Rep. Chris Phillips

Maddy summaryHB 4080 requires all West Virginia cities, towns, and villages to hold partisan elections for mayors and city council members starting July 1, 2032, meaning candidates will run under party labels. It prohibits appointing mayors except to fill vacancies, ensuring mayors are elected directly by voters. The bill also mandates municipalities to align local election dates with statewide primary or general elections by the same deadline. All affected municipalities must amend their charters or ordinances to comply by July 1, 2032.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change West Virginia's term limits for county sheriffs. Currently, sheriffs are barred from serving more than two consecutive terms; the amendment would allow them to serve up to three consecutive terms before becoming ineligible. The change would apply to future elections and does not affect current sheriffs serving in 2026. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4845 (West Virginia) creates new state-level criminal offenses for "illegal entry into the state" and "illegal reentry," directly affecting individuals entering West Virginia without legal authorization. Key provisions establish penalties for these offenses, prohibit probation or parole for convictions, require the Criminal Identification Bureau to maintain records of such entries, and grant immunity to officials enforcing these provisions. The bill also mandates court procedures for deportation orders and ensures prosecution continues regardless of federal immigration status. It does not address border security but defines state-level criminal liability for unauthorized entry.

Maddy summaryHB 4812, the West Virginia Anti-Federal Commandeering Act, prohibits federal authorities from compelling state or local law enforcement agencies to conduct activities that violate constitutional rights. It defines "commandeering" as federal control of state resources without explicit state authorization and requires such authorization for any federal request. The bill empowers the West Virginia Attorney General to challenge federal actions deemed unconstitutional and to publish model policies for law enforcement. It directly affects all West Virginia law enforcement entities, including local police departments and state agencies, by preventing federal coercion of their personnel or resources. The law aims to protect constitutional rights while allowing cooperation on lawful federal-state law enforcement efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 4787, the Anti-Terrorism Act, creates new felony charges for terrorism in West Virginia, directly affecting individuals or groups committing acts defined as terrorism (including violent protests, riots, or attacks on critical infrastructure). Key provisions include mandatory consecutive prison sentences with no probation, restitution payments to victims up to three times their economic harm (such as lost wages or business shutdown costs), and requiring the Attorney General to designate terroristic entities. The bill also explicitly defines fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and prohibits "terrorist swatting" (false emergency reports to harass targets). It applies to anyone committing terrorism within West Virginia, regardless of where the act occurred.

Maddy summaryHB 4761 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of murder or attempted murder in West Virginia. It increases the minimum time inmates must serve before becoming parole-eligible: 20 years for second-degree murder (up from 10), and 10-40 years for attempted first-degree murder (up from 3-15) or 5-20 years for attempted second-degree murder (up from 1-3). The bill also adds provisions allowing prosecutors and victims' families to attend parole hearings remotely or in person. These changes directly affect inmates serving sentences for these specific violent offenses. The bill does not alter sentence lengths but restricts early release opportunities for these crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 4718, the Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act, requires nonresident commercial truck drivers operating in West Virginia to present a valid work visa and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) while driving. It also mandates that drivers demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete required records. Commercial motor carriers face $3,000 fines per violation if their drivers fail to meet these requirements, while drivers operating without compliance risk a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The bill additionally allows the state to adopt the FMCSA's Even Exchange Program, waiving skills tests for military drivers with relevant experience and certain first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 4758 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of first-degree murder or attempted first-degree murder in West Virginia. It increases the minimum prison term for attempted first-degree murder from 3 to 10 years and requires inmates convicted of these offenses to serve a longer portion of their sentence before becoming parole-eligible. Specifically, these individuals must serve at least three years or the maximum sentence imposed (whichever is less) before parole consideration, rather than the previous standard terms. The bill directly affects inmates serving sentences for murder or attempted murder of the first degree.

Maddy summaryHB 4435 would increase the mandatory manual audit requirement for West Virginia elections from the current standard to 10% of precincts during the election canvass. The bill requires election boards to hand-count voter-verified paper ballots in randomly selected precincts, and if discrepancies exceed 1% or change the election outcome, it mandates a full manual recount of all ballots in that precinct. The hand-count results would become the official vote record in cases of significant discrepancies. This change directly affects county election boards conducting canvasses and applies to all statewide and local elections governed by West Virginia election law.

Maddy summaryHB 4628, the PEEPS Act, requires West Virginia law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing historical location data (such as license plate records, cell tower logs, or traffic camera footage) about people or vehicles. Exceptions include when a vehicle owner reports a theft, for traffic enforcement, toll collection, or in immediate emergencies where a warrant cannot be secured. The bill mandates that agencies encrypt this data, prohibit sharing or selling it to private companies, and maintain detailed records of all access requests with supervisor approval. This law directly affects police departments and government entities that collect location information, aiming to limit unwarranted surveillance while allowing specific public safety uses.