Del. Larry Kump

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.

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 2431, the "Fourth Amendment Restoration Act," bans West Virginia law enforcement officers and local government officials from using specific surveillance and AI technologies without a warrant. It prohibits real-time security monitoring, facial recognition, license plate readers, surveillance drones, and other listed tools, calling their unregulated use "inherently unreasonable and unconstitutional." Violators face felony charges with penalties of at least one year in prison and $10,000 fines per violation. The bill also allows individuals harmed by unauthorized use to sue for damages and requires immediate discontinuation of any existing use of these technologies.

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 2463 would establish gold, silver bullion, and physical coins (specie) as legal tender in West Virginia, alongside creating a state-run West Virginia Bullion Depository managed by the State Treasurer. The depository would allow residents and businesses to deposit precious metals, receive digital "transactional currency" (backed 1:1 by physical metals), and use these as payment for debts within the state. It prohibits interest on deposits, exempts depository assets from state taxes, and requires the Treasurer to maintain metals in trust for account holders. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents, businesses, and financial institutions engaging in transactions using precious metals or the new digital currency. (Note: The bill does not include cryptocurrency as legal tender, despite the title's phrasing.)

Maddy summaryHB 2464 would establish the State Bank of West Virginia within the State Treasurer’s Office to securely hold precious metals (like gold, silver, and bullion) owned by the state, its agencies, or political subdivisions. The bank would function as a custodian, tracking deposits, managing transactions, and requiring strict record-keeping, but would not pay interest or provide banking services to the public. Only state entities, authorized agents, or designated political subdivisions could open accounts, and the Treasurer would appoint an Administrator to oversee operations. This bill creates a new state-run custody system for precious metals, not a commercial bank.

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 2525 requires all West Virginia public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, include the exact biblical text listed in the bill (including the full wording from "I AM the LORD thy God" to "nor anything that is thy neighbor's"), and be visible from anywhere in the classroom. Schools must accept private donations meeting these specifications if they lack compliant displays, and may replace non-compliant existing displays using public funds or donations. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools in West Virginia, mandating a specific religious text in every classroom.

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 summaryHJR 2 proposes adding Article XV to West Virginia's Constitution, reserving to registered voters the powers of initiative, referendum, and recall. It would allow citizens to directly propose laws or constitutional amendments through petitions (initiative), vote to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature (referendum), and remove elected officials (recall). The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to advance and would be submitted to voters in the 2028 general election for ratification. If approved, it would amend Articles VI (Legislature) and XIV (Amendments) to clarify these citizen powers as a core part of the state's governance structure.