Del. Tresa Howell

Maddy summaryHB 2428 requires a court hearing with the respondent present and represented by counsel before a protective order can prohibit firearm possession in domestic violence cases. It mandates that such prohibitions only apply when there is clear and convincing evidence of an immediate danger to the petitioner, based on documented threats or sworn testimony, not as punishment. The bill also requires automatic appeals for respondents within 10 days if a firearm ban is included in the order. This directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders who might face firearm restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2462 designates April 19th as Patriots Day in West Virginia public schools, requiring all schools to commemorate this date annually. The bill mandates that on the closest Friday to April 19th (excluding Spring Break), students must study the battles of Lexington and Concord and read first-person accounts of these events to honor the Minute Men who fought for American independence. This legislation directly affects all West Virginia public school students and educators by adding specific historical curriculum requirements to the school calendar.

Maddy summaryHB 2429 would require West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers to obtain a warrant or the landowner's explicit consent before entering private property, with exceptions only for emergencies like accidents or threats to public safety. This bill directly affects landowners by strengthening their property rights against unannounced DNR inspections. The key mechanism mandates a warrant or written consent as a prerequisite for entry, clarifying current law that previously allowed "implied permission" under certain circumstances. The bill does not change existing emergency exceptions but aims to prevent unauthorized DNR access to private land.

Maddy summaryHB 2488 directs West Virginia's Department of Transportation (WV DOT) to study the feasibility, costs, and effectiveness of installing suicide safety measures on the New River Gorge Bridge. The study must consult the Bridge Day Commission to ensure safety measures won't disrupt annual Bridge Day events and assess federal funding opportunities. WV DOT must submit a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 31, 2025, using state road funds, grants, or partnerships. This bill mandates a study only - it does not require installing safety systems or allocate permanent funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2466 prohibits physicians in West Virginia from prescribing puberty-blocking medications (referred to as "pubertal modulating and hormonal therapy") to minors under 18 for the purpose of gender transition. The bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse minors seeking medical care for gender dysphoria, banning a common treatment option. Exceptions allow such therapy only in very specific medical circumstances: for diagnosed disorders of sex development, to treat complications from prior gender transition procedures, or for severe gender dysphoria with strict requirements (e.g., two specialized medical opinions, written consent, and dosage limits). The bill does not ban all hormone therapy but restricts puberty blockers specifically for gender transition in minors, with narrow medical exceptions.

Maddy summaryHB 2489 requires West Virginia election officials to make all public election data - including cast vote records (CVRs), audit logs, and election management system files - publicly available under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This applies to all registered voters who can request the data without needing to reference FOIA specifically. The bill mandates random physical and code inspections of electronic voting systems, restricts certain voting software, and establishes new requirements for maintaining election records. It directly affects voters seeking transparency and election officials managing election data. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after being introduced on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2471 eliminates tax credits for corporations and businesses using solar, wind, or other renewable energy systems (like solar/wind farms), effective after July 1, 2024. It directly affects commercial renewable energy operators, excluding individual homeowners who retain tax credits for residential systems. The bill also imposes new requirements: renewable energy facilities must be set back at least one mile from homes and require $400 million in liability insurance per 100 acres for cleanup after disasters. These changes aim to remove financial incentives for corporate renewable projects while maintaining support for residential installations.

Maddy summaryHB 2426 would require West Virginia law enforcement to immediately transfer individuals determined to be in the U.S. illegally to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation upon first apprehension. For a second offense, the bill classifies the individual as a felony offender, mandating 3-5 years in state prison followed by deportation to ICE. The bill explicitly states that state or local entities cannot interfere with federal immigration enforcement under this law. It directly affects undocumented immigrants apprehended by West Virginia law enforcement twice or more. The policy changes establish a two-tiered criminal penalty system for repeat immigration violations within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2424 would require the West Virginia legislature to vote and approve any governor's declaration of a state of emergency or state of preparedness before it becomes effective. Currently, the governor can unilaterally declare such a state for an initial period (60 days for emergencies, 30 days for Class I preparedness) and the legislature may later vote to extend it. This bill eliminates the governor's current ability to initiate emergency declarations without prior legislative consent, shifting that authority to the legislature. It directly affects the governor's emergency powers and the process for managing state emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 2470 amends West Virginia law to clarify that hunting licenses are required only for hunting on public land, not private land. It updates existing exemptions (such as for landowners on their own property, disabled veterans, military personnel on leave, and seniors over 65) to explicitly state that licenses are unnecessary when hunting on private land. The bill does not create new exemptions but refines the current law to remove ambiguity about where licenses are required. This change directly affects landowners, veterans, military members, and seniors who hunt on their own property without needing a license. The bill is currently in committee review after its February 2025 introduction.