Del. Jonathan Pinson

Maddy summaryHB 2776 requires the West Virginia Department of Health to add alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy triggered by tick bites) to the list of diseases mandating reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bill directly affects the Department of Health, which must propose new rules to include alpha-gal syndrome in statewide reporting protocols. The key mechanism is amending existing public health reporting requirements under West Virginia Code §16-1-4 to expand the list of reportable conditions. This change would ensure healthcare providers’ positive alpha-gal test results are systematically shared with the CDC for public health monitoring.

Maddy summaryHCR 100 is a non-binding request to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study hospital pricing transparency and cooperative agreements in West Virginia. The resolution asks the committee to examine current hospital price disclosure requirements, compliance with transparency laws, hospital mergers' impact on pricing, and the role of federal oversight agencies. This study will assess whether current policies foster competition, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes. The committee is required to report findings and potential legislative recommendations to the Legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryHCR 99 is a legislative resolution requesting the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary to study policies preventing financial fraud and scams in West Virginia. It directs the committee to examine current state laws, review national approaches, and focus on four key areas: reducing robocalls and spoofing, addressing cryptocurrency-related scams (noting $1.4 million in losses in 2023), improving victim restitution, and protecting against property title fraud. The resolution cites data showing 8,000 West Virginians lost $27 million to fraud in 2024, with national losses exceeding $12.5 billion. The committee must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, governor, and attorney general by December 31, 2025. This is a study resolution, not a law, and does not create immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHCR 88 is a ceremonial resolution honoring two West Virginia first responders nominated for the Medal of Valor. It specifically recognizes Captain Donald Lawson (New Martinsville Police) for rescuing two people from carbon monoxide poisoning despite his own hospitalization, and Darrell Lambert (Lake Volunteer Firefighter) for entering a burning building without protective gear to save a trapped resident, sustaining burns in the process. The resolution formally confirms the Legislature's approval of their award and directs the House Clerk to send a copy to Governor Morrisey. This is a symbolic honor with no new policy or funding changes, directly affecting only these two nominees. It passed unanimously in both chambers on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly include federal correctional facilities within the definition of "correctional facilities" for existing laws against smuggling contraband. It makes it illegal to deliver weapons, drugs, alcohol, escape tools, dangerous materials, or telecommunications devices into federal prisons in West Virginia without authorization, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to $500 fines and 1 year in jail) to felonies (up to 10 years in prison). The law directly affects individuals who attempt to smuggle such items into federal correctional institutions within the state, including visitors, staff, or outsiders. It expands existing state penalties - previously limited to state facilities - to cover federal prisons, without creating new exemptions or altering inmate rights.

Maddy summaryHB 2027 updates West Virginia's foster care laws by clarifying when a child can be temporarily or permanently removed from a foster home. It requires the Department of Health and Human Resources to investigate abuse/neglect allegations before removing children, and mandates that foster placements lasting over 18 months (or 50% of a child’s life) cannot be terminated without specific justification - such as parental rights ending, sibling reunification, or a child aged 14+ requesting it. The bill also requires the department to notify foster/adoptive parents about available siblings within 90 days to promote placement together, while allowing court-approved separation if reunification would harm a child. This directly affects foster children, foster parents, and the department, focusing on stability and family connections.

Maddy summaryHB 3013 requires movie theater chains operating six or more theaters across multiple locations in West Virginia to provide open captioning for at least two weekly showings of films that include open captioning in their production. It also mandates that theaters offer audio description upon request for films that feature audio description. The law excludes drive-in theaters and prohibits requiring new equipment purchases if it would create an undue financial burden on theaters. This bill directly affects larger theater chains and aims to improve accessibility for deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, and low-vision patrons.

Maddy summaryHB 2503 establishes a clothing allowance program for children in foster care in West Virginia. It requires placement providers (foster parents, kinship caregivers, or residential care providers) to assess each child's clothing and necessity needs at initial placement, providing an initial allowance of at least $375 for an adequate wardrobe and approved necessities (non-clothing items like hygiene products), with supplementary allowances of $175 for extraordinary needs like illness or damaged items. The bill mandates that placement providers maintain a child's clothing inventory throughout care and outlines three payment methods: a reloadable instant card (issued within 48 hours), child welfare worker purchasing cards, or reimbursement for provider-purchased items. This policy directly affects children in foster care and their caregivers, ensuring consistent access to essential clothing and supplies through defined financial support.

Maddy summaryHB 3304 (West Virginia House Bill 3304) directs the state to create four patriotic statues commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding. The bill establishes a state commission (chaired by the Tourism Secretary) to oversee construction of these statues in each of West Virginia's four geographic regions, requiring completion by the 2026 anniversary date. The statues must honor both U.S. history and West Virginia's heritage, with construction to follow state purchasing laws. This is a procedural bill focused on commemorative monuments, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 updates West Virginia's child welfare laws to improve reporting and oversight of child abuse and neglect cases. It requires immediate reporting via a 24-hour hotline or web system with a case identifier, mandates a backup reporting system by July 1, 2023, and creates a Critical Incident Review Team to analyze serious cases. The bill also permits the Foster Care Ombudsman access to case details (including reporter identity) and changes public access to abuse reports to align with the team's reporting guidelines. Additionally, it adds new requirements for the child welfare dashboard and ensures confidentiality for reporters.