Rep. Jeff Eldridge

Maddy summaryHB 3222 requires doctors who issue medical cannabis certifications to maintain a physical office within West Virginia. This bill amends existing law to add a new eligibility requirement for physicians in the state's medical cannabis registry. Specifically, it mandates that doctors must have a physical office location in West Virginia to qualify for the registry, which previously did not require this. The change directly affects physicians seeking to certify patients for medical cannabis use under West Virginia's program.

Maddy summaryHB 3186 amends West Virginia's labor laws to strengthen the "West Virginia Jobs Act" for public construction projects. It requires employers receiving a local labor utilization waiver (to hire outside the local area) to hire outside workers at the same qualifications and wage rates they provided to Workforce West Virginia. The bill clarifies that the Jobs Act applies to all public construction projects, including those managed by the West Virginia Development Authority, and mandates the Division of Labor to create a public online database of certified payroll records (with personal information redacted) for all employers working on public contracts. This database will include employee residence locations and occupations, making the data accessible to the public for transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 3184, the Local Government Freedom Act, requires West Virginia local governments to award construction contracts over $25,000 to the "lowest qualified responsible bidder" rather than allowing them to use pre-hire union agreements (project labor agreements). The bill defines "lowest qualified responsible bidder" as the bidder meeting all legal requirements and offering the lowest price, while prohibiting political subdivisions from entering into project labor agreements for most construction projects. It also sets a $500,000 cap on open-ended maintenance contracts and mandates specific bonding requirements for bidders. This bill directly affects cities, counties, and school boards when procuring construction work.

Maddy summaryHB 3261 clarifies the qualifications for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to administer anesthesia in West Virginia. It requires CRNAs to hold both a registered nursing license and an advanced practice nursing license, complete a nationally accredited anesthesia program, and maintain national certification. The bill defines "cooperation" between CRNAs and physicians/dentists as a collaborative process where each contributes based on their expertise, and specifies that physicians are not liable for CRNA actions under this framework. This directly affects CRNAs, physicians, dentists, and healthcare facilities by standardizing practice requirements and supervision protocols for anesthesia administration.

Maddy summaryHB 3106 would increase the retirement multiplier for West Virginia deputy sheriffs from 2.75% to 3.0% of their final average salary per year of service. This change directly affects current and future deputy sheriffs enrolled in the state's Deputy Sheriff Retirement System by increasing their pension benefits. The bill amends Section 7-14D-2 of West Virginia Code to adjust the calculation method for accrued retirement benefits. This is a specific policy change to the pension formula, not a new benefit program.

Maddy summaryHB 3105 would amend West Virginia's Deputy Sheriff Retirement System Act to allow deputy sheriffs to retire after 20 years of service with full benefits, aligning their retirement eligibility with corrections officers. This change directly affects county deputy sheriffs covered under the retirement system who currently may have different service requirements. The bill modifies §7-14D-5 to establish 20 years as the qualifying service period for full retirement benefits, matching the existing standard for corrections officers. The policy change would apply to new hires and potentially existing members who elect to transfer into this system under the revised terms.

Maddy summaryHB 3100 would align retirement and disability benefits for dependents of West Virginia State Police officers who take disability retirement with the benefits provided to dependents of officers who retire after 20 years of service. Currently, dependents of disability retirees receive less than those of regular retirees under the existing §15-2-33 formula. The bill proposes amending the law to ensure surviving spouses and dependents of disability retirees receive the same monthly benefit amount as those of regular retirees - calculated as three-fourths of the retired officer's benefits (with a minimum $5,000 annual payment). This change directly affects dependents of State Police officers who must leave service due to disability before reaching 20 years. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after introduction on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3201 amends West Virginia's medical cannabis law to permit edible forms (such as gummies and lozenges) for the first time, adding them to the list of approved product types. The bill establishes strict safety rules for edibles, including a 10-milligram THC limit per serving (with a 15% variance), mandatory bureau approval for each product, and prohibitions on candy-like appearance, color additives, or additives that increase potency. It also requires dispensaries to report all medical cannabis sales to the state's controlled substance monitoring database. This bill directly affects patients and caregivers using edibles, as well as businesses that produce or sell medical cannabis products.

Maddy summaryHB 3160 requires medical directors at West Virginia nursing homes to hold certification from the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine or an equivalent organization approved by the state health department. Existing medical directors have until January 1, 2030, to obtain certification, and nursing homes must report their directors' certification status to the health department by June 30, 2026. Nursing homes operating as part of an acute care hospital are exempt from the certification requirement but must designate a physician board-certified in a relevant specialty (e.g., rehabilitation or pulmonology) and approved by hospital leadership.

Maddy summaryHB 3163 requires West Virginia's Department of Health to add the names of nursing home medical directors to the existing public Health Care Facility Lookup page on the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) website. This affects the general public, especially during emergencies like pandemics, by making medical director contact information readily available. The bill amends state law to update the current online tool, which already provides facility names, addresses, and phone numbers. It does not change licensing requirements but expands the public information already accessible through OHFLAC's existing system.