Del. Sean Hornbuckle

Maddy summaryHB 5268 creates the Mountaineer Games Sports League (MGSL), a state-run program offering low-cost organized sports opportunities for West Virginia adults. The bill directly affects adult residents - particularly those with limited access to recreational activities - by establishing a league featuring sports like basketball, soccer, and flag-football through partnerships with colleges, community groups, and local facilities. Key provisions include forming a Governor-appointed board to manage operations, develop shared-use agreements for sports facilities, and promote partnerships across sectors to increase accessibility. The league aims to improve public health by encouraging physical activity, with the board responsible for scheduling seasons, recruiting volunteers, and securing funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5270 requires West Virginia public high schools participating in sports, ROTC, or performing arts to employ at least one licensed athletic trainer full-time. The bill mandates that county school boards fund this position using local budgets, levies, or other available funds, and the trainer must be certified by the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy. Key provisions include requiring trainers to handle specialized health procedures like concussion evaluations and musculoskeletal injury management, while ensuring compliance with state athletic policies on concussions and emergency plans. This directly affects all high school athletic programs across the state by establishing a baseline for on-site medical care during sports activities.

Maddy summaryHB 5237 creates a mechanism for the Governor to borrow up to $50 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund into the Unemployment Compensation Fund if the fund's balance falls below $50 million within 30 days, as projected by Workforce West Virginia. The borrowed funds must be used solely to pay unemployment benefits and repaid within 180 days without interest from excess funds in the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill directly affects unemployed workers by preventing benefit payment disruptions during short-term fund shortages. It applies only when the fund balance drops below $50 million, requiring a formal projection and limiting borrowing to $50 million or the amount needed to maintain that minimum balance. The provision expires on September 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 5239 raises West Virginia's minimum base salary for public school teachers to $50,000 annually, directly affecting all teachers in the state's public school system. The bill amends the state's salary schedule to establish $50,000 as the new minimum starting point for all teachers, regardless of experience level or degree. This change replaces the current lowest salary tier (which was $36,597 for entry-level teachers with zero experience) with a uniform $50,000 floor across all teaching positions. The policy applies to all school districts and takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 5238 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia (both public and private) to cover screening for adverse childhood experiences during routine preventative child wellness visits. For children without health insurance, the State Department of Education must create school-based screening programs through local schools. The bill defines adverse childhood experiences as traumatic events in childhood that increase the risk of chronic health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and respiratory illness. This law directly affects health insurance providers and school systems by mandating accessible screenings to address early childhood trauma.

Maddy summaryHB 5241 requires health insurers in West Virginia to cover specific breast cancer screenings starting January 1, 2026. It mandates annual mammograms for women aged 40+ and baseline mammograms for women 30-39, with additional annual screenings for those under 40 who have family history or risk factors. The bill also requires insurers to cover comprehensive ultrasound screenings when mammograms show dense breast tissue (per American College of Radiology guidelines) or for high-risk patients. Additionally, it mandates that mammography facilities notify patients about breast density and associated risks, providing educational materials without creating new legal obligations for providers.

Maddy summaryHB 5240 creates a specific license for foreign corporations to temporarily import and sell non-alcoholic beer (less than 0.5% alcohol) in West Virginia. It requires foreign brewers to apply with business documents (like a certificate of authority and charter), pay a $1,500 annual fee, and register all product container labels with the state for review. The license applies to businesses not based in West Virginia but seeking to sell non-alcoholic beer in the state, with annual renewal required. This bill modifies existing licensing rules to formally include foreign brewers in the state’s non-alcoholic beer regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryHB 5249 would amend West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program to prohibit the use of state funds for private school tuition or educational services provided by out-of-state schools or providers. This change directly affects families who currently use Hope Scholarship funds to pay for education at schools or services located outside West Virginia. The bill restricts all scholarship funds to only in-state private schools and educational service providers within West Virginia. As a result, families seeking to use state-funded scholarships for out-of-state education would no longer be eligible for that funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5233 amends West Virginia's anatomical gift laws to specifically clarify rules for *living* anatomical gifts - donations of body parts made while the donor is still alive for transplantation or therapy. It establishes that only adults (18+) can make such gifts, requires clear consent documentation, and defines who can legally act as an "agent" (e.g., via medical power of attorney) to make gifts on a donor’s behalf. The bill also updates key terms like "donor registry" (including driver’s license markings) and specifies that consent must be documented to avoid confusion. This directly affects living donors, medical providers, and organ/tissue procurement organizations in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5246, the Safe Play Act, increases penalties for assaulting or battering athletic officials during sports events. The bill raises fines for assault to $500-$1,000 and for battery to $1,000-$3,000, replacing lower current penalties. It defines "athletic official" broadly to include umpires, referees, and coaches who enforce rules or supervise participants. This law directly affects offenders convicted of such acts, aiming to protect officials at sporting events.