Del. Matthew Rohrbach

Maddy summaryHB 3505 requires health insurance policies covering cancer chemotherapy to include coverage for scalp cooling systems starting January 1, 2026. These systems are defined as devices used to cool the scalp and prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatment. The mandate applies to all individual and group health insurance plans, though coverage may still involve standard deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments consistent with other covered benefits. The bill directly affects cancer patients seeking hair preservation during treatment and insurers offering chemotherapy coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 3090 requires health insurance policies in West Virginia to cover habilitative speech therapy for stuttering, starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects all health insurers offering coverage for speech therapy, mandating they cover both in-person and telehealth sessions without annual limits, prior authorization, or restrictions based on the cause of stuttering. The bill specifies that coverage must apply regardless of whether stuttering is developmental and prohibits limits on the number of therapy visits. This policy change ensures consistent access to speech therapy for individuals whose daily communication is impacted by stuttering.

Maddy summaryHB 3084, the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act, requires all health benefit plans (including employer-sponsored insurance, public employee plans, and health care corporations) to cover oral health procedures necessary as side effects of cancer treatments. This includes exams, medications, dental devices, and rehabilitation for functions like eating, breathing, and speaking related to cancer care. The mandate applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and requires agencies to report implementation costs to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance one year after enactment. The bill directly affects insurance providers and cancer patients by expanding coverage for essential oral health services tied to cancer treatment.

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 shortens the time limit for victims of childhood sexual assault to file civil lawsuits against perpetrators. It changes the deadline from 18 years after reaching adulthood to just 2 years after reaching adulthood (or 4 years after discovery, whichever is longer). The bill specifically affects individuals who were minors during the assault and seek compensation through civil court. It does not change existing protections for victims who discovered the abuse later. The bill focuses on modifying statute of limitations timelines under West Virginia law.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 extends a moratorium until July 1, 2026, preventing West Virginia's Board of Risk and Insurance Management from providing new or additional property or liability insurance coverage to certain entities where coverage is optional under state law. It directly affects political subdivisions, charities, public service organizations, and emergency medical services agencies (defined in §29-12-5(b)(1)), but excludes existing coverage or contracts in place as of the bill's effective date. The bill specifically exempts county schools, teachers, school staff, and public charter schools, as they are required to be insured under separate state law (§29-12-5a). This policy change pauses new insurance options for permissive entities while maintaining current coverage for all others.

Maddy summaryHB 2720 establishes the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program to support communities in Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties, which have been significantly impacted by declines in the coal industry. The program creates a Revitalization Council coordinated by the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, including representatives from state agencies, county commissions, and educational institutions, to coordinate existing state resources and technical assistance. It directs the council to develop economic strategies, prioritize support for local industries and natural resources, and report annually - without creating new positions or hiring additional staff. The program is set to operate for five years from its effective date, focusing on revitalizing communities through existing state infrastructure and partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 3506 sets a new mandatory 7% employee contribution rate for judges of courts of record in West Virginia, effective July 1, 2025. This directly affects current and future judges who participate in the state's judges' retirement system, replacing previous rates that had fluctuated between 6% and 10.5% over time. The bill also establishes a key mechanism where employer contributions to the retirement fund may be suspended if the fund's funding level exceeds 125%, as determined by annual actuarial valuations. The changes aim to standardize contributions while providing a trigger for pausing employer payments during periods of strong fund solvency.

Maddy summaryHB 3518 requires West Virginia to automatically disenroll individuals covered under a specific Medicaid expansion (established by the 2010 Affordable Care Act) if federal funding for that program decreases. It mandates written notice to affected beneficiaries, Medicaid managed care plans, and providers before coverage ends, following federal notification of reduced funding. The bill does not change eligibility or funding levels but sets a procedure for removing coverage when federal assistance declines. This directly affects people enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program under 42 U.S.C. §1396d(y)(1).

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.