Rep. Chris Anders

Maddy summaryHB 4895 would create a $2,000 state income tax exemption for each unborn child carried by a West Virginia resident individual, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2027. The exemption applies to any pregnancy at any stage of development that is not aborted, as defined in the bill. This policy reduces taxable income for qualifying residents rather than providing direct cash payments. The bill directly affects West Virginia taxpayers who are pregnant and filing state income taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts state funding for West Virginia school districts when counties cannot collect full property taxes due to court orders, valuation errors, or pending legal cases. It requires the state to increase aid by the amount of lost property tax revenue (e.g., from tax refunds, incorrect valuations, or court delays), but only if the legislature funds the state share adequately. The adjustment also applies to counties receiving payments in lieu of property taxes. This ensures school funding remains stable despite fluctuations in local tax collections.

Maddy summaryHJR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to transfer control of most roads in West Virginia from the state to counties. It would repeal nine existing constitutional amendments related to road funding and management, replacing them with a new Amendment 19. Under this amendment, counties would have exclusive authority over the maintenance and upkeep of all local roads, excluding roads in the National Highway System and designated West Virginia State Highways. The state legislature would still be required to appropriate funds to support county road maintenance through the regular budget process. This amendment must be approved by voters in the 2027 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4715 removes the requirement for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in West Virginia to practice under direct physician supervision. The bill repeals sections §30-3E-10a and §30-3E-11 of the state code, which previously mandated supervision, and amends related provisions to allow these providers to practice independently. This change directly affects licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants who will no longer need a collaborating physician's oversight for their scope of practice. The bill focuses on updating regulatory language to eliminate supervision barriers, without altering prescribing rules or other practice parameters.

Maddy summaryHB 4812, the West Virginia Anti-Federal Commandeering Act, prohibits federal authorities from compelling state or local law enforcement agencies to conduct activities that violate constitutional rights. It defines "commandeering" as federal control of state resources without explicit state authorization and requires such authorization for any federal request. The bill empowers the West Virginia Attorney General to challenge federal actions deemed unconstitutional and to publish model policies for law enforcement. It directly affects all West Virginia law enforcement entities, including local police departments and state agencies, by preventing federal coercion of their personnel or resources. The law aims to protect constitutional rights while allowing cooperation on lawful federal-state law enforcement efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 4764 requires candidates for public office in West Virginia to disclose in their financial disclosure statement whether they owe unpaid city, county, state, or federal taxes. If the disclosure reveals unpaid taxes, the candidate is disqualified from running until those taxes are paid in full. Candidates must file this disclosure within 10 days of announcing their candidacy. This bill directly affects all candidates for elected offices, including local, state, and federal positions, by linking tax compliance to eligibility to run.

Maddy summaryHB 4671 requires West Virginia law enforcement to immediately transfer individuals determined to be in the country without legal immigration status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. For a second offense (if the same person is again found without legal status), the bill classifies it as a felony, mandating 3 to 5 years in state prison before deportation. The bill also prohibits state and local law enforcement from interfering with this process or overriding federal immigration policy. It directly affects individuals without legal immigration status who are apprehended by law enforcement in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4632 requires beekeepers in West Virginia to register their apiaries (beekeeping operations) with the Agriculture Commissioner within 10 days of acquiring bees and renew annually by June 30. It creates liability protection for registered beekeepers who follow state-approved best practices, shielding them from claims related to beekeeping activities (excluding intentional harm or gross negligence). The bill mandates annual inspections for apiaries producing queens or packaged bees, allows limited inspections during reasonable hours with owner permission, and requires the Commissioner to quarantine apiaries with pest outbreaks - reporting quarantine details publicly online within 30 days. These provisions directly affect commercial and hobbyist beekeepers, focusing on registration, safety standards, and pest management.

Maddy summaryHB 4681 would allow West Virginia residents injured by Covid-19 vaccines to sue pharmaceutical companies for damages without limits on the amount they can recover. Currently, drug manufacturers typically avoid liability for vaccine injuries by providing warnings to healthcare providers (the "learned intermediary" rule), but this bill removes that protection specifically for Covid-19 vaccines. The law change would let injured individuals seek full compensation in court for vaccine-related harm. This exception applies only to Covid-19 vaccines and does not affect liability rules for other drugs or medical devices.

Maddy summaryHB 4692 would require West Virginia's legislature to vote on extending a governor's state of emergency (beyond 60 days) or state of preparedness (beyond 30 days), rather than allowing the governor to unilaterally extend these declarations. The bill mandates that if the governor declares a state of emergency, the legislature must convene within 48 hours to decide whether to continue the emergency and which actions to maintain. This directly affects the governor's emergency powers and gives the legislature a formal role in approving extensions of emergency authority. The bill aims to limit the governor's unilateral emergency powers by requiring legislative oversight for continued emergency declarations.