Rep. Chris Anders

Maddy summaryHB 3075 prohibits counties and municipalities in West Virginia from imposing higher property taxes on residential rental properties than on owner-occupied homes, directly affecting landlords and tenants by aiming to keep rents affordable. The bill requires that all county/municipal property taxes on rental properties match the rate for owner-occupied housing (§11A-5-2(a)) and bans additional taxes based on zoning (§11A-5-2(b)). It explicitly states this does not change existing sales or service taxes for rental businesses (§11A-5-2(c)). The legislation targets a specific tax practice to reduce costs for tenants without altering other tax categories.

Maddy summaryHB 3074 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to include "change audit data" in the existing $1,000 annual subscription service for voter registration data. This data shows monthly changes to voter records (like additions, deletions, or address updates) as a "delta" from the previous month. The bill directly affects organizations and individuals who purchase this subscription for noncommercial purposes, such as election monitoring or research. The Secretary must provide this data within 30 days via a secure digital platform, making it part of the standard subscription package. The change does not alter subscription fees or eligibility but adds transparency about voter record modifications.

Maddy summaryHB 3055 requires West Virginia's Public Service Commission to hold hearings on rate adjustment requests from public electrical utilities and issue recommendations to the Legislature, shifting final approval authority from the Commission to the Legislature. This bill directly affects public electrical utilities, which must now seek legislative approval for rate changes instead of direct Commission approval. The key mechanism changes the Commission's role from decision-maker to advisory body, mandating it to review rate requests and forward recommendations to lawmakers for their final decision. This policy change alters the regulatory process for utility rates without altering the Commission's existing duties to ensure fair rates and service reliability.

Maddy summaryHJR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment to recognize the Holy Bible (including all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) as the "divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document" for West Virginia society and government. If approved, it would require the Bible to be given "a place of prominence and reverence" in state public buildings, laws, policies, and schools. This is a procedural resolution seeking voter approval in the 2026 general election to add the amendment to the state constitution, not an immediate policy change. The bill does not alter current laws but aims to establish constitutional recognition of the Bible as the state's moral and historical foundation.

Maddy summaryHB 2478 clarifies eligibility rules for West Virginia's HOPE Scholarship Program, directly affecting students seeking to use the scholarship. It updates the definition of an "eligible recipient" to specify that students must be enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public school for at least 45 days during an instructional term (or meet specific kindergarten enrollment criteria), with an exception for kindergarten students if the program's participation rate remains below 5% of public school enrollment. The change would take effect July 1, 2026, allowing kindergarten-eligible students to qualify without full-term enrollment if participation is low. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or funding but streamlines eligibility criteria. This is a substantive policy clarification, not a procedural change.

Maddy summaryHB 2994, the Public Electrical Savings Act, establishes rules for public entities (like schools or government buildings) entering into solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private providers. It requires these agreements to guarantee customers a lower cost per kilowatt-hour than the local utility's rate, limits contracts to five years (with renewal), and mandates 48-hour backup power storage during outages. The bill also caps total solar capacity at 3% of a utility's annual peak demand and sets individual limits: 50kW for residential, 1,000kW for commercial, and 2,000kW for industrial facilities. Utilities must respond within 30 days to PPA requests regarding capacity limits, or the agreement proceeds as if limits weren't reached. This directly affects public entities seeking solar partnerships and solar providers offering such agreements in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2995 replaces West Virginia's air pollution control code with the "Fueling Modern Life Act," declaring carbon dioxide a foundational nutrient for life and prohibiting its treatment as a pollutant. The bill bans state efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including "net-zero" targets, and requires state support for carbon-based fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. It directly affects state environmental agencies, fossil fuel businesses, and regulatory processes by eliminating all existing air pollution provisions related to CO2. The law would remove 21 existing sections of state code and establish new policy that prioritizes fossil fuel use over emission reduction. This is a procedural change to state law, not a new environmental regulation.

Maddy summaryHB 2951 exempts the sale of small arms (rifles, shotguns, pistols under specific size limits), small arms ammunition, and related accessories (including optics, holsters, cleaning supplies, and storage devices) from West Virginia's sales and service taxes. It directly affects consumers purchasing these items for personal use, as well as shooting ranges hosting events. The bill defines "small arms accessories" broadly to cover equipment like target systems, scopes, reloading tools, and range gear. This policy change reduces the cost of acquiring firearms and related equipment by removing applicable state taxes. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after being introduced on February 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2954 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine side effects and injuries to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that professionals administering vaccines receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill creates a public reporting mechanism allowing individuals, including parents, to submit vaccine-related concerns directly to the Bureau. The Bureau must then produce an annual report for the West Virginia Legislature summarizing this data. This legislation directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and parents by expanding vaccine safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2974, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," declares federal regulations on intrastate firearm sales within West Virginia invalid, prohibiting state officials from enforcing such rules. It imposes $50,000 civil penalties for violations and requires the West Virginia Attorney General to defend residents facing federal charges over intrastate firearm transactions or prosecute federal agents who enforce prohibited regulations. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents engaging in local firearm sales, law enforcement, and federal agencies like the ATF operating within the state. It explicitly states that federal laws restricting intrastate firearm transfers violate both the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions.