Del. Margitta Mazzocchi

Maddy summaryHB 3319, the "Restoring Sanity Act," prohibits West Virginia public schools and state universities from requiring instruction, course content, or statements about specific concepts deemed "factual" or "beliefs" related to race, gender, or sexuality. It bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and redirects funds from such offices to merit scholarships for lower-income, first-generation, or in-state students. The bill also requires schools to report complaints about violations and prohibits employees from being required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it conflicts with their biological sex, while clarifying that using biological sex-based pronouns does not create legal liability. These provisions apply directly to school districts, public charter schools, the West Virginia Board of Education, and state universities.

Maddy summaryHB 3328 requires hospitals and healthcare facilities to provide effective communication tools for deaf or hard-of-hearing patients and their families when ASL interpreters aren't available on staff. Specifically, facilities must offer technology like hearing loops, captioning services, or video relay systems to enable communication. The bill also mandates that any ASL interpreters used must be approved by the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This applies to all hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and extended care centers under West Virginia law, aligning with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Maddy summaryHB 3077 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire interns or apprentices in high-demand fields like manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and skilled trades (e.g., electricians, welders). Employers receive a 50% credit on wages paid (up to $10,000 per trainee annually), with a maximum $150,000 total credit per business yearly. The credit excludes retail, food service, administrative roles, and non-technical positions. Employers must apply for certification through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to claim the credit and report trainee details annually.

Maddy summaryHB 3329 amends West Virginia law to strengthen penalties for sex offenses against children under 12 and for filming minors in sexually explicit conduct. It mandates prison sentences without probation for sex offenses involving force, weapons, or moving the victim, with a minimum 20-year sentence for first offenses. Repeat offenders face life imprisonment without parole. The bill also increases penalties for filming minors in sexually explicit conduct, imposing fines up to $10,000 or up to 10 years in prison for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 3049, the Community School Parent Choice Act, requires West Virginia county school boards to provide parents a formal process before closing or consolidating a school. The bill mandates that boards prepare written reasons and impact statements for public review 30 days prior to a hearing, hold public hearings with specific accessibility requirements, and consider input from school improvement councils representing affected schools. Parents of students at schools facing closure or consolidation are directly affected, as they gain a structured opportunity to voice concerns before a final decision. The law includes a 10-year expiration date and applies to all school closures except those approved via prior voter-approved construction bonds.

Maddy summaryHB 3220 creates a statewide moratorium on public school closures and consolidations in West Virginia, except for cases of catastrophic structural failure or unresolved safety hazards. It requires the West Virginia Department of Education to review closures considered over the past five years and propose changes to the school funding formula that would prevent at least 80% of those closures based on financial or operational factors. The moratorium remains in effect until the legislature receives the proposed formula and takes action on it. This directly affects all West Virginia public school districts and students by delaying closure decisions pending the new funding approach.

Maddy summaryHB 3301 would amend West Virginia law to prohibit any requirement that a person receive or use a medical product, such as vaccines or treatments. It also bans penalties or denial of benefits for refusing a medical product or for declining to disclose whether one has been used. The bill would override existing health regulations to ensure individuals cannot be forced to use medical products or face legal consequences for refusing them. This applies broadly to all medical products and all state laws, effectively blocking mandatory use in public health contexts.

Maddy summaryHB 3299 prohibits West Virginia state and local government agencies from purchasing or operating drones (small unmanned aircraft systems) manufactured or assembled by foreign entities linked to China or Russia, as defined by U.S. sanctions lists. It requires agencies to replace non-compliant drones by May 1, 2028, and creates a grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to fund the transition to U.S.-made drones. The grant provides reimbursement based on a drone’s current value for agencies turning in non-compliant equipment, with priority for agencies submitting complete applications. Agencies must use funds only for drones meeting U.S. certification standards, such as Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS or AUVSI Green UAS. The bill directly affects all public safety and government drone users across the state.

Maddy summaryHJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to formally establish West Virginia citizens' powers of initiative, referendum, and recall. It would add Article XV to the state constitution, reserving these direct democracy tools for voters to propose laws, reject legislation, and remove officials at all government levels. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2028 general election and would amend existing sections on legislative power (Article VI) and constitutional amendment procedures (Article XIV). This change would codify existing practices into the state constitution, ensuring these powers are explicitly reserved to registered voters.

Maddy summaryHB 2697 prohibits all state-funded colleges, universities, and community colleges in West Virginia from charging students, former students, or graduates for academic transcripts. The bill directly affects these institutions and their students by banning transcript fees as a standard practice. Key provision: It amends state law to explicitly state that no such institution may impose a fee for issuing transcripts. This is a concrete policy change eliminating a common administrative cost for students. The bill does not alter other fees or services.