Del. Bob Fehrenbacher

Maddy summaryI notice a significant discrepancy in the information provided. The bill title states "Productive Energy Site Reclamation Waiver," but the bill text describes a "Consumer Data Protection Act" that establishes privacy standards for personal data processing. The actual content of the bill focuses on: - Creating a framework for controlling and processing personal data in West Virginia - Establishing consumer rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of data processing - Defining terms like "consumer," "controller," and "biometric data" - Setting requirements for businesses that control or process data for 100,000+ consumers or derive revenue from data sales This appears to be a mismatch between the stated title and the actual content of the bill. The bill text describes a consumer data protection law, not an energy site reclamation waiver.

Maddy summaryHB 3410 establishes new rules for regulating power generation facilities and their property taxation in West Virginia. It creates a "certified microgrid program" with specific qualification requirements for microgrid operators, including minimum service terms, and sets methods for property taxation in certified microgrid districts. The bill also defines "high impact business development districts" where electricity generation must be certified, limits the number of such districts, and requires Public Service Commission approval for special utility rates for eligible customers. These changes directly affect power generation facilities, business development districts, and microgrid operators seeking certification under the new framework.

Maddy summaryHB 3378 establishes a legal expectation of privacy in West Virginia legislators' private offices within the State Capitol or official legislative spaces. It makes it illegal for anyone - including staff, visitors, or journalists - to record audio, video, or electronic communications without the legislator’s prior consent, or to install surveillance devices without written permission. Exceptions include security measures by Capitol personnel, recordings with explicit consent, and court-authorized surveillance. Violating this law would be a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill directly affects legislators, their staff, and anyone entering legislative offices.

Maddy summaryHB 2934 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to prioritize housing applications (like HUD or government-assisted housing) for youth aging out of foster care who have turned 18 and do not qualify for transitional living services. The bill amends §49-2-129 to mandate that housing search policies ensure dwellings are safe, affordable, and equipped for basic needs like cooking and emergency communication. It directly affects foster youth aged 18+ transitioning to independent living, who often face housing instability. The key mechanism is the new priority system for housing applications, replacing previous eligibility criteria for this vulnerable group.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 3323) requires healthcare providers, law enforcement, and emergency responders to report overdose data within 24 hours to the Office of Drug Control Policy. The collected data will populate a public dashboard tracking non-fatal and fatal overdoses, opioid antagonist use, drug types, and treatment outcomes - including location, demographics, and trends - to inform resource allocation and program effectiveness. It does not expand diversion programs to include felonies, as mistakenly implied in the title; the actual provisions focus solely on overdose reporting and data transparency. The bill mandates a daily-updated public dashboard with visualizations, including overdose hotspots and medication-assisted treatment coordination. This policy change directly affects hospitals, first responders, and law enforcement agencies by requiring standardized data reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 3214, the Mountain Homes Act, creates a state-funded program to support housing construction for workers in West Virginia. It establishes the Mountain Homes Fund, which provides loan guarantees to eligible business entities (like developers or private partners) to finance housing projects. To access funds, applicants must submit detailed applications meeting specific criteria, and projects must align with the fund's purpose of addressing housing needs for the workforce as the state's economy diversifies. The Department of Economic Development administers the program, requires annual reporting to the Governor and legislature, and prohibits use of funds for certain purposes like luxury housing.

Maddy summaryHB 3239 establishes the West Virginia Tri-Share Child-Care Assistance Program to help families who do not qualify for existing state child-care subsidies. The program requires employers (with 20+ weeks of employees) to contribute toward child-care costs for their employees, while the state matches those contributions up to 100% using funds administered by the Department of Economic Development. Eligible employees must have household income below the state median, and the state match is paid directly to child-care facilities, not employees. This program fills gaps in current state subsidies by creating a public-private partnership where employers, the state, and employees share costs for child-care services.

Maddy summaryHB 2690, the Dental Insurance Transparency Act, requires dental insurance carriers in West Virginia to publicly report how much of collected premiums are spent on actual patient care versus administrative costs. Carriers must file annual reports with the Insurance Commissioner detailing medical loss ratios (MLRs), similar to federal standards, including enrollment data, cost-sharing details, and coverage limits. If a carrier spends less than 80% of premium funds on patient care (the MLR threshold), they must issue rebates to policyholders as reduced premiums. The law also mandates transparency around payment methods, requiring carriers to notify providers of fees for electronic payments and offer fee-free alternatives. These reports will be summarized and made publicly available yearly by the commissioner.

Maddy summaryHB 2785 requires dental insurance carriers in West Virginia to publicly report how much of collected premiums are spent on actual dental care versus administrative costs, using a "dental loss ratio" (DLR) calculation. If a carrier’s DLR falls below 80% (the minimum threshold), they must issue rebates to enrollees for excess premiums collected. The bill mandates annual reports detailing premium spending, enrollee data, and coverage limits, with findings made searchable on a public state website by January 1 each year. This directly affects private dental insurance companies (excluding Medicaid/CHIP plans) and their enrollees by increasing transparency and financial accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 3034 establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program to provide financial aid for child-care workers pursuing degrees in early childhood education at state community colleges. The program targets workers at eligible facilities (caring for six or more children) and requires recipients to work in West Virginia child-care settings for at least two years after graduation. Administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, it aims to address staffing shortages in child-care by making higher education more accessible. The bill mandates annual reporting on program outcomes to track its impact on workforce participation and child-care quality.