Del. Corby Dillon

Maddy summaryHB 4921 prohibits federal agents or employees from enforcing federal firearms laws in West Virginia without specific congressional approval or due process. It makes such attempts a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 fines or one year in jail, enforced by the West Virginia Attorney General. The bill directly affects federal officials attempting to compel state law enforcement to implement federal gun regulations. Its key provision blocks federal "commandeering" of state resources for firearms enforcement, aiming to prevent federal overreach under the guise of existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4908 requires a criminal conviction before any property can be taken through asset forfeiture in West Virginia. This bill directly affects individuals whose property might otherwise be seized under civil forfeiture laws without a criminal conviction. Key provisions include eliminating civil asset forfeiture, mandating a guilty verdict for property seizure, requiring notice to all owners, and protecting innocent owners who didn't know their property was used in crime. The bill replaces current civil forfeiture procedures with a criminal conviction requirement for all property seizures.

Maddy summaryHB 4928 prohibits counties and municipalities from taxing residential rental properties at higher rates than owner-occupied homes. It requires all property taxes on rental properties to match the rate for owner-occupied housing and bans additional taxes based on zoning. The bill directly affects landlords who own rental properties and aims to reduce their tax burden, potentially helping keep rents stable. It does not change sales or service taxes for rental businesses. The legislation focuses on changing property tax assessment rules, not on broader rent control or other housing policies.

Maddy summaryHB 4935 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots that must be hand-counted, banning electronic voting systems entirely. It also mandates that voters present a government-issued photo ID to be eligible to vote. The bill repeals all existing provisions related to electronic voting systems (sections §3-4A-1 through §3-4A-34) and amends voting standards to enforce these changes. This directly affects all voters in West Virginia elections by changing the voting method and adding an identification requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 4919 repeals the legal foundation of West Virginia's Department of Economic Development by removing 17 specific sections of state code that created the department and its cabinet-level position. This bill directly affects the department itself, eliminating its statutory existence and authority. The key mechanism is the repeal of all referenced code sections, which would dissolve the department's legal structure without creating new programs or funding. This is a procedural repeal targeting the department's organizational framework, not a policy change affecting residents or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 4918 requires West Virginia public schools to provide a minimum of 180 instructional days per year, with specific daily minute requirements: 315 minutes for kindergarten through fifth grade, 330 minutes for sixth through eighth grade, and 345 minutes for ninth through twelfth grade. Counties may extend the school day by at least 30 minutes to meet the 180-day requirement, using the extra time for up to five days of weather-related closures or teacher professional development. The bill also mandates that noninstructional days total 20 annually, including holidays, election day, and designated days for staff training and school preparation. This directly affects all West Virginia public school districts and their annual calendars.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJR 32) proposes adding a new section to the West Virginia Constitution, designating the Holy Bible (specifically its 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) as the state's "foundational text and official book." If approved by voters in the 2026 election, it would require public buildings, schools, laws, and government policies to display, recognize, and cite the Bible as the "utmost authority for human moral behavior." The resolution does not create new laws but seeks to formally establish the Bible's role in state governance through constitutional change. The proposal is currently pending referral to the House Judiciary Committee and requires voter ratification to become effective.

Maddy summaryHB 4924 prohibits municipalities participating in West Virginia's Municipal Home Rule Program from creating local anti-discrimination ordinances that include protected classes beyond those listed in state law. This means cities and towns in the program cannot add categories like sexual orientation or gender identity to their local non-discrimination protections if state law doesn't already cover them. The bill amends §8-1-5a of West Virginia Code to enforce this restriction, directly affecting participating municipalities' ability to expand local civil rights protections. It does not change existing state protections but limits local governments from adding new ones.

Maddy summaryHJR 29 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify the West Virginia Board of Education's duties and authority. It would amend Article XII, Section 2 of the state constitution to state that the Board "shall perform only such duties as may be prescribed by law." The amendment also specifies the Board's composition (nine members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, with term limits and a five-member political party cap), removal procedures, and requires voter approval at the 2026 general election. This change aims to formally limit the Board's authority to duties explicitly defined by statute.

Maddy summaryHB 4934 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to verify the physical address listed on a voter's registration record. This directly affects voters who provide their address during registration or address changes, as well as election officials responsible for maintaining registration records. The bill mandates that the Secretary of State establish a process to confirm the physical address provided by voters, or allow third parties to handle this verification. It amends existing law to add this verification step to prevent registration at incorrect addresses. The bill does not change penalties for false registration but adds a procedural requirement for address validation.