Del. Corby Dillon

Maddy summaryHB 4680 prohibits state emergency orders from restricting religious gatherings, travel to places of worship, or imposing penalties on religious institutions during a declared state of emergency. It directly affects churches and religious organizations by ensuring their services cannot be shut down under emergency powers. The bill creates a legal right for religious institutions to sue if harmed by violations, with a two-year deadline to file claims for damages, attorney fees, and other relief. It applies immediately upon passage and requires the governor's emergency orders to comply with these protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4673 establishes the West Virginia Bullion Depository, managed by the State Treasurer, to hold physical gold, silver, and other precious metals. It creates "transactional currency" - digital tokens representing specific amounts of deposited gold or silver - that would be recognized as legal tender within West Virginia for paying debts, taxes, or dues. The bill requires deposits of physical bullion or specie (coin), prohibits interest on deposits, exempts holdings from state taxation, and sets up a separate administrative account for fees. It directly affects individuals or businesses depositing precious metals or using the digital tokens for transactions in the state. The bill does not make cryptocurrency itself legal tender but defines digital representations of physical metals as legal tender.

Maddy summaryHB 4678 would amend West Virginia law to allow residents aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, aligning their rights with those of 21+ residents under current law. The bill specifically revises sections §61-7-3 (penalties for carrying without a permit), §61-7-6 (exceptions for 18-20 year olds), and §61-7-7 (prohibited possessors) to remove the age restriction for concealed carry. It maintains existing exceptions (like carrying on personal property, during hunting, or for law enforcement) and prohibitions (such as for those convicted of serious crimes or addicted to controlled substances). The change would directly affect West Virginia residents aged 18-20 who currently require a permit to carry concealed weapons.

Maddy summaryHB 4679 prohibits West Virginia counties, towns, and municipalities from using taxpayer funds to hire lobbyists who represent them at the state level. The bill adds new sections to state law (§7-28-1, §7A-9-1, and §8-40-1) explicitly banning local governments from paying for lobbying services using tax revenue. It directly affects all county commissions, consolidated local governments, and municipal corporations across the state. The key provision prevents local entities from using public money to influence state legislation through lobbying efforts. This is a direct policy change limiting how local governments may engage with state lawmakers.

Maddy summaryHB 4675, titled "Relating to 'Rain Tax'," would prohibit West Virginia municipalities from charging property owners a fee based on stormwater, runoff, rain, or similar precipitation-related factors. This bill amends state law to remove local governments' authority to impose such fees, directly affecting residential and commercial property owners who might have been charged for these services. The key mechanism is a clear prohibition on assessing any fee tied to precipitation management, replacing existing provisions that allowed stormwater fees under municipal ordinances. This change would require municipalities to find alternative funding methods for stormwater programs but does not specify new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 4674 prohibits the use or sale of "abortifacients" (defined as drugs requiring an FDA prescription or primarily used to cause abortion) in West Virginia. It directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and individuals who mail or prescribe such drugs within the state, with criminal penalties for violations. The bill creates a private right to sue for damages if someone violates the prohibition and defines "medical emergency" narrowly to exclude psychological conditions. Key mechanisms include strict definitions of terms like "abortifacient" and "abortion," and it explicitly excludes exceptions for miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancies.

Maddy summaryHB 4677 would amend West Virginia law (§20-7-4) to require natural resources police officers to obtain either a landowner's consent or a warrant before entering private property for enforcement purposes. This change directly affects landowners and DNR officers, altering current authority to enter private lands. Key provisions include adding this requirement to the officer's duties while maintaining exceptions for emergencies involving imminent threats to public safety or accidents. The bill does not change officers' existing authority to enter state-owned lands or enforce laws on public waters.

Maddy summaryHB 4611 establishes "Public Community Micro Schools" (PCMS) for West Virginia public schools with fewer than 150 students, enabling parent-led conversion to give families direct control over school decisions. To become a PCMS, at least five parents must form a committee, secure a 2/3 vote from parents representing at least one-third of enrolled students, and gain approval for the school to operate under parent governance. PCMS schools would receive two dedicated funding streams: Hope Scholarship funds for staffing (via an "ESA" account) and per-pupil operational funds (for transportation and costs), while waiving most state staffing rules (except special needs requirements). The bill also allows PCMS to use alternative leadership models (like a head teacher) and vertical classroom integration, with parent committees retaining veto power over closures or consolidations.

Maddy summaryHB 4555 would remove the sales tax on tax preparation services in West Virginia. This bill directly affects individuals and small businesses that pay for tax preparation assistance, as it eliminates the state sales tax currently applied to these services. The key mechanism is amending West Virginia’s tax code (§11-15-9) to explicitly exempt tax preparation services from the consumer sales and service tax, aligning them with existing exemptions for services like nonprofit educational materials. The policy change simplifies the tax burden for those seeking tax help, without altering tax rates or creating new administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4494 would exempt non-resident landowners (people who live outside West Virginia but own land here), their spouse, and their children living with them from needing a non-resident hunting license when hunting on their own West Virginia property. The exemption requires that the landowner's home state also allows West Virginia residents to hunt on their land without a license. It specifically excludes grandchildren from this exemption. The bill proposes a direct change to hunting license requirements for this specific group of landowners.