Del. Evan Worrell

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

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 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.

Maddy summaryHB 2456 establishes the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program under the Bureau for Public Health to provide state funding to pregnancy help organizations (excluding abortion industry organizations). The program funds capital improvements, new services, compliance with licensing standards, and staff training for eligible organizations. Funding is distributed through a fee-per-service model, with specific rates set by the managing agency. This bill directly affects pregnancy help organizations by providing targeted financial support for operational needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia's Schedule I drug list to specifically exempt "crystalline polymorph psilocybin" that has received approval from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It directly affects medical products seeking FDA approval for therapeutic use, as this exemption would remove Schedule I restrictions for such approved formulations. The key mechanism is adding a new exception to the existing Schedule I definition, ensuring FDA/DEA-approved psilocybin products are not classified as illegal under state law. This change aligns state scheduling with federal regulatory approvals for medical applications.

Maddy summaryHB 3439 adds a voluntary organ donor registration option to West Virginia voter registration forms. The bill requires all voter registration applications to include a checkbox for organ donation, allowing applicants to join the national organ donor database when registering to vote. The Secretary of State would collect these donor registrations and share the data with the organ donor registry. This change affects all West Virginia voters completing registration forms, making it easier to register as an organ donor while voting.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 47) requests that West Virginia's Division of Highways rename the Etam Bridge (Bridge Number 39-072/00-001.85) in Preston County as the "Clinton 'Randy' Dean 101st Airborne Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge." It honors Clinton "Randy" Dean, a West Virginia native and Vietnam War veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division, received a Purple Heart, and later died from Agent Orange-related illness. The resolution specifically directs the Division of Highways to name the bridge and install prominent signage identifying it with this commemorative name. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy change affecting legislation or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2158 removes the expiration dates (sunset clauses) for additional registration fees on pet food in West Virginia. Specifically, it eliminates the temporary deadlines (June 30, 2027 for bulk pet food and June 1, 2027 for smaller packages) that currently require businesses to pay extra fees. These fees - $50 per product for bulk pet food and $35 per product for smaller packages - will now be permanently collected. The funds will continue flowing into the West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, which supports spay/neuter services provided by licensed veterinarians statewide. This change directly affects pet food manufacturers and distributors who must register their products.

Maddy summaryHB 2651 changes employment terms for certain education administrators in West Virginia counties. It mandates that general and special supervisors or directors of instruction employed by county boards of education serve "at the will and pleasure" of the board, meaning they can be terminated without cause at any time. This directly affects these specific administrative roles, shifting their status from potentially protected positions to at-will employment. The bill amends Section 18-5-32 of the state code to explicitly state this employment condition, while maintaining existing requirements for teaching certificates and substitute teaching duties.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for the Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) Crisis Recovery Network, which would provide long-term mental health counseling support to schools after crises like natural disasters or shootings. It recognizes that schools - especially rural ones - often lack sufficient counselors to address ongoing student and staff needs during recovery. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but affirms state participation in the existing SREB network, which coordinates specialized counselors and resources for schools in extreme need.