Del. Chuck Horst

Maddy summaryHB 4149 amends West Virginia law to clarify and limit when conservation officials (like the Division of Natural Resources) may enter private land without a warrant. It directly affects private landowners and conservation officers by adding specific restrictions on entry for surveys, inspections, or enforcement related to wildlife and natural resources. Key provisions include establishing clear limits on entry, defining the process for entering posted private lands, and clarifying rules about using surveillance cameras near such properties. The bill does not change existing conservation authorities but adds procedural safeguards for landowners. It focuses on concrete changes to entry procedures, not broader policy shifts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health evaluations before setting bonds for specific misdemeanor crimes, directly affecting defendants charged with offenses like violent misdemeanors, crimes against minors, drug violations, or property crimes exceeding $250 value. Key provisions mandate judicial officers to consider mental health status when determining bond conditions for these cases, adding it to the list of factors alongside safety concerns and prior criminal history. The law modifies existing bail procedures under West Virginia Code §62-1C-1a to ensure evaluations are conducted prior to bond decisions for the specified offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 4059 requires West Virginia counties and hospitals to report costs related to undocumented immigrants. Counties must disclose quarterly expenses for housing, food, transport, and education for undocumented individuals, including dates, amounts, and purposes. Hospitals must add immigration status questions to patient forms (with privacy assurances) and report quarterly on admission numbers, including those who declined to answer. The Department of Health will compile annual reports on uncompensated care costs for noncitizen patients and submit them to state leaders. This bill focuses solely on data collection, not cost calculation or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4092 requires all new law enforcement officers hired in West Virginia to provide proof of U.S. citizenship as a condition for state certification. The bill applies to all new hires by law enforcement agencies, state institutions, hospitals, or the Public Service Commission, effective upon the law's passage. Existing officers already employed as of the effective date are exempt from this requirement. The bill does not affect commercial vehicle enforcement officers hired before July 1, 2007, who were previously certified under different rules.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead exemption from $20,000 to $50,000. This exemption currently protects the first $20,000 of assessed value on a primary residence (or mobile home) from property taxes for homeowners aged 65 or older, or permanently disabled residents. The change would reduce property taxes for qualifying homeowners by exempting an additional $30,000 of their home's assessed value. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4190 would automatically restore the right to possess firearms and serve on a jury for eligible nonviolent felons in West Virginia upon completion of their sentences, without requiring a court petition. The bill clarifies that petitions for firearm rights may include restoration of jury service rights and specifies who can file such petitions (e.g., individuals with certain nonviolent felony convictions). It also requires the Attorney General to publish public guidance on the process. This change directly affects individuals with prior nonviolent felony convictions who have met the eligibility criteria for automatic restoration.

Maddy summaryHB 4140 allows West Virginia county commissions to post legal advertisements (such as public notices or court-related announcements) on their official websites instead of publishing them in local printed newspapers. This change becomes effective July 1, 2026, and applies directly to county commissions, which would no longer be required to pay for newspaper publication for these notices. The bill modifies existing law to permit this digital alternative while maintaining the requirement that counties already maintain public websites with specific information (like meeting schedules and contact details) as mandated by §7-1-3rr. It does not require counties to switch to online posting but provides them with this option.

Maddy summaryHB 4171 clarifies how sex is classified on original West Virginia birth certificates and establishes requirements for changing sex designation on driver's licenses, ID cards, or instruction permits. The bill directly affects residents seeking to update their gender marker on official state-issued identification documents. It amends existing laws (§16-5-10 and §17B-2-6) to define the process for revising sex designations, though the specific procedural steps are not detailed in the provided text. The legislation focuses on standardizing the administrative process for these changes, without altering birth certificate classification for new births.

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.