Del. Jordan Maynor

Maddy summaryHB 3514 amends West Virginia's sex offender registration law to require registration for individuals convicted of specific sex offenses, including those under repealed statutes like the former "sexual assault of a spouse" law (§61-8B-6, repealed in 2000). It directly affects people convicted of offenses listed in §61-8A-1 through §61-14-6, such as sexual extortion, aggravated sexual extortion, and human trafficking for sexual servitude. Key provisions mandate detailed registration at local police stations, including full personal information, addresses, photographs, fingerprints, internet accounts, vehicle details, and employment data. The law applies retroactively to all qualifying convictions, requiring registration upon conviction or release from confinement.

Maddy summaryHB 2410 (Safeguard the Right-To-Try Cutting-Edge Medicine Act) allows terminally ill or severely debilitated patients in West Virginia to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices not yet approved by the FDA. It defines eligibility for patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments, cannot participate in nearby clinical trials, and receive physician recommendations. The bill requires detailed written informed consent explaining treatment risks, costs, insurance limitations, and potential liability for expenses. It directly affects patients with qualifying illnesses and their physicians, establishing a legal framework for accessing unapproved treatments while clarifying that insurers and hospice care may not cover such treatments.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 85) requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific bridge in Mingo County - the Wharncliffe Box Beam bridge (coordinates 37.55534, -81.96599) carrying CR 010/01 over Bens Creek - as the "U.S. Army CPL Lavern 'Mousey' Testerman Memorial Bridge." It commemorates CPL Testerman, a WWII veteran who received a Bronze Star for saving his platoon, served in the Philippines, and later worked in the coal industry in the area. The resolution is purely commemorative, with no policy changes or direct effects beyond naming the bridge and installing signage.

Maddy summaryHB 2409, titled the "Hospital Price Transparency Act," requires hospitals in West Virginia to publicly disclose pricing for medical services. It directly affects licensed hospitals by mandating they provide two types of price information: (1) a digital file of all standard charges in machine-readable format (like CSV or XML), and (2) a simplified list of prices for "shoppable services" (like scheduled procedures) in consumer-friendly format. The bill defines key terms like "standard charge" (including gross charges, negotiated rates, and cash prices) and requires hospitals to update these disclosures online for public access. Non-compliance may trigger administrative penalties. This bill does not address cooperative agreements, as described in the query.

Maddy summaryHCR 78 is a non-binding resolution urging West Virginia's Division of Highways to prioritize completing I-73 (the "King Coal Highway") across Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming counties. It requests the highway agency treat the project as a high priority to improve economic development and emergency access, especially after recent flooding exposed transportation challenges in the region. The resolution asks the state to provide necessary funding and executive support to expedite the highway's completion but does not allocate new funds or create new law. It directly affects the Division of Highways and residents of the five specified counties by formally advocating for this infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 2894 amends West Virginia's human trafficking laws by adding a definition for "illegal alien" (an individual without legal U.S. immigration status) and specifying that such individuals are not eligible for restitution in trafficking cases. The bill updates definitions in sections covering coercion, forced labor, and trafficking to explicitly include "illegal alien" as a term. It does not create new trafficking prohibitions but clarifies that victims without legal status cannot receive restitution payments under the law. This affects individuals without legal immigration status who may be victims of trafficking in West Virginia. The bill focuses solely on definitional changes and restitution eligibility, not on enforcement or new criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 3154 amends West Virginia law to clarify advertising rules for licensed limited video lottery retailers and operators. The bill requires all advertising and promotional activities to receive prior written approval from the Lottery Commission Director before publication or release. It explicitly states that previous legislative rules restricting such advertising "shall have no effect" upon this bill's enactment, meaning the new approval process overrides prior restrictions. The law does not change what can be advertised, only the process for getting approval. This directly affects businesses operating video lottery machines across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 3142 allows health benefit plan sponsors (like employers or insurers) to send electronic communications (such as plan updates or notices) to covered persons (employees or plan members) instead of paper, provided they follow specific rules. Before using electronic communication, sponsors must confirm the covered person routinely uses electronic methods, and must give them a clear opportunity to opt out of electronic delivery. The bill requires sponsors to document that all conditions are met before switching to electronic communications. This directly affects employees and plan members covered under health benefit plans in West Virginia, ensuring they retain the choice to receive paper communications. The policy change standardizes electronic communication procedures while preserving consumer choice.

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 summaryHB 2876 increases the Natural Resources Commission from seven to eleven members by adding four new positions. These additional members must be Division of Natural Resources staff wildlife biologists, each specializing in a specific wildlife area: deer, bears, turkeys, or fisheries. The bill directly affects the commission's structure and operations, requiring specialized expertise in key species management. This change takes effect with appointments in 2025, expanding the commission's capacity to address species-specific conservation needs.