Del. Jim Butler

Maddy summaryHB 2954 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine side effects and injuries to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that professionals administering vaccines receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill creates a public reporting mechanism allowing individuals, including parents, to submit vaccine-related concerns directly to the Bureau. The Bureau must then produce an annual report for the West Virginia Legislature summarizing this data. This legislation directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and parents by expanding vaccine safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2938 would allow pharmacists in West Virginia to sell ivermectin over the counter without a prescription, directly affecting pharmacies and residents seeking the medication. The bill amends state law to remove the requirement for a prescription for ivermectin, permitting its sale, distribution, or possession by individuals without medical authorization. This change applies specifically to human-use ivermectin, not veterinary products. The legislation does not alter medical guidelines or safety standards but shifts access from prescription-dependent to over-the-counter availability. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Human Resources Committee.

Maddy summaryHCR 66 is a symbolic House Concurrent Resolution (not a bill) introduced by Delegates Ridenour and Butler. It declares West Virginia's position that the state has the sovereign right to nullify federal actions it deems unconstitutional, citing provisions from the West Virginia Constitution and historical arguments about states' rights. The resolution references state constitutional clauses on reserved powers, the Founding Fathers' principles, and critiques of federal court decisions, but it does not establish any legal mechanism or affect any specific policies. As a concurrent resolution, it has no binding effect and serves only to express the state's position on federal overreach.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia House Resolution (HR 7) requests Congress to create a combined investigative task force to examine the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government response. It specifically asks the task force to coordinate with existing state, national, and international investigations, and to recommend corrective actions for pandemic-related issues like vaccine side effects, business closures, and alleged restrictions on public discussion. The resolution cites concerns about adverse health reactions from emergency-approved vaccines, employment discrimination against unvaccinated individuals, and business impacts from public health mandates. It is a non-binding request to Congress - not a law - and does not create any new government authority. The resolution was introduced on February 24, 2025, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2814 requires West Virginia's Governor to create comprehensive crisis preparedness plans to address five specific threats: nuclear attacks, major energy grid disruptions, long-term cyber-attacks, invasion, and insurrection. The bill mandates that these plans include preventative measures, mitigation strategies, immediate response protocols, remediation steps, and recovery efforts. The Governor must brief the legislature on initial plans by August 31, 2025, with final plans due by November 30, 2025, followed by annual updates. The legislation directly affects state government operations and aims to protect all West Virginia residents by preparing for high-risk scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 2758 prohibits any entity from intentionally injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals, substances, or apparatus into West Virginia's atmosphere with the purpose of altering temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. This directly affects federal agencies, private entities, or other groups conducting such atmospheric experiments within the state. The bill explicitly bans these activities by amending state law to make such dispersal unlawful. It takes effect 30 days after passage and aligns with the West Virginia Department of Environment Protection's air quality monitoring responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2756, the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act," creates a legal framework to protect individuals and entities filing or defending lawsuits involving constitutional rights like free speech, press, assembly, and petition on matters of public concern. It establishes expedited court procedures, allows immediate appeals for such cases, and permits recovery of attorney fees. The bill applies to lawsuits concerning communications about public issues (e.g., government actions or community matters), but explicitly excludes cases involving government employees acting officially, real property disputes, personal injury claims, or insurance matters. This law directly affects individuals, media, and organizations facing legal challenges over public expression, while streamlining judicial handling of these constitutional rights cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2751 authorizes Mason County to levy a special sales tax on tangible personal property and services sold within the Town of Henderson's Economic Opportunity Development District. This tax, which would fund local economic development efforts, applies specifically to businesses operating in Henderson and requires no additional approval from the state development office. The bill amends state law to allow Mason County Commission to establish this district and set tax rates without seeking prior state authorization. It directly affects businesses selling goods or services in Henderson and directs the tax revenue toward supporting the town's economic growth.

Maddy summaryHB 2801 prohibits West Virginia state and local government agencies (including counties, schools, and state departments) from purchasing electric vehicles or their components if they may contain forced labor or oppressive child labor. The bill defines "forced labor" as work obtained through coercion, fraud, or abuse of law, and "oppressive child labor" as employment of children under 14 in hazardous work like mining. It aligns with federal actions like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and restrictions on EV tax credits for components linked to forced labor in Xinjiang or child labor in cobalt mining. The bill is currently pending in the House Government Organization Committee after introduction on February 21, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2808, the "West Virginia Anti-Federal Commandeering Act," prohibits federal authorities from forcing West Virginia law enforcement agencies or personnel to conduct activities that violate citizens' constitutional rights. The bill defines "federal commandeering" as the federal government seizing state resources without state consent and bans state law enforcement from complying with such demands. It empowers the West Virginia Attorney General to challenge unconstitutional federal actions in court and create model policies for law enforcement. The law aims to protect constitutional rights - particularly First Amendment freedoms - while allowing cooperation on lawful federal-state operations. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee after being introduced on February 21, 2025.