Del. Chris Anders

Maddy summaryHB 3298 prohibits West Virginia colleges and universities from requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot to enroll in or attend in-person classes. This law directly affects students at these institutions by removing vaccination as a mandatory condition for in-person education. The key provision adds a new section to state law (§18B-14-12) that bans such requirements, making it illegal for any college or university in West Virginia to impose them. The bill does not change other health policies or apply to remote learning options.

Maddy summaryHB 3171, the "Citizen and State Accountability Act," requires state and local government agencies to seek the Governor's approval before accepting certain grants. For grants over $1 million (defined as "major grants"), agencies must submit a detailed 60-day analysis covering costs, policy impacts, and compliance requirements to the Governor and a fiscal office. For smaller grants ($1 million or less, "minor grants"), agencies must notify the Governor one week before applying. The bill mandates public reporting of all grant applications and requires the Governor to provide written consent for major grants or block minor grants entirely, with all grant details recorded in a public database.

Maddy summaryHB 3238 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots exclusively and restricts absentee voting eligibility to only active U.S. military members (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities. The bill eliminates current absentee categories, including voters traveling for work or education, college students, first responders, and those using emergency absentee ballots. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election and applies to all subsequent primary and general elections. This change directly affects most voters who currently qualify for absentee voting by mail or in person. The legislation removes provisions allowing absentee voting for reasons like medical confinement, incarceration (non-felony), or remote work.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how election fraud cases are handled in West Virginia. Currently, the Secretary of State reports potential election fraud to local county prosecutors. Under this bill, if a county prosecutor declines to prosecute after 60 days, the Secretary of State must refer the case to the state Attorney General instead. This directly affects the Secretary of State, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General by shifting the referral pathway for election fraud investigations. The key change is the 60-day review period before cases can be escalated to the state level.

Maddy summaryHB 3204 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to verify that voters live at the physical address listed on their registration records. This applies directly to all registered voters in the state, ensuring their address information matches their actual residence. The bill mandates the Secretary of State implement a process to confirm voter addresses, either directly or through authorized third parties, to prevent registration inaccuracies. It does not change penalties for false registration but adds this verification step to the existing voter registration system.

Maddy summaryHB 3205, the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act," creates a special legal process to quickly dismiss lawsuits targeting protected speech. It applies when someone is sued for expressing views on public issues (like in government proceedings or matters of public concern), directly affecting individuals, journalists, activists, or organizations facing such lawsuits. Key mechanisms include a 60-day deadline for defendants to file a motion to dismiss, an automatic stay of all other court proceedings during the motion, and expedited hearings. The law excludes cases involving government officials acting in their official capacity or threats to public health/safety.

Maddy summaryHB 3202 establishes a process for recalling county commissioners and county board of education members in West Virginia. It requires petitions with handwritten signatures from at least 10% of qualified voters to initiate a recall, and at least 20% to hold a vote on the recall. If approved, a special election would be held to decide whether the official is removed, with no more than one recall election allowed per term. The bill directly affects county elected officials and provides voters with a mechanism to remove them before their term ends.

Maddy summaryHCR 49 is a West Virginia legislative resolution (not a bill) requesting the Maryland General Assembly reject proposed changes to the North Branch Potomac River's water classification. It argues that designating the river as "Cold Water Aquatic Life" (instead of "Warm Water") would require West Virginia industrial facilities to install costly thermal controls like cooling towers to meet stricter discharge standards, imposing unnecessary costs. The resolution claims this would violate the U.S. Constitution's dormant commerce clause by unduly burdening interstate commerce, citing Supreme Court precedents like *Sporhase v. Nebraska*. It asks Maryland to withdraw the proposal and directs West Virginia's Attorney General to investigate the constitutional issues. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law affecting policy changes.)

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (HJR 34) proposes changing West Virginia's constitution to give the legislature greater flexibility in taxing tangible personal property. It would allow the legislature to exempt specific property types (like motor vehicles) from ad valorem tax, reduce tax rates for certain items, set different tax rates for different property categories, or classify property as real vs. personal for tax purposes. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to take effect. It does not enact a specific tax reduction but creates a constitutional framework for future legislative action on property taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for adopted adults in West Virginia and their children or grandchildren to request their original birth certificates from the State Registrar. It requires a written request and sworn affidavit of paternity or adoption, while keeping adoption records sealed from public view. The original birth certificate would be provided to eligible individuals, with adoption documents remaining confidential except for court orders, vital statistics administration, or specific legal proceedings. This changes current policy by creating a formal pathway for access to birth records that were previously restricted.