Rep. Evan Worrell

Maddy summaryHB 4869 creates two guaranteed periods for West Virginia seniors to purchase Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies without medical underwriting or pre-existing condition exclusions. It provides a 60-day window annually around each individual’s birthday for current policyholders to switch to a policy with the same or fewer benefits, and a 63-day window starting the day after Medicaid eligibility ends for those turning 65 or losing Medicaid. Insurers must offer coverage during these periods but are not required to provide new policies or alter existing benefit structures. The bill also mandates annual reports on Medigap premium trends for legislative review but does not change Medicare Advantage plans or require insurers to offer specific rates.

Maddy summaryHB 4982 reestablishes West Virginia's statewide Healthy Lifestyles program, creating the Office of Healthy Lifestyles within the Department of Health. It directly affects all West Virginia residents, particularly Medicaid members with nutrition-related chronic diseases (like obesity or diabetes), by expanding access to "Food Is Medicine" services such as nutrition counseling, medically tailored meals, and grocery provisions. Key provisions include requiring the Bureau for Medical Services to design nutrition-based interventions to reduce healthcare costs, establishing a Healthy Lifestyle Coalition with 13 members to coordinate state and community efforts, and mandating physical fitness initiatives in schools. The bill also repeals previous program sections and adds new rules to promote nutritious food access and prevent diet-related diseases.

Maddy summaryHB 4599 modifies West Virginia's background check variance process under the WV Cares program, primarily affecting healthcare workers and facility employees requiring background checks. The bill establishes that granted variances follow individuals (not employers), extends validity to five years (unless new disqualifying offenses appear), and requires variance reviews to be completed within 30 days. It narrows disqualifying offenses to only those involving abuse, violence, fraud, or safety risks, and creates a single standardized "Fitness Variance Determination" document for employers to use instead of multiple records. All relevant state agencies must update their systems within 180 days to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires physicians and osteopathic doctors in West Virginia to complete continuing education credits specifically in nutrition as part of their biennial license renewal process. The law mandates that medical professionals earn a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical education every two years, with osteopathic physicians required to complete thirty-two hours including nutrition training, and these credits must be approved by relevant medical boards. The bill amends existing state code sections to make nutrition education a mandatory component of the continuing education requirement for license renewal.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Recharge West Virginia Program, which provides financial reimbursement to private employers in the state for costs associated with training their employees in new skills. The program is administered by the Division of Economic Development and targets companies that wish to upskill their workforce through specialized technical training, leadership development, or registered apprenticeships. To qualify for reimbursement, employers must demonstrate that their employees complete industry-recognized credentials and achieve a wage increase of at least 25% above their previous earnings, with individual reimbursements capped at $10,000 per employee and $100,000 annually per employer. The legislation defines eligible employees as those who have lived and worked full-time in West Virginia for the past six months, while excluding public bodies and foreign nonprofit corporations from participating. Employers must submit detailed applications including training plans, job descriptions, and wage projections to the Division of Economic Development, which will establish specific procedures and standards for evaluating reimbursement requests.

Maddy summaryHB 5074 changes how revenue from West Virginia's medical cannabis program is allocated. For fiscal year 2026, it directs $3 million to the Supreme Court for a child protection pilot, $10 million each to West Virginia University and Marshall University for ibogaine research, and $5 million to homelessness services, with remaining funds reverting to general revenue. Starting July 1, 2026, annual allocations will be: 15% to the Medical Cannabis Bureau for administration, 15% to the Department of Agriculture for cannabis testing, and 45% split among the Fight Substance Abuse Fund (20%), university research (10% each to Marshall and WVU), a Child Protection Commission (10%), and law enforcement training programs (40%). These changes apply to ongoing revenue from medical cannabis taxes, not new taxes or fees.

Maddy summaryHB 4626 establishes a West Virginia grant program to fund U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine, a substance being studied for treating opioid use disorder and other neurological/mental health conditions. The program requires applicants (e.g., pharmaceutical companies or research organizations) to demonstrate capacity to conduct FDA trials, secure approval for ibogaine as a medication, and commit to establishing a state presence, securing insurance coverage, and ensuring treatment access for uninsured patients. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, safety protocols, and plans for intellectual property rights and post-approval implementation, with grants administered through a state selection committee. The bill does not approve ibogaine but aims to accelerate its development pathway through state-funded trials.

Maddy summaryHB 4588 requires West Virginia's State Treasurer to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to receive tax credits for contributions to scholarship organizations. The bill mandates the Treasurer to annually identify and publish a list of qualified nonprofit scholarship organizations and eligible schools meeting federal and state requirements. Eligible schools must comply with West Virginia education laws, and students must be eligible for public school enrollment under federal criteria. Scholarship funds can cover elementary and secondary education expenses as defined by federal law, with the Treasurer accepting applications year-round for organization inclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates West Virginia's food safety law by adding specific dyes (like FD&C Yellow No. 5) to the list of substances deemed "poisonous or injurious to health" if proven harmful through scientific evidence. It requires that such substances be explicitly designated as unsafe under state law before restrictions apply. Food manufacturers must now clearly label mixtures with ingredient percentages and use specific font sizes for "compound" or "mixture" labels. The changes take effect January 1, 2028, directly affecting food producers and sellers in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5091 amends West Virginia's Real Estate License Act to clarify and strengthen duties for real estate licensees (brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons). It requires licensees to provide written disclosures about agency relationships, brokerage services, and compensation before any contract, and to give each signing party a copy of the contract at the time of signing. The bill prohibits requiring buyer's agency agreements before a purchase offer is signed, mandates contracts include definite expiration dates, and bans fees for representation after a contract expires if a consumer switches brokers. These changes directly affect real estate licensees and consumers in West Virginia property transactions by increasing transparency and preventing unfair contract terms.