Del. Ian Masters

Maddy summaryHB 4093 would amend West Virginia law to permit individuals aged 21 or older with a valid concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed firearm in public primary and secondary school buildings and grounds. This directly affects licensed handgun carriers who currently face restrictions on school property under existing law. The bill removes the prohibition for permit holders by adding them to the list of exempt individuals under §61-7-11a(b)(2)(L), while requiring concealed handguns in vehicles to be stored out of view and secured in locked compartments when not in the driver's seat. The change applies only to public schools; private schools retain the authority to maintain their own firearm policies.

Maddy summaryHJR 10 proposes amending West Virginia's constitution to grant voters direct authority to propose new laws (initiative) and reject existing laws (referendum) at all government levels. It would require petitions signed by 10% of voters in each district (with statewide initiatives needing signatures in two-thirds of counties), and set procedures for these votes to occur at regular elections. The bill must first gain two-thirds approval in both legislative chambers before being submitted to voters for ratification in the 2028 election. If passed, it would enable West Virginia citizens to directly influence state and local laws without legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 4185 would repeal West Virginia's law (§61-7-9) that prohibits possessing fully automatic weapons, making such possession legal under state law. This change directly affects individuals in West Virginia who currently face state-level restrictions on owning machine guns. The bill's sole mechanism is removing the specific statutory language that made machine gun possession unlawful, without adding new regulations or exceptions. The repeal would align West Virginia's state law with federal regulations, where fully automatic weapons are generally legal for licensed owners.

Maddy summaryHB 4197 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover medically necessary treatments for pediatric patients diagnosed with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) or PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). The bill mandates coverage for specific treatments including antibiotics, medications, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and IVIG therapy, without higher copays or deductibles than other covered services. Insurers cannot deny or delay coverage based on prior treatment history, alternative diagnoses (like autoimmune encephalopathy), or previous coverage for similar conditions. This applies to all group health insurance plans and managed care organizations issued or renewed in West Virginia on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4049 replaces West Virginia's existing Contraband Forfeiture Act with a new Criminal Forfeiture Process Act specifically for property used in or derived from felony drug crimes (violations of the Controlled Substance Act). It establishes a criminal court process for forfeiture (replacing civil forfeiture), defines key terms like "contraband" (unlawful items such as drugs without prescription) and "innocent owner" (a person unaware of property use in crime), and prohibits offering seized property to federal agencies for federal forfeiture. The bill clarifies that courts handling the underlying criminal case have jurisdiction over forfeiture proceedings, and it explicitly states no property rights exist in contraband. This procedural bill directly affects law enforcement agencies, criminal defendants, and property owners involved in drug-related felony cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4129 restricts the Division of Natural Resources' ability to enter private land for conservation purposes without a warrant. It requires law enforcement (specifically natural resources officers) to obtain a warrant before entering posted private land, using drones for surveillance, or conducting searches in open fields. The bill abolishes the common law "open fields" doctrine, prohibits surveillance cameras on private property, and clarifies that drone activity on private land constitutes a search needing a warrant. This directly affects landowners and natural resources officers by imposing new warrant requirements for property access.

Maddy summaryHB 2399 changes how West Virginia property owners qualify for managed timberland tax treatment. It requires owners to certify their land meets managed timberland standards every five years (instead of annually) and to follow specific forestry practices outlined in the "Best Management Practices for Forestry" publication. This certification allows timberland to be taxed based on its productive use value rather than standard market value, directly affecting private timberland owners seeking lower property tax rates. The bill grants the Division of Forestry rulemaking authority to establish detailed certification requirements and procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 2718 creates a State Advisory Council to study and provide recommendations on establishing a military college within the state. The council will consist of appointed state officials and community representatives who will examine feasibility, structure, and funding options for the college. This bill directly affects state education and military affairs officials responsible for forming the council and implementing its findings. As a procedural measure, it does not establish the college itself but sets up a formal process for future consideration. The bill became law on April 25, 2025 (Chapter 178, Acts of the 2025 Regular Session).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits specific food additives deemed unsafe from being used in school nutrition programs in West Virginia, directly affecting schools and meal providers participating in state and federal school feeding initiatives. The legislation explicitly bans butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, and six FD&C food colorings from meals served in schools, while allowing these ingredients in other food products outside of school nutrition programs. The law also updates existing definitions of adulterated food to include these specific additives and exempts minor violations from criminal penalties if the total value of adulterated food sold under $5,000 per month. These changes take effect on August 1, 2025, for school programs and January 1, 2028, for broader food safety provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3181 allows all retired law enforcement officers to purchase firearms without restrictions that previously applied to them. The bill removes a prior ban on retired police and sheriff's department officers buying guns directly. It became effective on July 31, 2025, after being signed by the governor on April 28, 2025. This change directly affects retired officers who now have the same firearm purchasing rights as other state residents.