Del. Lisa White

Maddy summaryHB 4685 allows licensed concealed handgun permit holders to carry concealed firearms on West Virginia Capitol grounds and inside the Capitol building. It requires permit holders to show their permit and firearm upon entry if requested, while prohibiting concealed carry in the Governor's office, Supreme Court chambers, and specific areas of the Capitol complex. The bill maintains existing restrictions on open carry, pepper spray over one ounce, and willful damage to Capitol property. It directly affects licensed concealed carry permit holders visiting the Capitol, without changing open carry rules or general firearm laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4673 establishes the West Virginia Bullion Depository, managed by the State Treasurer, to hold physical gold, silver, and other precious metals. It creates "transactional currency" - digital tokens representing specific amounts of deposited gold or silver - that would be recognized as legal tender within West Virginia for paying debts, taxes, or dues. The bill requires deposits of physical bullion or specie (coin), prohibits interest on deposits, exempts holdings from state taxation, and sets up a separate administrative account for fees. It directly affects individuals or businesses depositing precious metals or using the digital tokens for transactions in the state. The bill does not make cryptocurrency itself legal tender but defines digital representations of physical metals as legal tender.

Maddy summaryHB 4678 would amend West Virginia law to allow residents aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, aligning their rights with those of 21+ residents under current law. The bill specifically revises sections §61-7-3 (penalties for carrying without a permit), §61-7-6 (exceptions for 18-20 year olds), and §61-7-7 (prohibited possessors) to remove the age restriction for concealed carry. It maintains existing exceptions (like carrying on personal property, during hunting, or for law enforcement) and prohibitions (such as for those convicted of serious crimes or addicted to controlled substances). The change would directly affect West Virginia residents aged 18-20 who currently require a permit to carry concealed weapons.

Maddy summaryHB 4675, titled "Relating to 'Rain Tax'," would prohibit West Virginia municipalities from charging property owners a fee based on stormwater, runoff, rain, or similar precipitation-related factors. This bill amends state law to remove local governments' authority to impose such fees, directly affecting residential and commercial property owners who might have been charged for these services. The key mechanism is a clear prohibition on assessing any fee tied to precipitation management, replacing existing provisions that allowed stormwater fees under municipal ordinances. This change would require municipalities to find alternative funding methods for stormwater programs but does not specify new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 4665 expands West Virginia's tax deduction for retirement income to include retired law enforcement officers and first responders who worked out-of-state but performed roles equivalent to in-state positions. It modifies the state's tax code to allow these retirees to subtract up to $2,000 annually from their federal adjusted gross income, similar to existing deductions for in-state retirees. The bill requires the Tax Division to verify eligibility and establish a process for storing applicant information. This change directly affects retired police, firefighters, and other first responders who served outside West Virginia but qualify under the bill's defined roles.

Maddy summaryHB 4691 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting. It significantly restricts absentee voting eligibility, allowing only active U.S. military members (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities to cast absentee ballots. This eliminates current absentee categories for reasons like travel, college attendance, employment conflicts, or being a first responder. The bill amends election code sections to remove all other absentee voting options, requiring most voters to cast ballots in person or via paper ballot at polling locations. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election.

Maddy summaryHB 4598 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data starting January 1, 2027. This data will show the reason for and date of each modification to voter records, such as address changes or registration status updates. The bill specifically amends existing law to mandate this addition to the subscription service, which currently provides basic voter list information. It directly affects subscribers who purchase the annual voter data subscription and the Secretary of State's office, which must implement the change.

Maddy summaryHJR 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow local governments (counties, municipalities) to approve additional tax increases specifically for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) with a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) instead of the current 60% requirement for all other tax increases. This change would apply only to levies limited exclusively to fire/EMS funding, with a three-year maximum duration and a cap preventing increases from exceeding 50% above existing tax rates. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and leaves the 60% threshold unchanged for all other tax increases. It does not alter existing tax exemptions or revenue distribution rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4597 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners. It phases in higher exemption amounts: starting at $20,000, rising to $30,000 by 2028, $35,000 by 2030, and fully eliminating property taxes on the first $40,000 of home value by 2032. The exemption applies to homeowners aged 65+ or certified permanently disabled who reside in West Virginia for two consecutive years (with limited exceptions for returning military veterans or short-term out-of-state residents). This change directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden over time.

Maddy summaryHB 4596 prohibits local governments (like cities, counties, and law enforcement agencies) from adopting policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill requires these entities to comply with federal immigration law enforcement or risk losing state funding - specifically, they have 90 days to fix violations after notice, and face funding denial for the next fiscal year if a court rules they intentionally violated the law. It directly affects local jurisdictions that might have previously limited information-sharing or collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to ensure local entities do not obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts through policy.