement for this age group while maintaining existing exceptions, such as carrying on one's own property, transporting unloaded weapons to/from purchase or hunting, or for specific officials like law enforcement. It does not change the penalties for violations, which remain misdemeanor or felony charges depending on prior offenses. The policy directly affects young adults aged 18-20 who currently must obtain a permit to carry concealed weapons.

Maddy summaryHB 2398 would impose penalties on delegates attending a "Convention of States" (a state-led gathering to propose U.S. constitutional amendments) who exceed their assigned authority. Delegates found violating their mandate would face mandatory recall, a $100,000-$500,000 fine, up to 10 years in prison, and voided votes. The bill directly affects state delegates appointed to such conventions, requiring them to strictly adhere to their pre-defined roles. It establishes these specific consequences as mandatory measures for any deviation from their authorized purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes schools, public libraries, and museums from legal exemptions that currently protect them from criminal prosecution when distributing or displaying legally obscene material to minors. Under current law, these institutions could avoid charges if they followed specific conditions (like having a parent present for minors at libraries), but the bill eliminates these protections entirely. The change means these organizations could now face criminal liability for such actions without the previous safeguards. This policy shift directly affects how these public institutions handle materials legally defined as obscene when minors are involved.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would shorten the term of office for members of West Virginia's Board of Education from nine years to five years. Currently appointed by the governor with staggered nine-year terms, board members would serve five-year terms if approved by voters. The change requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, as specified in the resolution. It does not alter the board's structure, appointment process, or the requirement for gubernatorial appointments with Senate consent.

Maddy summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to change West Virginia's Senate district structure from multi-member districts to 34 single-member districts. This would require the Senate to be composed of 34 individual districts based on the 2020 Census data, implemented for the 2026 elections. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect. It directly affects how West Virginia senators are elected and represents a structural change to the state's legislative representation system.