Del. Chuck Horst

Maddy summaryHB 3303 would expand the authority of bail bond enforcers (often called bounty hunters) in West Virginia to apprehend defendants for specific serious offenses, including drug trafficking near schools, violent assaults, stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The bill requires enforcers to give law enforcement at least four hours' notice before apprehension and to deliver defendants to court or police within 24 hours. It also mandates the Secretary of State to publish a list of registered enforcers and clarifies prohibited conduct. The bill directly affects defendants charged with the listed offenses and the bail bond industry, but does not apply to all criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 3308 terminates West Virginia's Health Care Authority's certificate of need program, which previously required health care facilities to seek state approval before expanding services. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health providers that previously needed certificate approvals for new services or expansions. The bill repeals all related statutes, transfers the Authority's remaining powers, assets, records, and employees to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and moves funds to the general revenue fund. It also establishes a new summary review process for certain behavioral health services to meet federal Medicaid waiver requirements, but eliminates the broader certificate of need requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 3219 would allow certain nonviolent offenders, including those convicted of specific drug offenses currently classified as violent under West Virginia law, to carry firearms. The bill amends §61-7-7 by removing the requirement that these drug offenses (listed in §60A-4-401-403 and §60A-4-409-417) be treated as violent, thereby eliminating the five-year waiting period for reinstating firearm rights after release from incarceration. This change would directly affect individuals with past nonviolent drug convictions who are currently barred from possessing firearms under current law. The bill also clarifies that law enforcement may not infringe on the right to bear arms for nonprohibited individuals over 21 years old.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 would allow K-12 teachers in West Virginia who hold valid concealed handgun permits to carry concealed firearms on school grounds when designated as "school protection officers" by their school. The bill amends state law to create this exception, explicitly permitting teachers (but not all staff) to carry concealed weapons as part of their role, provided they meet standard concealed carry requirements. This changes existing rules that generally prohibit firearms on school premises, except for specific exemptions like law enforcement. The bill is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee after initial referral to Education.

Maddy summaryHB 3122 would allow paid firefighters in West Virginia to work 48-hour shifts with majority department approval, replacing the current limit of 112 hours in a 14-day period. Firefighters could choose 48-hour shifts but must take at least 96 hours off afterward, and shifts exceeding 48 hours would only be permitted during emergencies requiring over half the department's service. This bill directly affects all paid firefighters in West Virginia fire departments by changing their allowable shift duration and rest requirements. The change aims to provide more flexible scheduling while maintaining safety standards through the emergency exception and mandatory rest period.

Maddy summaryHB 3238 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots exclusively and restricts absentee voting eligibility to only active U.S. military members (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities. The bill eliminates current absentee categories, including voters traveling for work or education, college students, first responders, and those using emergency absentee ballots. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election and applies to all subsequent primary and general elections. This change directly affects most voters who currently qualify for absentee voting by mail or in person. The legislation removes provisions allowing absentee voting for reasons like medical confinement, incarceration (non-felony), or remote work.

Maddy summaryHB 2437 clarifies enhanced penalties for crimes involving fentanyl, specifically targeting individuals convicted of possessing, delivering, or manufacturing fentanyl as a Schedule II substance. It increases penalties for these offenses: a $50,000 fine or 3-15 years in prison (instead of the standard $25,000 fine or 1-15 years), directly affecting those convicted of fentanyl-related crimes. The bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly state these higher penalties when fentanyl - alone or mixed with other substances - is the Schedule II controlled substance involved. It does not change penalties for other drugs or create new offenses, only clarifying existing sentencing for fentanyl cases. The bill passed the House on March 5, 2025, and is now pending in the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 2139 exempts cash tips received by West Virginia residents from the state's personal income tax. It directly affects workers who earn cash tips, such as servers and bartenders, by removing tax liability on that specific income. The bill adds a new section (§11-21-12o) to the tax code, explicitly stating that cash tips from any source are not subject to state income tax. This policy change provides a direct tax benefit to individuals whose income includes cash tips.

Maddy summaryHB 2683 prohibits the use of ranked choice voting for all local, state, and federal elections in West Virginia. The bill defines ranked choice voting as a system where voters rank candidates by preference, with votes redistributed in rounds if no candidate wins a majority. It declares any election using this method invalid and prevents officials from being sworn into office based on such results. The prohibition does not apply to internal political party processes like conventions or party officer elections.

Maddy summaryHB 3165, the Streaming Rights and Equality Act, sets maximum fees for streaming high school sports in West Virginia: $250 per football game and $100 for other sports, with annual increases capped at 5%. It requires publicly funded high schools to allow West Virginia-based streaming producers to broadcast events at these rates, ensuring equal access statewide. The bill mandates that schools cannot deny local producers access to regular-season or playoff games if fees are paid, and requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to make championship events available to local producers under the same terms as regular season. Violations incur penalties, including double the streaming fee for non-compliance or failure to provide required on-camera oversight during events.