Del. Chuck Horst

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals West Virginia's outdated dog tax by removing sections of the state code (§19-20-1, §19-20-2, and §19-20-11) that previously required dog owners to pay a tax. It directly affects dog owners in West Virginia who were subject to this tax under the existing law. The bill eliminates the requirement for dog owners to pay this tax and removes the administrative processes for collecting it. No new provisions or mechanisms are added - only the repeal of the existing tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2400 prohibits election officials from mailing or delivering absentee ballot applications to voters without a specific request. The bill requires that applications only be provided when a voter personally requests them from the county clerk, either in person, by mail, or electronically. Applications must remain available at county clerk offices and online via the Secretary of State’s website. This change directly affects all registered voters in West Virginia by eliminating unsolicited mailings of ballot applications, ensuring they are only sent to those who actively seek them. The bill amends West Virginia Code §3-3-5 to clarify that unsolicited delivery is unlawful.

Maddy summaryHB 3029 requires West Virginia's Board of Education to create and deploy a secure, internet-based "Home School Portal" by August 1, 2026. The portal will allow homeschooling families to electronically submit Notices of Intent (including exemption options) and required reports, while school boards can receive and manage these submissions. Key features include role-based access, secure data handling, mandatory dashboards for both families and boards, and clear labeling of optional information (which cannot be required). The system must work across all 55 counties with a single solution and notify users when submissions are received.

Maddy summaryHB 2405 creates a tax credit for West Virginia residents who homeschool or send children to private schools for primary and secondary education. It provides a credit equal to the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer, regardless of how many children are homeschooled or in private school. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship are excluded from this credit. The State Tax Commissioner must establish rules for claiming the credit, which reduces income tax liability but does not impose new education regulations on homeschooled children.

Maddy summaryHB 2951 exempts the sale of small arms (rifles, shotguns, pistols under specific size limits), small arms ammunition, and related accessories (including optics, holsters, cleaning supplies, and storage devices) from West Virginia's sales and service taxes. It directly affects consumers purchasing these items for personal use, as well as shooting ranges hosting events. The bill defines "small arms accessories" broadly to cover equipment like target systems, scopes, reloading tools, and range gear. This policy change reduces the cost of acquiring firearms and related equipment by removing applicable state taxes. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after being introduced on February 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2959 would repeal West Virginia's existing law (§61-7-9) that prohibited the possession of machine guns. This bill directly affects individuals currently prohibited from owning fully automatic weapons under state law. The key mechanism is the removal of the specific legal prohibition from the state code. If passed, it would eliminate the criminal penalty for possessing machine guns, making their possession lawful under state law. The bill does not create new regulations or exceptions.

Maddy summaryHB 2944 amends West Virginia law to require vehicles with out-of-state license plates parked at a resident's home to be registered within 60 days (down from 90 days), instead of 90 days under current law. It directly affects individuals who park vehicles registered in another state at their West Virginia residence for extended periods. The bill authorizes law enforcement to issue fines for violations of this 60-day registration requirement. This change specifically targets long-term parking of out-of-state vehicles at private residences, excluding certain cases like commuting employees or students with out-of-state residency.

Maddy summaryHB 2962 amends West Virginia law to establish specific procedures for updating sex designation on state-issued identification documents. The bill requires individuals to follow defined steps to change their sex marker on driver's licenses, identification cards, or instruction permits, clarifying the process for revisions. It directly affects residents seeking to update their gender marker on official state IDs, particularly those transitioning or correcting initial documentation. The bill focuses on administrative requirements for ID changes without altering birth certificate issuance procedures for new registrations.

Maddy summaryHB 2868 prohibits counties and municipalities in West Virginia from imposing additional taxes on residential rental properties based on their zoning classification or charging higher rates than owner-occupied homes. This bill directly affects landlords who own rental properties and tenants who pay rent, aiming to reduce costs by ensuring rental properties are taxed at the same rate as homes occupied by owners. Key provisions require all county/municipal property taxes on rentals to match owner-occupied rates and ban extra taxes tied to zoning. The bill does not affect sales or service taxes on rental businesses. Its goal is to make housing more affordable by preventing double taxation of rental properties.

Maddy summaryHB 2817 requires political action committees (PACs) to follow the same detailed reporting rules as candidates for public office regarding independent political spending. Specifically, it mandates that PACs disclose contributors' names, addresses, occupations, and employers for all contributions over $1,000 annually, and file immediate reports within 24 hours for large expenditures (over $5,000 for statewide/legislative races or $500 for local races) made within 12 hours of an election. The Secretary of State must compile and publish these reports by candidate before elections to increase transparency. This bill directly affects PACs, independent spending groups, and their contributors by standardizing disclosure requirements across campaign finance activities.