Rep. Doug Smith

Maddy summaryHB 4255 authorizes the West Virginia Tax Department to issue a specific rule governing the Downstream Natural Gas Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit. The rule, already filed with the State Register on March 31, 2025, will establish administrative procedures for claiming the credit, such as eligibility criteria and application processes. This bill does not change the credit's value or scope but enables the Tax Department to formally implement the rule. Businesses in the natural gas manufacturing sector that may qualify for the credit will be directly affected by this administrative framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Insurance Commissioner to implement an existing proposed rule (114 CSR 64) regarding mental health parity. It formally approves a rule filed on April 16, 2025, which requires health insurance plans to provide equal coverage for mental health services as they do for physical health services. The rule directly affects insurance companies and mental health providers by mandating parity in coverage. This is a procedural authorization of an already proposed rule, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4242 authorizes West Virginia's Insurance Commission to create rules allowing college students to pay life insurance premiums in installments (premium financing). The bill directly affects college students seeking affordable life insurance coverage by enabling this payment option through Commission rules. It does not create new insurance requirements but formally permits the Commission to develop specific guidelines for this financing method. The bill references an existing proposed rule (114 CSR 07) filed in 2025, which would now be officially authorized under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 4251 authorizes West Virginia's Racing Commission to create specific rules governing Advance Deposit Account Wagering (ADAW), a system where bettors pre-deposit funds for gambling at racetracks. The bill formally approves a previously filed regulatory rule (178 CSR 10) that outlines how ADPW operations must function. This affects racetracks, betting operators, and customers using ADPW systems by establishing clear regulatory standards for these pre-funded wagering accounts. The bill does not change gambling laws but enables the Commission to enforce specific operational requirements through its rulemaking authority.

Maddy summaryHB 4240 authorizes West Virginia's Commissioner of Financial Institutions to establish a specific regulatory rule (106 CSR 21) for the state's Fintech Regulatory Sandbox Program. This procedural bill directly affects fintech companies seeking to test new financial products in a controlled environment and the Commissioner's office, which gains authority to create the program's operational rules. The key mechanism is the formal authorization to promulgate the existing rule (106 CSR 21), which outlines how the sandbox program will operate. The bill does not change substantive policy but enables the Commissioner to implement the program's framework.

Maddy summaryHB 4220 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Health to use an existing regulatory rule (64 CSR 67) for distributing state funds to local health boards. The bill formally approves a rule previously filed with the State Register on July 24, 2025, which outlines how state funds should support local health boards. This is a procedural bill that does not change funding amounts or eligibility but confirms the legal authority for the Department of Health to implement the current distribution process. It directly affects local health boards receiving state funds and the Department of Health in its administrative role. The bill has no new policy provisions - only legislative confirmation of an existing rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Division of Economic Development to promulgate a legislative rule about Tourism Development Districts, specifically referencing the existing rule (145 CSR 16) filed on October 8, 2024. It does not change the substance of how these districts operate but formally allows the agency to establish rules governing them. The bill directly affects Tourism Development Districts and the agencies managing them by enabling the rulemaking process. This is a procedural bill that updates the legal authority for the Division of Economic Development to create such rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4246 authorizes West Virginia's Insurance Commission to implement a specific regulatory rule (114 CSR 35) concerning insurance holding company systems. This rule, previously developed and modified to address legislative committee feedback, directly affects insurance companies operating under holding company structures in the state. The bill formally approves the rule's adoption without creating new policy, ensuring the Commission can enforce existing regulatory standards for these insurance entities. It is a procedural measure to finalize an existing rule, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4221 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Health to implement a legislative rule (64 CSR 73) establishing basic public health service standards for local health boards. The bill creates a new West Virginia Public Health Advisory Committee, composed of nine members appointed from local health departments, county associations, and the West Virginia Association of Local Health Departments. This committee will advise the Department of Health on developing performance assessment tools and training for local health boards, while holding at least six meetings annually. The rule directly affects local health boards by setting minimum service standards they must meet, with the committee providing input on how these standards are applied.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4226 authorizes West Virginia's Office of Inspector General to issue a rule (71 CSR 21) governing assisted living residences. The bill amends the rule to clarify that a "serious injury" requires medical care beyond routine first aid (e.g., fractures, burns, or limited mobility), replaces "volunteer" with "uncompensated direct access personnel" (as defined in state law), and adds new guidelines for resident use of videoconferencing equipment. These guidelines require residents to notify facilities, follow privacy policies, and avoid uninterrupted video feeds or hidden cameras. The changes directly affect assisted living facilities and their residents by setting clear standards for injury reporting, staffing terminology, and technology use.