Del. Sarah Drennan

Maddy summaryHB 2741 prohibits the use of electronic devices like tablets, laptops, or computers for learning and testing in all classrooms serving students in grades three and below. The bill directly affects students in kindergarten through second grade and their teachers by banning such devices during instructional time. It creates a new section (§18-2E-3g) in West Virginia's education code requiring this ban in all classrooms for those grade levels. The law does not address devices used for administrative purposes or non-educational activities. This is a direct policy change restricting classroom technology use for young learners.

Maddy summaryHB 2779 would require all West Virginia public schools to install cameras in hallways, stairwells, classrooms, and any other rooms where students are present. The bill excludes bathroom stalls, showers, and locker rooms to protect student privacy during undressing. Schools would need to maintain all recorded footage for a full year. This bill directly affects all K-12 public schools in West Virginia and is currently pending in the House Education Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2778, titled "To remove the taxation on burials, funerals and cremation," creates a tax exemption for funeral, cremation, and burial services in West Virginia. The bill directly affects funeral homes, cremation providers, and burial services by removing existing sales and service taxes on these specific services. Key provisions exempt these services from taxes under West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax code, as defined in §30-6-1 et seq. This policy change eliminates a tax obligation for providers of these end-of-life services.

Maddy summaryHB 2733, the Women’s Right to Know Act, requires healthcare providers to give patients specific information about abortion procedures - including printed materials and access to a state-run website - before performing an abortion in West Virginia. The bill defines "medical emergency" narrowly (excluding psychological conditions) and mandates that providers follow informed consent procedures even in emergencies when medically feasible. It also requires licensed medical professionals to report abortion procedures to the state. This bill directly affects patients seeking abortions and the healthcare providers who perform them in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2740 requires county school districts to have a second adult present on school buses when elementary-aged children (pre-kindergarten through 4th grade) are mixed with middle or high school students on the same route. This rule directly affects school bus operations in counties where such mixed-age transportation occurs. The bill mandates the second adult's presence solely for maintaining order and safety during transit, without altering existing bus route time limits. It applies to all current and new bus routes serving these age groups, effective upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 2728 requires all health insurers in West Virginia to cover biodentical hormone treatments when determined medically necessary by a licensed physician after proper evaluation of symptoms or test results. The bill applies to all group and individual health insurance policies, including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations, effective January 1, 2025. Insurers must provide coverage on an expense-incurred basis, treating biodentical hormones similarly to pharmaceutical alternatives. This policy change directly affects patients seeking hormone therapy and insurers offering health coverage in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2723 would provide West Virginia public school teachers who earn National Board Certification with a $6,000 annual salary bonus. The bill also reimburses up to $600 for certification expenses incurred during the process. This bonus applies for up to 10 years per certification and is paid in addition to base salary through monthly installments. Teachers must verify certification through the West Virginia Department of Education to qualify.

Maddy summaryHB 2677 requires West Virginia's state education board to create a model policy banning K-12 students from using personal cell phones or handheld devices during instructional time, with exceptions for emergencies or contacting parents. County school boards must adopt policies consistent with this model, though enforcement details remain local. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools and students in West Virginia by mandating a statewide framework for phone restrictions during class. It focuses on balancing academic focus with safety needs, without specifying penalties or device types beyond "personal handheld communication devices."

Maddy summaryHB 2605 would increase the tax credit available to West Virginia employers who provide child care for their employees. The bill amends Section 11-21-97 of the West Virginia Code to expand the credit, making it more valuable for businesses operating on-site child care facilities or sponsoring such services. It clarifies key terms like "qualified child-care property" and establishes rules for claiming the credit, including conditions for recapture if facilities are sold or repurposed. This legislation directly affects employers in West Virginia who offer child care benefits, potentially reducing their state tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 2477 provides a one-time 20% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to retirement benefits for eligible retired state employees covered by the Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System. It directly affects retirees who voluntarily retired under normal circumstances and currently receive annual annuities, with the first payment due by June 30, 2025. The adjustment applies to both retirees and their beneficiaries (payable pro rata) and is subject to federal tax limitations. The bill corrects the title's 15% figure to the actual 20% specified in the legislation.