Rep. Chris Anders

Maddy summaryHB 4680 prohibits state emergency orders from restricting religious gatherings, travel to places of worship, or imposing penalties on religious institutions during a declared state of emergency. It directly affects churches and religious organizations by ensuring their services cannot be shut down under emergency powers. The bill creates a legal right for religious institutions to sue if harmed by violations, with a two-year deadline to file claims for damages, attorney fees, and other relief. It applies immediately upon passage and requires the governor's emergency orders to comply with these protections.

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 4679 prohibits West Virginia counties, towns, and municipalities from using taxpayer funds to hire lobbyists who represent them at the state level. The bill adds new sections to state law (§7-28-1, §7A-9-1, and §8-40-1) explicitly banning local governments from paying for lobbying services using tax revenue. It directly affects all county commissions, consolidated local governments, and municipal corporations across the state. The key provision prevents local entities from using public money to influence state legislation through lobbying efforts. This is a direct policy change limiting how local governments may engage with state lawmakers.

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 4674 prohibits the use or sale of "abortifacients" (defined as drugs requiring an FDA prescription or primarily used to cause abortion) in West Virginia. It directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and individuals who mail or prescribe such drugs within the state, with criminal penalties for violations. The bill creates a private right to sue for damages if someone violates the prohibition and defines "medical emergency" narrowly to exclude psychological conditions. Key mechanisms include strict definitions of terms like "abortifacient" and "abortion," and it explicitly excludes exceptions for miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancies.

Maddy summaryHB 4677 would amend West Virginia law (§20-7-4) to require natural resources police officers to obtain either a landowner's consent or a warrant before entering private property for enforcement purposes. This change directly affects landowners and DNR officers, altering current authority to enter private lands. Key provisions include adding this requirement to the officer's duties while maintaining exceptions for emergencies involving imminent threats to public safety or accidents. The bill does not change officers' existing authority to enter state-owned lands or enforce laws on public waters.

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.