Del. Lisa White

Maddy summaryHB 4931 prohibits West Virginia from creating or maintaining any registry of firearm owners or firearms within the state. It bans state agencies, federal entities operating in West Virginia (like ATF contractors), and private actors from compiling or storing such records - both physical and electronic. Violators face civil penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, with funds directed to a Second Amendment Defense Fund for legal challenges. The law applies immediately upon passage and targets registry systems, not firearm ownership or sales.

Maddy summaryHB 4866 creates the West Virginia Public Participation Protection Act, which establishes a legal process to quickly dismiss lawsuits targeting protected public speech. The bill allows defendants to file a "special motion to dismiss" within 60 days if a lawsuit claims to be based on free speech, petitioning government, association on public issues, digital expression (like social media), consumer reviews, or information gathering for expressive works. If the motion is filed, all court proceedings automatically pause until the court rules, and the plaintiff must prove they have a strong case to win. This applies to all pending and future cases involving public concern issues, but excludes state enforcement actions and pure contract disputes without public interest.

Maddy summaryHB 4895 would create a $2,000 state income tax exemption for each unborn child carried by a West Virginia resident individual, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2027. The exemption applies to any pregnancy at any stage of development that is not aborted, as defined in the bill. This policy reduces taxable income for qualifying residents rather than providing direct cash payments. The bill directly affects West Virginia taxpayers who are pregnant and filing state income taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 4715 removes the requirement for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in West Virginia to practice under direct physician supervision. The bill repeals sections §30-3E-10a and §30-3E-11 of the state code, which previously mandated supervision, and amends related provisions to allow these providers to practice independently. This change directly affects licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants who will no longer need a collaborating physician's oversight for their scope of practice. The bill focuses on updating regulatory language to eliminate supervision barriers, without altering prescribing rules or other practice parameters.

Maddy summaryHB 4764 requires candidates for public office in West Virginia to disclose in their financial disclosure statement whether they owe unpaid city, county, state, or federal taxes. If the disclosure reveals unpaid taxes, the candidate is disqualified from running until those taxes are paid in full. Candidates must file this disclosure within 10 days of announcing their candidacy. This bill directly affects all candidates for elected offices, including local, state, and federal positions, by linking tax compliance to eligibility to run.

Maddy summaryHB 4729 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to issue state tax identification numbers to businesses during registration, replacing the current process handled by the State Tax Department. This affects all new and existing businesses registering in West Virginia, as they would receive their tax ID number directly from the Secretary of State's office after July 1, 2026. The bill creates a "one-stop" online portal for businesses to handle permits, fees, and tax-related filings (though not tax payments or returns), with the Secretary of State coordinating with the Tax Department to obtain and issue the tax IDs. The change streamlines business registration by centralizing this step under the Secretary of State’s office.

Maddy summaryHB 4726 requires West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources to prioritize housing applications for foster youth who have turned 18 and are transitioning out of foster care, specifically for those who do not qualify for existing transitional living services. The bill mandates that the department give priority to these young adults for government-assisted housing programs, such as HUD, to improve housing stability during their transition to independence. It directly affects foster youth aged 18 and older leaving the system without qualifying for transitional living placements under current law. This policy change focuses on concrete housing access, not broader outcomes or advocacy.

Maddy summaryHB 4719 repeals all West Virginia laws requiring mandatory state inspections of motor vehicles. The bill eliminates the requirement for vehicle owners to obtain annual safety or emissions inspections and removes related enforcement mechanisms, such as penalties for operating without a certificate. It directly affects all vehicle owners in West Virginia who previously needed to comply with these inspections. The bill removes specific sections of the law that governed inspection stations, fees, and consequences for non-compliance. This is a straightforward repeal of existing inspection requirements with no new provisions added.

Maddy summaryHB 4671 requires West Virginia law enforcement to immediately transfer individuals determined to be in the country without legal immigration status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. For a second offense (if the same person is again found without legal status), the bill classifies it as a felony, mandating 3 to 5 years in state prison before deportation. The bill also prohibits state and local law enforcement from interfering with this process or overriding federal immigration policy. It directly affects individuals without legal immigration status who are apprehended by law enforcement in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4711 requires West Virginia municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - like backyard cottages or converted garages - on single-family residential lots "by right," meaning without special permits, hearings, or variances. It prohibits municipalities from imposing restrictions such as extra parking requirements, design matching rules, occupancy mandates, impact fees, or stricter building standards for ADUs than for primary homes. The bill directly affects homeowners seeking to create ADUs and municipalities, which must revise zoning rules by January 1, 2027, to comply. It allows municipalities to charge a $250 one-time application fee but does not override building or safety codes. The law aims to increase housing options by simplifying ADU creation.