Del. Matthew Rohrbach

Maddy summaryHB 2958 clarifies trespassing rules for West Virginia college campuses by defining "residence halls" (student housing) and "student facilities" (campus venues serving alcohol to students). It states that entering these areas without authorization is trespassing - even if no disruption occurs - and allows campus staff to immediately ask unauthorized individuals to leave. Repeat offenses carry escalating fines: $100 for first, $250-$500 for second, and up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail for third offenses. This directly affects students, visitors, campus security, and enforcement personnel at public colleges and universities.

Maddy summaryHB 3092 requires health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers in West Virginia to include all cost-sharing payments (by patients or others) when calculating out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. It applies an annual cap on out-of-pocket expenses to all health plans sold in the state and prohibits insurers from changing coverage terms based on the availability of financial assistance for specific drugs. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident, with restitution required for affected patients. The law takes effect for health plans beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2543 requires state agencies to prepare and submit detailed economic impact statements for certain proposed legislative rules before they are finalized. These statements must analyze potential costs to the public, including regulatory expenses, effects on business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and economic growth. The bill applies specifically to "legislative rules" (rules that have legal force, impose liability, or grant/deny specific benefits), excluding interpretive or exempt rules. This change aims to provide transparency about the economic consequences of new regulations before they take effect.

Maddy summaryHCR 40 is a resolution directing West Virginia's Economic Development Authority to identify land near Flatwoods for a tourism and entertainment complex modeled after attractions like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It requires the Authority to locate suitable sites, secure funding, and recruit private and public developers to build facilities for tourism, entertainment, and amusement. The bill specifically targets the Flatwoods area near Interstate 79 exit 67, citing its central location and access to major regional cities. This resolution aims to replicate economic benefits seen in neighboring states through new tourism infrastructure, directly affecting Flatwoods and surrounding communities.

Maddy summaryHB 2382 prohibits camping and storing camping gear (like tents, cots, or sleeping bags) on specific public property without permission. It bans these activities on Capitol grounds, courthouses, municipal offices, streets, parks, and trails - areas defined as public property owned or controlled by state, county, or municipal governments. Violators face fines of $25-$100 or up to 30 days in jail per day of violation. The bill includes exceptions for authorized uses but does not address broader homelessness or safety concerns beyond the defined legal prohibitions.

Maddy summaryHCR 72 designates March 20, 2025 as "Black Lung Awareness Day" in West Virginia. It honors coal miners affected by black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), a preventable occupational lung condition caused by coal dust exposure. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes - it serves as a ceremonial observance recognizing the disease's impact and existing protections like the Black Lung Benefits Act. It follows the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's emphasis on miner safety without altering current regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2737 establishes the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant program, providing funding to West Virginia's public colleges and universities to address student food insecurity and health/hygiene needs. The grant can be used for campus food and health aid pantries, shelf-stable food, and specific health supplies like toiletries, medical items, and hygiene products. Institutions must track inventory and submit detailed spending reports to the Higher Education Policy Commission, with annual impact reports required for the legislature by July 1, 2026. The program becomes effective July 1, 2025, targeting all state institutions with campuses.

Maddy summaryHB 2502 requires West Virginia internet and telecom providers to automatically credit customers for service interruptions lasting five or more days (120 hours) when the outage isn't caused by the customer. Credits must be calculated proportionally to the days without service and applied in the next billing cycle. The Attorney General can enforce this by suing providers for excessive charges and imposing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Providers must also report monthly outage data (including credit amounts and geographic scope) to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, excluding mobile service disruptions.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 3116 updates West Virginia's incest statute to clarify and expand the definition of family relationships covered under the law. It specifically adds "aunt" and "uncle" to include relatives by marriage (e.g., a person's wife of an uncle or husband of an aunt) and ensures the law applies equally to same-sex marriages. The bill directly affects individuals in familial relationships involving married aunts/uncles or same-sex spouses, making the legal definitions more inclusive. It does not change penalties (5-15 years imprisonment or fines) but ensures the statute applies to all qualifying familial relationships, including those formed through marriage.