Rep. Chris Anders

Maddy summaryHB 5041 requires West Virginia electricity providers to give all residential, business, and rental unit customers the choice between installing a "smart meter" or a manual meter. The manual meter must be read manually, contain no battery, and not emit an electromagnetic signal. Utilities must offer this choice without charging extra fees, while clarifying that normal electricity flow through any meter does not count as an electromagnetic signal under the law. This bill directly affects every electricity customer in West Virginia who currently has a smart meter installed.

Maddy summaryHB 5036 prohibits West Virginia courts and agencies from enforcing any legal system not created through the state legislature, Congress, or recognized common law. It makes contracts, arbitration agreements, or private adjudication unenforceable if they violate constitutional rights, deny court access, or restrict due process. The bill specifically bars recognition of family law decisions (like custody or inheritance) based on unauthorized legal systems and creates a private legal remedy for people harmed by such enforcement. It explicitly preserves private religious practices and compliant arbitration while targeting "parallel legal systems" that bypass democratic legislative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 5032, titled "Prevention of data center collection of citizen data," creates the Citizens' Data Center Transparency Act. It prohibits West Virginia data centers from facilitating warrantless collection of personal data by federal agencies (like the NSA) or others in ways violating the Fourth Amendment or West Virginia’s Constitution. The bill requires data center operators to annually report to the Joint Standing Committee on Technology and Infrastructure the types and amounts of data collected, how it’s used, and who the data is shared with (including government agencies or nonprofits). This law directly affects data center operators in West Virginia and aims to increase transparency around data handling practices.

Maddy summaryHB 5007 would create a state income tax exemption for West Virginia residents who pay for gym memberships at gyms located within the state. The bill allows taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by $60 per month, capped at $720 annually for gym membership costs. It directly affects individual taxpayers who maintain gym memberships at in-state facilities and would lower their state income tax liability. The policy change is limited to qualifying gym memberships purchased within West Virginia, with no additional eligibility requirements specified.

Maddy summaryHB 5000 prohibits public school employees from using school resources (like facilities, equipment, or time during work hours) for election advocacy or political activities. It specifically bans school staff from engaging in political activity while on duty or acting on behalf of the school administration. The bill directly affects all public school employees in West Virginia, restricting their political conduct during work hours and preventing the use of school assets for election-related efforts. This is a policy restriction, not a new program or funding measure.

Maddy summaryHB 5013 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to create a formula for distributing road funds among counties. It mandates setting aside 20% of the state road fund to reimburse counties for local funds spent on feeder and state local roads (like county-maintained roads), with reimbursements distributed either on a matching basis or proportionally if requests exceed the allocated amount. The remaining 80% of funds must be allocated for road maintenance and construction based on road types (paved, gravel, or unimproved) and unimproved road mileage. The formula must consider specific factors and be submitted to the Legislature for approval, with public meetings required to gather input on the distribution method.

Maddy summaryHB 4948 would require new data center construction or establishment in West Virginia to maintain a minimum 500-foot buffer zone from residences, schools, or houses of worship. This rule applies to planning and building new facilities, directly affecting developers seeking to locate data centers near these sensitive locations. The bill does not apply to existing data centers but sets a new siting standard for future projects. It aims to balance data center development with community proximity concerns without altering operational requirements for current facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4914, the West Virginia Education Freedom and Parental Empowerment Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) funded by federal block grants to give parents direct control over K-12 education spending. It requires state funds to be allocated equally per student into parent-controlled accounts, usable for tuition at private/charter schools, tutoring, materials, and other qualified educational expenses. The bill dissolves the State Board of Education’s regulatory powers over K-12 education, limiting it to only transferring federal funds to the State Treasurer, who administers the program and tracks spending. This directly affects all West Virginia K-12 students and their families by shifting educational funding and decision-making from state authorities to parents.

Maddy summaryHB 4921 prohibits federal agents or employees from enforcing federal firearms laws in West Virginia without specific congressional approval or due process. It makes such attempts a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 fines or one year in jail, enforced by the West Virginia Attorney General. The bill directly affects federal officials attempting to compel state law enforcement to implement federal gun regulations. Its key provision blocks federal "commandeering" of state resources for firearms enforcement, aiming to prevent federal overreach under the guise of existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4908 requires a criminal conviction before any property can be taken through asset forfeiture in West Virginia. This bill directly affects individuals whose property might otherwise be seized under civil forfeiture laws without a criminal conviction. Key provisions include eliminating civil asset forfeiture, mandating a guilty verdict for property seizure, requiring notice to all owners, and protecting innocent owners who didn't know their property was used in crime. The bill replaces current civil forfeiture procedures with a criminal conviction requirement for all property seizures.