Del. Tresa Howell

Maddy summaryHB 2448 (West Virginia House Bill 2448), titled the "Religious Freedom Protection Act," prevents state emergency orders from closing or restricting religious services during declared emergencies. It directly affects religious institutions (churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.) and their members by prohibiting government actions that infringe on worship assembly, travel to places of worship, or impose penalties for religious practice. Key provisions include allowing religious groups to sue for violations (seeking injunctions, damages, and attorney fees) within a two-year window, covering psychological, emotional, and physical harm. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage and applies to all emergency orders issued under West Virginia’s emergency management laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2517 would eliminate mandatory vaccination requirements for students entering West Virginia schools and state-regulated child care centers. Currently, children must provide proof of specific immunizations (including measles, polio, and whooping cough) to enroll; this bill removes that requirement, making immunizations voluntary. The key mechanism is amending state law to replace mandatory vaccination with a voluntary system, eliminating the need for vaccination certificates for school entry. This directly affects all students entering public, private, or parochial schools and child care centers in West Virginia. The bill does not change medical exemption processes or vaccine access for low-income families.

Maddy summaryHB 2461 prohibits the sale, use, or distribution of abortifacients - drugs primarily used to cause abortion, including those requiring a prescription under FDA guidelines or not FDA-approved for that purpose. It directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone supplying such drugs within West Virginia, including out-of-state entities mailing or shipping them into the state. Key provisions establish criminal penalties for violations and allow private lawsuits against those providing abortifacients. The bill defines "abortifacient" broadly while excluding terms like miscarriage or stillbirth from its scope, and specifies that medical emergencies requiring abortion must involve serious risk of death or life-threatening impairment.

Maddy summaryHB 2469 bans West Virginia municipalities and counties from charging property owners fees based on stormwater, rain, or similar runoff - commonly referred to as a "rain tax." It amends state code (§8-20-10, §16-13-16, and §16-13D-15) to prohibit such fees, directly affecting residential and commercial property owners who might have faced these charges. The bill stops local governments from using rainfall or stormwater management as a basis for fees, requiring alternative fee structures if permitted under existing law. This is a direct policy change prohibiting a specific fee type, not a new tax or service.

Maddy summaryHB 2467 would eliminate West Virginia's personal income tax for all taxpayers starting with the 2026 tax year. The bill amends state law to remove the requirement for individuals, estates, and trusts to pay this tax on their taxable income after December 31, 2025. This means residents and entities subject to the current tax would no longer owe state income tax on their earnings for tax years beginning in 2026 and later. The bill does not specify alternative revenue sources for the state.

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 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 bill proposes a constitutional amendment to lock the assessed value of a primary residence for West Virginia homeowners aged 65 or older. It would prevent future property tax increases based on rising market values by fixing the taxable value at either the age the owner turned 65 or the date they purchased the home - whichever occurred later. The amendment, if approved by voters in 2026, would replace current rules requiring periodic statewide reappraisals for these properties. It directly affects senior homeowners who occupy their property as a primary residence and are subject to ad valorem property taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 2127, titled the "West Virginia Women's Bill of Rights," defines "sex" in state law as biological sex (male or female) at birth, excluding gender identity, and requires replacing the word "gender" with "sex" in all state statutes. The bill permits state entities to maintain single-sex environments - such as sports teams, locker rooms, shelters, and domestic violence services - without violating anti-discrimination laws, citing biological differences as justification. It also mandates that state agencies collecting data on sex (for public health, crime, or other purposes) must classify individuals as male or female based on these definitions, ensuring consistency in data collection. The bill applies to all state laws, regulations, and public institutions that classify people by sex or collect sex-related data.

Maddy summaryHB 2184 would allow West Virginia property owners to pay current real and personal property taxes in monthly installments instead of the current two-installment system (due September 1 and March 1). Property owners choosing monthly payments would pay a 2.5% convenience fee on each monthly payment. The bill does not change the existing two-installment option or the 2.5% early payment discount for those paying in full by the due dates. It directly affects property owners who select the monthly payment method, adding a fee for this payment flexibility. The existing tax due dates and delinquency interest rates remain unchanged for all other payment methods.