Rep. Michael Amos

Maddy summaryHB 4476, the "West Virginia Common Cents Act," requires merchants to round cash transaction totals to the nearest nickel. Specifically, totals ending in 1-2 or 6-7 cents round down, while those ending in 3-4 or 8-9 cents round up. This applies only to in-person cash payments; it excludes transactions under 4 cents and all electronic payments (credit/debit cards, digital transfers). The law ensures rounding does not affect tax calculations on the rounded amount.

Maddy summaryHB 3492, now Chapter 188 of the 2025 regular session laws, establishes a framework for municipal economic opportunity development districts. These districts are designed to stimulate local economic growth in designated areas through targeted development incentives. The bill directly affects municipalities that create such districts and businesses operating within them. Specific mechanisms like tax abatements or streamlined permitting are not detailed in the provided context, but the law enables local governments to develop these zones to foster job creation and investment. (Note: The context does not include the bill's specific provisions, so key mechanisms cannot be described beyond the general purpose stated in the title.)

Maddy summaryHB 2836 creates a formal permit system for individuals to legally care for injured, orphaned, or ill native wildlife in West Virginia. It establishes "Wildlife Rehabilitators" who may capture, transport, provide medical care, release, or humanely dispatch such animals under permit conditions set by the Division of Wildlife Resources. The bill also allows licensed veterinarians or animal control agencies to provide emergency care (without a full permit) for up to 48 hours before transferring animals to a permitted rehabilitator. This directly affects wildlife caregivers, shelters, and veterinary professionals working with native species, while clarifying that only native wildlife is covered under the permit rules. The law amends existing wildlife possession statutes to align with these new rehabilitation protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 2576, the NIL Protection Act, protects college student-athletes' rights to earn income from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) without penalty from public universities. It directly affects student-athletes at public institutions in the state by prohibiting colleges from restricting or penalizing them for participating in NIL deals, such as endorsements or social media promotions. The law ensures athletes can monetize their personal brand without losing eligibility or facing disciplinary action from their schools. Effective July 30, 2025, this legislation aligns with broader state efforts to support student-athlete financial opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 2776 requires the West Virginia Department of Health to add alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy triggered by tick bites) to the list of diseases mandating reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bill directly affects the Department of Health, which must propose new rules to include alpha-gal syndrome in statewide reporting protocols. The key mechanism is amending existing public health reporting requirements under West Virginia Code §16-1-4 to expand the list of reportable conditions. This change would ensure healthcare providers’ positive alpha-gal test results are systematically shared with the CDC for public health monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2349 requires opioid treatment programs licensed under West Virginia law to offer long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as IUDs or implants, to patients receiving methadone or suboxone treatment. This applies directly to patients in medication-assisted treatment programs and the facilities operating those programs. The bill amends licensing rules (§16B-13-3 and §16B-13-5) to mandate that facilities provide information about and access to LARC options as part of their standard services. It does not specify which contraception methods must be offered, only that facilities must make LARC available to eligible patients.

Maddy summaryHCR 100 is a non-binding request to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study hospital pricing transparency and cooperative agreements in West Virginia. The resolution asks the committee to examine current hospital price disclosure requirements, compliance with transparency laws, hospital mergers' impact on pricing, and the role of federal oversight agencies. This study will assess whether current policies foster competition, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes. The committee is required to report findings and potential legislative recommendations to the Legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryHCR 99 is a legislative resolution requesting the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary to study policies preventing financial fraud and scams in West Virginia. It directs the committee to examine current state laws, review national approaches, and focus on four key areas: reducing robocalls and spoofing, addressing cryptocurrency-related scams (noting $1.4 million in losses in 2023), improving victim restitution, and protecting against property title fraud. The resolution cites data showing 8,000 West Virginians lost $27 million to fraud in 2024, with national losses exceeding $12.5 billion. The committee must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, governor, and attorney general by December 31, 2025. This is a study resolution, not a law, and does not create immediate policy changes.

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 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.